Blake Stone: Planet Strike!

Blake Stone: Planet Strike! is a 1994 first-person shooter developed by JAM Productions and published by Apogee Software. Released on October 28, 1994, for PC (MS-DOS), it is the direct sequel to 1993’s Blake Stone: Aliens of Gold. Running on an iteratively upgraded version of the Wolfenstein 3D engine, the game was released as a full commercial retail product rather than following the traditional episodic shareware model of its predecessor, delivering a tighter, more action-focused conclusion to the Blake Stone saga.

Core Story

Following the destruction of the S.T.A.R. Institute in the first game, the maniacal geneticist Dr. Pyrus Goldfire managed to escape justice. British Intelligence soon tracks his movements to an abandoned, highly fortified training complex on the hostile planet Selaco. Once again stepping into the boots of British intelligence agent Blake Stone, players are deployed to the alien world for a final, decisive strike. The mission is straightforward: infiltrate the subterranean complex, survive Goldfire’s deadliest new genetic monstrosities and alien allies, and eliminate the mad scientist once and for all.

Gameplay and Features

Planet Strike! takes the established mechanics of the first game and streamlines them for a faster, more cohesive experience:

• Single Campaign Structure: Unlike the six distinct episodes of the first game, Planet Strike! features one continuous, 24-level campaign (20 main levels and 4 secret levels), creating a more unified and escalating sense of progression.
• The Security Cube: The end-level objective format has changed. Instead of just finding colored keycards to unlock an elevator, Blake must now locate and destroy a glowing “Security Cube” hidden on each level. Destroying it drops the forcefield around the exit telepad, allowing you to advance to the next floor.
• New Arsenal and Enemies: The weapon roster receives a heavy upgrade with the introduction of the devastating Anti-Plasma Cannon. Goldfire’s forces have also been bolstered, featuring tougher alien commanders, deadly security droids, and vicious new mutants that require heavier firepower to put down.
• Auto-Map and Informants: The beloved mini-map from the first game returns, making maze navigation much smoother. Friendly Informant scientists are still scattered around the base, ready to provide ammunition, food tokens, and vital hints about secret areas.
• Refined Engine Design: The game boasts improved texture work, smoother animations, and slightly more complex level geometry (such as intricate one-way doors and teleporter puzzles) compared to Aliens of Gold.

PC Version

Released exclusively for MS-DOS, the PC version was a staple of mid-90s retail PC gaming. Today, it is very easy to play on modern hardware. It is available on digital storefronts like Steam and GOG, where it runs via the DOSBox emulator. However, just like its predecessor, the absolute best way to experience Planet Strike! today is by using the brilliant community-made BStone source port. This allows the game to run natively on modern operating systems with high-resolution widescreen support, modernized mouselook, and WASD controls.

Console Versions

Much like Aliens of Gold, Blake Stone: Planet Strike! never received official home console ports. It remained strictly a home computer experience, meaning console players today will have to rely on emulation or fan-made homebrew ports on modded hardware to experience it.

Quick Note

Blake Stone: Planet Strike! is a streamlined, action-heavy refinement of everything that made the first game great. It cuts out the episodic filler and gets straight to the alien-blasting, maze-crawling fun.

In short: If you enjoyed the retro sci-fi espionage of the first Blake Stone, this sequel offers the definitive, explosive conclusion to Dr. Goldfire’s reign of terror and is a must-play piece of boomer shooter history.