Star Control II

About

In Star Control II, take command of the Vindicator and explore a vast universe filled with diverse alien races, some friendly and others hostile. Upgrade your ship, engage in interstellar warfare, and experience a classic action-adventure game with memorable characters and humor, where your decisions impact the outcome of the game. This influential title in PC gaming history offers a rich and immersive space exploration experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
PvP Player versus Player - Fight against other players in real-time, often in arena-style combat
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

78%

Audience ScoreBased on 116 reviews

story10 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

Star Control II is widely regarded as one of the best games of all time, offering a rich storyline and deep exploration.
The game features unique and humorous alien races, each with their own cultures and backstories, enhancing the overall experience.
Nostalgia plays a significant role, as many players fondly remember their childhood experiences with the game, making it a timeless classic.

This version lacks voice acting and other features present in the superior free version, The Ur-Quan Masters, which diminishes the overall experience.
The gameplay can be tedious, with resource gathering and time limits that may frustrate players unfamiliar with the mechanics.
Many players have reported technical issues and difficulties accessing the original Star Control game, leading to disappointment.

story
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
43%
13%
The story in the game is generally praised for its depth and engaging backstory, with players appreciating the rich lore surrounding various alien species and their roles in the intergalactic conflict. While some find the gameplay lacking, the narrative elements, including the ability to build alliances and explore a vast galaxy, are highlighted as strong points that enhance the overall experience. However, there are mixed feelings about the necessity of the storyline, with some players preferring to focus on gameplay rather than the narrative.
- “The music is exciting and the way they make such simple star systems alive with just a bit of story about different alien species, their ways of life, and their parts in the war, is really neat!”
- “A great story with space travel, resource gathering, fleet building, and making alliances.”
- “Even the Ur-Quan - whose closest modern-day analogue I can compare them to are the Reapers (and we all know how they turned out) - have a backstory that explains their cruelty in a way that doesn't take away from their horrifying activities.”
- “Minus an alluring storyline and multiple outcomes of a vast galaxy when compared to the second, I keep that game for backup.”
- “I was never a big fan of the storyline mode....”
graphics
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
63%
16%
The graphics of the game evoke mixed feelings among users, with some appreciating the innovative character designs and pixel art, while others criticize the inconsistency in art styles, particularly in the HD version. Many players enjoy the option to switch between different graphic styles, including classic DOS and enhanced visuals, which helps the game feel more accessible and enjoyable despite its age. Overall, while the graphics may not meet modern standards, they are often seen as charming and nostalgic, contributing to the game's enduring appeal.
- “There are lots of aliens to meet, each one unique and interesting and brought to life with fun pixel art. The voice acting adds to the charm, with a shout-out to the voice actor who carried emotional beats with just his voice, since the visuals can't reflect the scenes he describes.”
- “Upgraded resolution and graphics, new starmap giving much more information, full speech from the 3DO version, and it is completely free.”
- “You can choose to use the updated HD visuals (faithful to the originals!), remixed tracks (also faithful), voice acting, sound outputs, controller setups, levels of resolution, etc. I believe this treatment really makes the game hold up very well for a 25-year-old game.”
- “The graphic translations are barely legible, and there's no mouse support or instructions.”
- “Graphics are bad, but it's to be expected.”
- “Some of the ships look a bit weird in the HD version since a lot of them are in different art styles.”
music
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
53%
20%
The music in the game is widely praised for its nostalgic value and ability to enhance the immersive experience, with each alien species having its own unique theme. While some reviewers note that the music may feel primitive by today's standards, many still find it enjoyable and evocative of the early 90s techno era. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a significant aspect of the game's charm, contributing to its memorable storytelling and gameplay.
- “The soundtrack is fantastic; I could listen to the hyperspace music for four hours.”
- “The music is exciting, and the way they make such simple star systems alive with just a bit of story about different alien species, their ways of life, and their parts in the war is really neat!”
- “It had a great story, great exploration, great combat, and an amazing soundtrack.”
- “While the music is a bit primitive, it's still as awesome as I remember!”
- “My wife hates the soundtrack, even though I still love it.”
- “If you don't love early 90s techno, then I guess you turn the music off, but each race has its own theme music, and there's some nice tunes in there.”
gameplay
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some users criticizing it as "abysmal" and "horrid," particularly in the final stages, while others appreciate its immersive elements and innovative graphics for the time. Despite the shortcomings, aspects like arcade-style mechanics and engaging music have been highlighted positively, with some noting that later versions of the game offer improved gameplay experiences. Overall, the gameplay involves space exploration and alliance-building against adversaries, which some find enjoyable despite its flaws.
- “Glad to see that the third game and the more modern origins version has much better mechanics and fair chances to actually be able to win.”
- “Also fantastic music, simple but immersive gameplay, and dramatic game events are shown clearly through gameplay and diegetic information rather than simply exposited.”
- “Arcade gameplay that is just plain awesome.”
- “What is an issue is the absolutely abysmal gameplay.”
- “The last 5% of the game consists of dialogue/backstory, which is admittedly interesting; however, it's not enough to make me want to suffer through the absolutely horrid gameplay.”
- “I can definitely see how the character graphics and some of the 3D animations were innovative for the time, but the gameplay itself is terrible.”
humor
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game successfully blends deep lore with a mix of gut-busting humor and emotional depth, featuring hilarious characters like the Spathi. Reviewers appreciate its ability to balance dark themes with charm and beauty, creating a universe that is both funny and serious. Overall, the humor is a standout aspect that enhances the game's appeal.
- “Very few game writers can craft a universe this deep...and fewer still can do so while still allowing for both gut-busting humor and intense emotional beats.”
- “It's funny, it's moving, thrilling, and sometimes dark almost beyond reason.”
- “But the game has charm; a cute but dreary style shows a universe enslaved by a cruel race, but also shows it has beauty and humor in it!”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game excels in creating a rich emotional experience through its unique alien characters, enhanced by charming pixel art and engaging voice acting that adds depth to the narrative. Reviewers praise the ability of the voice actors to convey a wide range of emotions, particularly highlighting the balance between humor and poignant moments, showcasing the writers' skill in crafting a deep and immersive universe.
- “There are lots of aliens to meet, each one unique and interesting, brought to life with fun pixel art. In the version I played, the voice acting was great—though I don't think the Steam version has voices, which is a shame. The voices add to the charm, and a special shout-out to the actor who voiced the Yehat for being able to convey a range of emotional beats with just his voice, as the visuals can't reflect the scenes he describes.”
- “Very few game writers can craft a universe this deep, and even fewer can do so while balancing both gut-busting humor and intense emotional moments.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly during the mid-game when mining for supplies feels repetitive. However, the engaging progression towards the climax helps alleviate some of the monotony.
- “The middle is tedious, mining for supplies, but the movement towards the climax makes you forget.”
- “Grinding feels like a never-ending chore that detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
- “The repetitive nature of grinding makes it hard to stay engaged with the story and characters.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users suggest that adjusting the DOSBox CPU cycles can enhance the gameplay experience, indicating that the game may have varying levels of playability on modern systems, which could affect its overall replayability.