Star Control

The Good
The Star Control series has quite possibly one of the best concepts and storylines used in a sci-fi game to date. The races, the interaction, the combat system, all very clever and unique. It's a game that leaves you craving it for years if you haven't played it in that time. And in Star Control 2 & 3, it just gets better.

The Bad
However, the reality is, Star Control 1 is actually pretty sad. I might even go so far as to say that if you played this over a decade ago and haven't seen it since, leave the past in the past and keep the pleasant memories. In reality, as great as the concept still is, the playability of this game leaves a lot to be desired. There is no set storyline or single player "campaign", just a set of individual - and fairly dull - combat scenarios. The rotating starmap is an instant headache, unless your idea of stargazing involves staring at your monitor for half an hour trying to work out which stars have a close enough orbit for a jump.

And last but not least, Star Control's biggest letdown is the Ur-Quan Dreadnought. While most games tend to balance their combat pieces strengths and weaknesses - ie. stronger units are often slow and bulky, units with a strong ranged attack are weak at close combat, etc. - the Dreadnought is undoubtedly strong to the point of an unfair advantage. In any and all scenarios that involve ship building, the player that controls the Hierarchy starbase and can build a Dreadnought, WILL win the scenario, be it a human opponent or the computer AI. The ship can wipe out any five other ships even in the hands of an incompetent player or the lowest difficulty AI.

The Bottom Line
If you have a craving to aggressively attack some Alliance aliens, or horrifically hurt some Hierarchy hostiles, play StarCon 2 or 3. They come with a detailed storyline campaign, a distinctly improved navigation and combat system, and a much higher overall playability while still retaining that unique Star Control feel. As for StarCon 1 though? Play it only if you want to see where it all began - otherwise, leave the past in the past.

The Good
At the time SC came out, it was unsurpassed in the depth of its play. Although the controls were fairly Arcade-like and simplistic, the balance of the different ships is nearly perfect. (and arguably unmatched even by SC2, which had a few too many ships) Not only was each ship completely distinctive, but the dynamics of the battle changed completely depending on which ships were in play. An Ur-Quan and a Chenjesu would have a long-distance slugging match without closing, whereas a Spathi and Arilou would have an insanely frenetic dogfight. And there was great joy in discovering particular strategies for each matchup. On a smaller note, the included strategy game section was entertaining, if simplistic.

The Bad
The AI is a bit dumb compared to SC2, but my guess is they programmed the AI in SC2 based on the more successful strategies discovered by players. (IE, the AI was about as good as could be expected) The rotating starfield in the strategy segment was INCREDIBLY difficult to learn, and many players never got the hang of it. (although if you could, it made the navigation a lot of fun)

The Bottom Line
Overall, this is a fun game with incredible amounts of replay ability. While it's easy to see all the game has to offer within a few hours, months could be spent exploring combat strategies.

The Good
Well, stellar battle at its finest... in 1990. This was a fantastic little game back in its day. I remember going to my friend Steve's house after school and giving a good few rounds against him. He'd play on one half of the keyboard, I'd be stuck with the a's and d's. Awkward and disadvantaged, but still wonderful fun.

The ships are so eccentric and fun to play, you've really got to experience the game to understand. The monstrous Ur-Quan have a secondary fire that releases little astronauts that sap the shields from a ship, but sending them out reduces your ship's hit points. The Shofixti are a raccoon race that pilot a tiny ship -- that self-destructs if desired. Yes, a pyrrhic victory is the idea. There's a classic flying saucer craft piloted by the Arilou that jumps around with its warp drive and strikes with a short-range auto-tracking laser, And then there's a crystalline entity ship used by the Chenjesu that fires projectiles that fly right across the playing area, loop around to the other side of the screen, and keep going... until you press fire and have the shell fragment into a burst of shrapnel.

Such imaginative ships, such fun gameplay, I really do take this sort of game over 99% of the PlayStation3 crap released today. It's really not about graphics, it's about gameplay, But I'm sure you don't need to hear me preach.

The Bad
Not much to nitpick here. The game ran fine in 1990, although I haven't really played it much since then. This is a heritage title that is dated by modern technology, but I'm sure I'm not the only person in the world who fondly remembers going toe-to-toe with a friend after downing some Fresca and Doritos.

The Bottom Line
Blitzkrieg action, although elements of strategy can occur. This is an exceedingly fun game with a great interstellar warfare theme that was expanded upon in later titles.

Highly recommended, although I seriously doubt anybody is going to go and buy it in 2008. Team Fortress 2 is kind of head-and-heels superior to this little gem, unless you have a strong craving for 286-era games.

The Good
While I didn't really like the full game (I was young and couldn't get the hang of it), the melee is simply awesome and so are the ship descriptions. The music (when there is any) is good and the graphics are wonderful.

The Bad
Well, again, the full game isn't very good. And the computer is genuinely stupid.

The Bottom Line
A really well done game you'll probably enjoy.

The Good
I like the gameplay and excitment in the game. I think the ship descriptions gave more realization to how the ships work instead of making theories on where everything is. If I want to fight I want to know the ship and Star Control has that. Even for 1999 the game can still be fun, the war, action surprise.

The Bad
I thought some of the music was boring...........but that was before Star Control 2 so I understand. Also I thought the Star map was a little confusing, I would have want it flat kinda like Star Con 2. Other than that I think the game is fun, I would like to see a new 3d remake soon.

The Bottom Line
If you like action and war, and a bit of scifi get this game, download it or just get it from your friend. If your not one of those people who say "ewwwww an old dinosaur game with blocky graphics" then get this game soon.

The Good
It has a cool sci-fi atmosphere (the great manual helps)

Only four different ships per side in this version but still adds replay value.

Supports 2 player hot-seat.

Lets you choose to focus on battles, management or both.

One of the best loading schemes I've seen (important if you play in a real spectrum )

The Bad
AI is not very smart even in hardest setting and when you master the battles, you will hardly lose a fight even vs better ships

The Bottom Line
Graphics are ok, the intro screen and battle intros are colorful and well-drawn. The ships are monochrome and make a bit of color-clash with the stars, but nothing serious. I wish it had bigger and more detailed ships, but maybe the spectrum doesn't allow more than what it's in the game.

The sound is functional. It lacks music but there is a lot of beeps and bops when you move the cursor in the strategic map or in the battle part when a ship fires, when laser or missile hits and so.

The one player game is nice to play if you try not to think how easy it's to win. If you have a minimum experience with shoot'em ups it will be no challenge to win every fight. And in the strategic plane I was never pushed or something like that.

Where this game shines is in two player game. When your opponent fights you back, and it's battled for every world. Alliance players may have the high ground, because in my opinion, their ships are better. Anyways, you can take it just like in chess. I must say though, that hierarchy ships are much funnier to play with.

The Good
It's a great game that developed upon the idea of games like Thrust and added improvements such as multiple and unique weapon types for each ship. I also quite liked the full game (when playing two player of course) as it added more to the game than simplying blasting your opponent away.

The Bad
Not a great deal except that it really wasn't as good for single player.

The Bottom Line
A great game to play, especailly for two people, but it's is beat all round by its sequel (except for the multiplay fullgame mode.)

The Good
When Star Control arrived, it almost single-handedly re-invented the PC as an arcade machine (Thexder was the first, IMHO.) The speed of play and the game depth of each different spaceship made for hours of "Five Minute Fun."

The Bad
The strategy game was very hard to play/visualize.

The Bottom Line
A classic game begging for another sequel.

The Good
I spent more time playing this game than in Calculus class, and my grade proves it. This was the best game of its kind during its time. Turn your opponent's empire into star dust memory using different ships with different attack/defense abilities. Combat resolution is ship v. ship with your and/or your friend controlling every nuance of real time action.

The Bad
Why can't they make Calculus 1/1,000th as fun?

The Bottom Line
I've heard Star Control 2 is better, and I believe it. Looking back, SC1 was not really that great of a game. Btw, the computer is really dumb. So the only way you will get addicted to this game is to get at least one of your friends addicted to it first.