4 Great Games That Everyone Should Try... or Else!

[The Troglodyte]

No, it's actually supposed to be called "4 Great Games That Everyone Should Will Try... or Else!" but it wouldn't let me do the cool slash effect in the subject line.

Ok, so what's this all about, huh? Well, anybody who's every hung around this forum in recent days or years have probably heard me name-drop the games Starflight and Starflight 2. That's because had it not been for those 2 games I may have never discovered the best game I have ever played... Star Control 2. Yes, I love Star Control 2, if you haven't noticed, and I may have discussed that point a time or two around here (and by time or two I mean as in typing out every single moment I've encountered in the game and putting it to words in a topic called "About to Try to Beat Star Control 2... no spoilers!") You should read it. No really.

Anyways, as I was saying, I like these games and I'd like to prove all of them are worthwhile retro games that everybody should give a try, and if you don't believe me, I am here to answer all of your questions, compare and contrast, and especially convince everybody who will listen/read intently as to the reason they should play all 4, and I've even included a poll for everybody to register which ones they've tried, plus I've made it revotable so you can go play the games and add them to the poll!

[palmpet]

Every space game besides Star Control always seem too complicated for me, heck I couldn't figure out how to properly play Star Control 1.

[Draxas]

I played both SC1 and 2 way back on DOS (SC2 first, to be fair, which is what drew me to seek out 1) in the early '90s. I never really developed much of a taste for 1, but SC2 remains in my all time top 10 to this day. I only heard about the Starflight games years later, either here or on UQMF, and never really had the time or motivation to try to seek them out.

[Alvarin]

My first encounter was SC1 at year 92(?), then quite a bit later I found SC2. Same as Draxas, still in my very top.
Was really happy to have come across SC3 on CDROM... And then I played it...
Played the ~modern remake of Starflight (the lost colony) but didn't enjoy it much. It was sort of uncanny valley situation for me, almost like SC2, but not quite.

[The Troglodyte]

Every space game besides Star Control always seem too complicated for me, heck I couldn't figure out how to properly play Star Control 1.

The most complicated part of Star Control 1 was the campaign mission, and the most difficult thing to grasp during gameplay in that mode was navigating your ships throughout the map.

The map was strangely set up in a weird spiral fashion, which made it tough at times to determine which way to go. I remember in my earlier missions getting frustrated when I would waste one of my round movements going down the wrong path.

Over a short time with a little experience under my belt it became fairly easy to figure out how to get to where I wanted without trial and error.
My counter argument has been launched, so I therefore now believe that you have heard a sufficient enough rebuttal to now go and play Star Control 1.

Now I can understand that Starflight 1 and 2 were totally different animals, but both played very similarly, and simple. Have you ever even attempted to play them, palmpet?

[palmpet]

Every space game besides Star Control always seem too complicated for me, heck I couldn't figure out how to properly play Star Control 1.

The most complicated part of Star Control 1 was the campaign mission, and the most difficult thing to grasp during gameplay in that mode was navigating your ships throughout the map.

The map was strangely set up in a weird spiral fashion, which made it tough at times to determine which way to go. I remember in my earlier missions getting frustrated when I would waste one of my round movements going down the wrong path.

Over a short time with a little experience under my belt it became fairly easy to figure out how to get to where I wanted without trial and error.
My counter argument has been launched, so I therefore now believe that you have heard a sufficient enough rebuttal to now go and play Star Control 1.

Now I can understand that Starflight 1 and 2 were totally different animals, but both played very similarly, and simple. Have you ever even attempted to play them, palmpet?

Well I don't think I could even figure out how to start star control 1, I had no inkling of what some of the menu controls were, and no I do not own those games and have never had an inkling to, though I've heard them mentioned on the board.

[The Troglodyte]

I played both SC1 and 2 way back on DOS (SC2 first, to be fair, which is what drew me to seek out 1) in the early '90s. I never really developed much of a taste for 1, but SC2 remains in my all time top 10 to this day. I only heard about the Starflight games years later, either here or on UQMF, and never really had the time or motivation to try to seek them out.

Draxas, what would you consider your favorite things about Star Control 2? In other words, what are the reasons why it is in your top 10 favorite games?

[palmpet]

I played both SC1 and 2 way back on DOS (SC2 first, to be fair, which is what drew me to seek out 1) in the early '90s. I never really developed much of a taste for 1, but SC2 remains in my all time top 10 to this day. I only heard about the Starflight games years later, either here or on UQMF, and never really had the time or motivation to try to seek them out.

Draxas, what would you consider your favorite things about Star Control 2? In other words, what are the reasons why it is in your top 10 favorite games?

I know you didn't ask me, but Star Control 2 is definetly in my top 3, I have trouble deciding between Star Control 2, PMD: Explorers of Sky and Hollow Knight.

[Draxas]

Let's see, I have always loved the dialog first and foremost. The whole script is brilliantly written, balancing high stakes with copious amounts of humor. The worldbuilding is also tremendous, and all of the characters you interact with feel like they have their own agendas and take actions independent of what you are trying to accomplish (even though once you know what's going on under the hood, that notion is patently false, it sure doesn't seem like it your first time around). The music is awesome all around. The galaxy you are free to explore feels vast and like there are secrets everywhere just waiting to be found (even though again, once you know what you're doing, a lot of it is of minimal importance). Combat feels natural and so well executed (a big part of why I had trouble enjoying SC1 is that, while the battles felt familiar, everything also felt more awkward to use and rougher around the edges. It's what I get for playing the sequel first, I suppose. Then again, SC3 botched this up pretty badly too).

Even after all these years, I occasionally pop open UQM (much more convenient than trying to install it from my old floppies, which were eventually corrupted and rendered unusable anyway) and start up a new game, and it is always a joy to play despite all the times I've been through it. At this point, having played probably thousands of games, there are only a select few that rate highly enough for me to want to play through twice, let alone over and over again.

[The Troglodyte]

Top notch answer Draxas! Superb! I'll get back with you on that, but first...

My first encounter was SC1 at year 92(?), then quite a bit later I found SC2. Same as Draxas, still in my very top.
Was really happy to have come across SC3 on CDROM... And then I played it...
Played the ~modern remake of Starflight (the lost colony) but didn't enjoy it much. It was sort of uncanny valley situation for me, almost like SC2, but not quite.

And how about you, Alvarin? Do you agree with Draxas' answer? Do you have anything you'd like to add as to the reasons why you love Star Control 2?