Star Fire

Star Fire (arcade)  1978

Advanced 3D vector graphics, most advanced color 3D game of 1970's, first game to allow the player to partially damage an enemy with a glancing shot, first game to allow a player to enter his initials to the high score table, advanced sit-down cockpit, first 3D Star Wars game (unlicensed)

Arcade system: unique

Gameplay video

Trivia:
1) The look and feel of Star Fire is directly lifted from the movie Star Wars and, to a lesser extent, the TV show Battlestar Galactica. First unlicensed Star Wars game was Star Wars (1978) (for RCA Studio II console), first licensed - Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (Atari 2600) (1982).

2) For more Star Wars watch Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces 2 (1997) and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (2008).

3) Game has advanced sit down cockpit cabinet. First ever sit down cockpit was made for the game "Hi-Way" (1975).

4) Emulated in: MAME

5) A 1983 article in Electronic Games called Star Fire a "closet classic ... deserving of a better fate", and "ahead of its time and unable to find a market".