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Starflight 2: Trade Routes of the Cloud Nebula

aka: Starflight II

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Critic Reviews 77% add missing review

Australian Commodore and Amiga Review (90 out of 100) (90%)

The greatest strength of a game like Starflight 2 lies in its ability to actually put you there in the Captain's seat. Exploring strange new worlds, encountering new life forms, boldly going where no man has gone before... true, it sounds like a cliché, but somehow the sense of pioneering into the furthest reaches of space has been magnificently recreated in this game. Technologically, Starflight 2 could have been a much better product. Gameplay wise, it's one of the best I've seen.

Feb 1992 · Amiga · read review

Amiga Action (85 out of 100) (85%)

Fans of Starflight will undoubtedly welcome this latest addition to the series, simply because we've effectively got a lot more of the same. The graphics and sound remain fairly prehistoric, the one exception to this being the alien life forms which ooze character. I feel that more disk space should be donated to this area in an attempt to create a more suitable atmosphere, rather than depending on the user. Having said that though, theblend of RPG style gameplay and space trading is unparallelled and should appeal to most.

Dec 1991 · Amiga · read review

Games Machine, The (UK) (84 out of 100) (84%)

The only negative criticism I can offer is that the interface has not been improved from the original. It was slow and awkward, then, and nothing's changed. That apart, Starflight 2 is an enthralling RPG which will keep you busy for a long, long time.

Apr 1990 · DOS · read review

Power Play (83 out of 100) (83%)

Selten hat die Spielewelt so gespannt auf eine Fortsetzung gewartet. Fast drei Jahre ist es jetzt her, daß Rollenspieler sehnsüchtig auf Besitzer eines PCs schielten. Kein Wunder, gab es doch damals das wundervolle "Starflight" nur auf MS-DOS-PCs. Heute werden die gleichen Leute schon wieder unruhig. Die Fortsetzung "Starflight II" ist endlich eingetroffen. Und wieder nur (vorerst) für PC.

Mar 1990 · DOS

ASM (Aktueller Software Markt) (9.8 out of 12) (82%)

Bei meinem Gesamturteil zu STAR FLIGHT 2 bräuchte ich Euch eigentlich nur auf meine abschließenden Worte zu STAR FLIGHT 1 zu verweisen, denn der Nachfolger gleicht seinem Ursprungsprogramm wie ein Ei dem anderen. Lediglich bei der Grafik wurde an einigen Stellen etwas herumgewerkelt und ausgebessert. Ansonsten verbirgt sich hinter dem neuen Reißer aus dem Hause ELECTRONIC ARTS genauso viel Spielspaß, genauso viel packende Story, wie man es ja schon von STAR FLIGHT 1 her gewöhnt war. So fällt es mir zuguterletzt überhaupt nicht schwer, STAR FLIGHT II den zweithöchsten ASM-Orden zu verleihen, unseren allseits geliebten Hitstern.

Jan 1990 · DOS · read review

Power Play (81 out of 100) (81%)

Mehr als eineinhalb Jahre hat es gedauert, bis die Amiga-Umsetzung des MS-DOS-Klassikers "Starflight II" fertiggestellt wurde. Im Vergleich zum Original hat sich am Spielkonzept nichts verändert.

Jan 1992 · Amiga

100 aktuelle PC-Spiele (8 out of 10) (80%)

Dieses Programm bietet die zur Zeit atmosphärisch beste, komplexeste Simulation galaktischer Mysterien und Wirren. Mit viel Liebe zum Detail wurden die Eigenarten und Macken der verschiedenen Rassen bedacht, denen man so manches Geheimnis aus der Nase (oder dem Saugnapf) ziehen muß. Die Ausgangssituation ist recht vage; ein Teil des Spielspaßes besteht darin, sich langsam voranzuarbeiten und die Ausmaße der Story kennenzulernen. Das Flair des Programms ist einzigartig. Bei den Planetenexpeditionen kann man gebannt lange Zeit vor dem PC sitzen und alles um sich herum vergessen. Das Spiel ist zudem nicht allzu einfach, aber lösbar und dürfte Sie ein paar Wochen lang bei der Stange halten. Etwas negativ fallen da nur die teilweise recht schlichten Grafiken und die etwas umständliche Bedienung auf.

1990 · DOS

Joker Verlag präsentiert: Sonderheft (71 out of 100) (71%)

Das Gameplay ist prinzipiell gleich geblieben, es wird aber etwas mehr Gewicht auf das Handeln gelegt. Im Klartext: Teil 2 ist für Sternenkapitäne genauso ein Muß, wie es bereits Teil 1 war!
(page 41)

1992 · DOS · read review

Info ( ) (70%)

Starflight 2 has a setup process that takes far too long, a starchart-lookup copy protection scheme that is poorly done, and documentation that tells you almost, but not quite, everything you need to know to get going. Once you get past those hurdles, though, the game plays fairly well, with the object being to learn the secrets of the feared Spemin (...). The real aim, though, is exploration and interaction with a weirdly interesting collection of aliens.

Jan 1992 · Amiga · read review

Joker Verlag präsentiert: Sonderheft (69 out of 100) (69%)

Das Gameplay ist prinzipiell gleich geblieben, es wird aber etwas mehr Gewicht auf das Handeln gelegt. Im Klartext: Teil 2 ist für Sternenkapitäne genauso ein Muß, wie es bereits Teil 1 war!
(page 41)

1992 · Amiga · read review

Amiga Joker (69 out of 100) (69%)

Bei allem berechtigten Ärger über die verstaubte Technik: In punkto Atmosphäre macht Starflight 2 so schnell kein anderer Sternenflieger was vor!

Nov 1991 · Amiga · read review

Play Time (68 out of 100) (68%)

Alles in allem ist die Grafik etwas karg, aber dafür zweckmäßig und läßt durch das große Gebiet, das man erkunden kann, nicht so schnell Langeweile aufkommen.

Apr 1993 · Macintosh

CU Amiga (60 out of 100) (60%)

Starflight 2 is destined to be a game bought by Elite buffs, leaving the rest of us cold. Twenty five pounds is a lot to ask when there are so many excellent games being released, so think carefully about spending your hard cash on this. The game never raises itself above the mediocre.

Dec 1991 · Amiga · read review

ASM (Aktueller Software Markt) (6 out of 12) (50%)

Warum eigentlich dauern Umsetzungen vom Pc auf den Amiga immer so lange? Die Gemeinde der Starflight Fans mußte bis jetzt wirklich am längsten auf den zweiten Teil der Weltraum-Saga warten. Die Angelegenheit wird umso unverständlicher, da sich seit dem ersten Teil technisch nichts, aber auch gar nichts geändert hat. Gut, das Spiel hat eine neue Story bekommen, aber das ist auch schon alles. Die Weltraumgrafik sieht immer noch aus, wie aus einem PD-Programm und bei den Planetenanflügen dauert der Bildaufbau so lange, daß man getrost eine Kaffeepause in betracht ziehen kann. Schade, denn das ausführliche deutsche Handbuch‚ sowie die nette Sternenkarte, machen Appetit auf das Programm. STARFLIGHT 2 eignet sich also nur für Hardcore-Abenteurer, die unbedingt den zweiten Teil besitzen müssen.

Nov 1991 · Amiga

Play Time (49 out of 100) (49%)

Das ganze hört sich jetzt unheimlich kompliziert an - aber dafür hast Du ja auch ein deutsches Handbuch zur Verfügung (mit witzigen Zeichnungen verschiedener Aliens illustriert), welches durch eine zusätzliche Referenzbroschüre ergänzt wird. Daneben findest Du ein Sternenkartenposter und einen sogenannten “Navigations-Kalibrierapparat“. Es handelt sich dabei um ein simples Kärtchen, welches auf das Poster gelegt, einen bestimmten Sektor begrenzt, in dem Du eine gewisse Anzahl von Sternen ablesen und vor dem Start eingeben mußt. Das Programm läuft über zwei Disketten und wird mittels Maus bzw. Tastatur gesteuert. Grafik, FX und Musik lassen allerdings etwas zu wünschen übrig.

Dec 1991 · Amiga

Player Reviews

An excellent sequel to a ground-breaking game

The Good
An awesome game. Trading with the various races was a lot of fun! You couldn't help having a sense of irony about the two very religious races of the Tandelou. If they learned that you had traded with the other group, they wouldn't even talk to you, let alone trade with you! I wonder where they got that idea from? :)

One race (can't recall the name right at the moment), I never did get to talk to me...

So, eventually in this game, if you don't get killed first... you get to time-travel! when you first start out, most of the starmap is covered by the cloud nebula. After you time-travel, you go back in time before the cloud nebula formed, and can see where the stars are at. Very nice touch!

The Bad
Unlike the first game, I wasn't able to put the clues together, solve the puzzles and finish the game. Got lost after going back in time.

The Bottom Line
A fun and refreshing twist on the original. Again, very open game-play, where you can move as slow or fast as you please, and in any direction you want to go.

by ex_navynuke! (42) on Apr 13th, 2005 · DOS

EA, knowingly, sticks with the formula that works.

The Good
Starflight I successfully combined elements of adventure, light role-playing, diplomacy, and resource management to create an entire open-ended universe that teemed with secrets.

Starflight II doesn't change this foruma. But that's not bad thing. In addition, Starflight II sports better graphics, more alien races, and cooler technologies.

Like Starflight I, there's also a fascinting and intriguing plot that slowly builds to an edge-of-your-seat climax.

I particularly liked that the aliens seemed to have more character depth than they did in SF1. I also thought the humor in SF2 is a lot less subtle than in SF1 but (thank goodness) it's actually really funny.

Binary Systems has also developed the alien personalities with a lot more depth than they did in SF1. Whereas SF1's universe had a huge, dark, empty feeling (and rightly so) - SF2 is full of life, color, and excitement.

The Bad
There's really nothing to dislike about SF2. The only negative point I can think of is that those who've never played SF1 may be somewhat confused near the end.

The Bottom Line
Starflight II is a cross-genre game that does nothing more than build upon the plot developed by Starflight I and give the universe a VGA palette of colors. But this works, and unlike most sequels, Starflight II succesfully carries the banner of being one of the best computer games of all time.

by John Beeler (2) on Apr 5th, 1999 · DOS

A Game I Still Play Today

The Good
This game, and its predecessor, had it all. You flew around in a large universe, with a custom ship AND a custom crew. This game succesfully combined action, strategy, tactics, and a bit of role playing, into what is one of the best science fiction games to date.

There are few games that bring a gleam to my eye and a song to my heart, but the Starflight games accomplish just that. With it's brilliant mix of playability, ease of use, story, humor, and great graphics, this is one game that begs for a sequel.

This is a game to which others like it have been judged, including Star Control 2, a very similar game. :) I can't gush enough about what this series of games means to me. :)

The Bad
Nothing, really. It didn't need any patches like games today. ;)

The Bottom Line
I would describe this game as mix of role playing, science fiction storytelling, and space exploration. It's funny, tense, and though provoking all at the same time. :)

by Brian Rubin (22) on Aug 13th, 1999 · DOS

A Great Sequel

The Good
This game took the premise of Starflight and added to it. I liked the fact that your ship could become more powerful, especially after you acquire technology from the past! The new alien species were nice and an explanation of the "terminally-grumpy" race (who's name eludes me at present) from Starflight was very interesting. As before, the story for Starflight II was engrossing and that made gameplay all that much better. The graphics (for its time) were awesome but since I didn't have a sound card, I don't know how the sound was.

Another welcome addition were populated planets. Now you could hook up with aliens on planet surfaces to learn information as well as to establish much needed trade routes.

The Bad
I really don't recall anything I didn't like about the game. I'm sure if I still had a 5 1/4" drive, I'd play again.

The Bottom Line
Bottom line: EA and Binary Systems took an excellent game and improved it. Now if we could only get a Starflight III...grin

by AstroNerdBoy (35) on Nov 7th, 2001 · DOS

Binary System and EA took a great game, and made it better...

The Good
Starflight 2 is a fantastic game. It takes the non-linear gameplay of the original and somehow manages to create a more interesting universe to travel through.

I love the game, but the original still holds that special place in my heart.

The graphics make use of the MCGA/VGA palette, so the game looks fantastic. 256 colors really bring out the best in the game, and Binary Systems did a top-notch job with them. The planets look more real than in the first one - the ability to determine mountains from water is easier in this game.

The sound... well to be honest, I can't remember if it utilized the AdLib/SoundBlaster at the time so I can't give a thumbs up/down on this one.

But where this game really shines is the gameplay.

Instead of wandering around the galaxy mining planets and collecting creatures, you actually have planets colonized by other alien races, some from the first game and others that are completely original. This is where "Trade Routes" come into play. Each colonized system has a specialty Item for sale, and a specialty Item they will pay through the nose for (or other body part if the alien's don't have noses). Figuring out which planets want what is part of the gameplay. After you figure it out, trading routes will appear on the map, so you can plot your course dependig on what you have to sell and get the most profit (If I'm starting to sound to much like a Ferengi, let me know).

Another interesting aspect of the game is the Bartering system. In the original, if you need materials, you either must mine them or purchase them at Starport. In SF2's case, when you visit planets, you can buy items and haggle over the price. You can usually knock 10+ credits per unit off the price of an item. But, be warned! Some races will haggle, but will get offended and refuse to haggle with you if you offer what they think is an unfair price. Other races won't haggle at all, so you'll need to keep your wits about you.

The Bad
The game is a classic. Their isn't much I don't like :)

The Bottom Line
If you enjoyed the original, the sequel is right up your alley. It's not as non-linear as the first one, but the similarities are so strong that it'll be like riding a bike. You really never forget how.

Bottom Line: A must buy for space exploration buffs and non-scifi fans alike.

by Chris Martin (1169) on Mar 30th, 2001 · DOS

StarFlight2

The Good
Virtually roaming among the stars, can increase my powers. Dangers. Simple but complicated...

The Bad
In StarFlight2, I cannot sell minerals but only artifacts, so it takes longer to build up... Also, is there any walkthrough available?

The Bottom Line
Role game, adventures among the universe with lots of stars to visit and races to cope with...

by Rene Codere (2) on Feb 22nd, 2000 · DOS

Plus 40 player ratings without reviews

Contributors to this Entry

Critic reviews added by Tim Janssen, xPafcio, Jo ST, Terok Nor, Patrick Bregger.