Star Control
Description official descriptions
Star Control is a science-fiction wargame which pits the forces of the Alliance of Free Stars against those of the predatory Ur-Quan Hierarchy. The games are designed so that you can ease into play, familiarizing yourself with menus, options and player controls. The Alliance and Hierarchy each possess different types of warships. Each vessel has its own maneuvering and firing characteristics, plus a unique special power that you can employ when circumstances dictate.
The game has two modules: the Melee, in which you can simply blast the computer or another player to smithereens using one of 16 different ships, in either Hierarchy or Alliance fleets; or, should you wish for a more challenging game, lets you play one of 9 preset scenarios.
Groups +
Screenshots
Promos
Credits (DOS version)
37 People (17 developers, 20 thanks) · View all
| Lead Design | |
| Design | |
| Lead Programming | |
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| Music / Sound Programming | |
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| [ full credits ] | |
Reviews
Critics
Average score: 64% (based on 24 ratings)
Players
Average score: 3.5 out of 5 (based on 75 ratings with 9 reviews)
Space Wars revistied and turbo-boosted
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.
DOS · by Tony Van (2797) · 1999
I still can't believe its not really that good of a game!
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.
DOS · by Yeah Right (50) · 2000
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.
DOS · by Tomer Gabel (4538) · 1999
Trivia
Inspiration
The "special thanks" in the manual list off an equally large number of sci-fi authors whose work in some way influenced the game. It's fairly rare for game designers to be so rigorous in documenting their inspirations.
References
The vast majority of captain names in the game were taken from various famous and semi-famous sci-fi sources. (far too many to list here. For example, there's a Syreen Captain Alia (from Dune) and an Earth Captain Pike (from Star Trek))
Title
From almost the very beginning of his video game design career, Paul Reiche III has revisited the theme of pitting varied teams of carefully balanced but widely varied opponents against each other, first in 1983's Archon and most recently in 1998's The Unholy War (and its Japanese analogue, Little Witching Mischiefs).
Star Control also falls in the middle of this chain, and its heritage is plainly spelled out phonetically in its abbreviation:
__Archon Star_Con
Awards
- Computer Gaming World
- November 1996 (15th anniversary issue) – #127 in the “150 Best Games of All Time” list
Information also contributed by Pseudo_Intellectual
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Related Sites +
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ComSim Central
Info on getting the game, and lots of scenarios for the full game. -
The Dot Eaters
The Dot Eaters: Videogame History 101 An extensive history of videogames, including computer games and the work of Paul Reiche and Freefall Associates. -
The Pages of Now and Forever
This site could perhaps be called the heart of the Star Control fan movement on the 'net.
Identifiers +
Contribute
Are you familiar with this game? Help document and preserve this entry in video game history! If your contribution is approved, you will earn points and be credited as a contributor.
Contributors to this Entry
Game added by Tomer Gabel.
Genesis added by PCGamer77. ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC added by Martin Smith. Commodore 64, Amiga added by Servo.
Additional contributors: Ben Voynick, RmM, Ummagumma, WizardX, Ricky Derocher, Patrick Bregger.
Game added August 11, 1999. Last modified February 13, 2024.