If there is one game from Cinematronics that's likely to make people's eyes light up with recognition, this is it. This was a big hit in its day, and one of the most visually striking games in the arcades.

Your ship flies around a larger ship surrounded by three rotating rings, with the center ring rotating in the opposite direction of the inner and outer rings. Each ring is composed of multiple segments, which must be shot twice to destroy; wipe out an entire ring, and a new one will grow in its place. Small sparks jump from ring to ring, and then to the air to pursue you; they can be shot, but destroy your ship on contact.

When a gap in all three rings lines up between you and the central ship (which tracks you at all times), it emits a large, electric-sounding fireball that must be avoided. Sneak a shot into such a gap and hit the center ship to destroy it, earning an extra life and a new castle to chip away at.

Read the Vectrex Star Castle manual, from the only known home port of this game.

(If you are using a text browser, download the Star Castle screenshot here.)