Free Stars: The Ur-Quan Masters

This game has got to be one of my favorites of all time. I initially played it on the 3DO, which has many of it's exclusive features ported over, as well as the MS-DOS things. I am incredibly happy about the fact that this was ported to Steam, as the game is an experience that should be available for all. The world-building is still top-notch, even by today's standards. Alien races are eclectic and varied, and the galactic politics is engaging and novel. The gameplay is antiquated but satisfying, space battles and landing expeditions are well-balanced and fun. The music is incredible, the writing is campy and fun, and the whole experience shines despite its age. The constant saving, loading, and writing down can be hectic at times, but it adds charm of the immense content there is. It feels like genuinly being in space, not knowing anything and learning by just exploring. Great game, play it, 9/10.

Better than Frungy! There's nothing to say about this other than being one of the biggest retro gaming classics and one of the best games I have ever played. A wealthy mix between ship to ship combat, ship building and adventure/RPG, with a very engaging story. Superb soundtrack (very synth and electro), and omg... the puns and the humor are top notch... And if the humor was not only one present throughout the entire game, the best part is really the credits at the end. I would several times load a save to do the final battle, just so I could laugh at all the "cast" jokes, that's how good the credits part are. A note regarding all the negative reviews, from someone who has played not only the original in the 90's but also this open source version for decades now, way before it was made available on Steam: the negative reviews seem to focus exclusively on the fact that the original composer of some of the music tracks has asked for them to be removed from the distributed game on Steam... You can still get the proper content UQMs from the project page. By not recommending to NOT play this game over a petty issue like that, is quite frankly idiotic, since you can easily solve the problem if you have 2 brain cells to rub together, by visiting the project page over at https://sc2.sourceforge.net/ If you want to show your disapproval about the issue, then you might as well do a negative review on the Stardock versions instead, because that is linked to why the tracks had to be removed, since those tracks, exist on those games. And has for the author of those tracks and his decision, it is entirely his right and decision to do so.

An immersive story with memorable alien encounters that rewards curiosity and note-taking. Solving the overarching mystery feels like a giant, satisfying puzzle, and the space combat is fast, fun, and endlessly replayable. A true old-school classic that still shines today.

This is Star Control 2 reborn, but unfortunately, some of the music is missing. Fortunately, you can easily search for download that music into the game. It's well worth the effort. They are working on a sequel, due this year, and I can't wait to play it. Till then, this one tides you over. Choices matter, time matters, lots of comedy mixed in to a complex space drama and deep history with lots of mysteries to solve. The combat is challenging and fun. Some of the game is a bit of a grind, especially resource collection, but that's how you explore too, and I'm sure the new one will improve on that. There's a great story to discover here with lots of variables. I dunno why we ever stopped making games like this! It's such a fun genre and the rpg/space combat combo is really "Star Control Style". It's not as famous as it should be. Oh and it works perfect on Steam Deck, with the added music! God Speed, Commander!

The best game of all time! Be sure to look at community posts on how to install the MegaMod for a more modern look. Or just play the game as is, both are great!

The Ur-Quan Masters is an prime example of peak PC gaming from the early 1990s. A vast, rich setting with focus on exploration and the emergent narrative of discovering the galaxy in the midst of its wide-spanning story, this is a deep well that deserved plumbing its depths for everything it had to offer. The very idea of taking notes about the goings on of the setting at large; the constant save-scumming to prevent yourself soft-locking from lack of fuel or landers; the threat of unceremonious game over at the hands of a random encounter: these deserved to be phased out of today's video games, but boy they were exhilarating back in 1992, making every missed clue and every botched dogfight a motivation to try again. The world(s)-building is still top-notch, even by today's standards. Alien races are eclectic and varied, and the galactic politics is engaging and novel. The gameplay is antiquated but satisfying, space battles and landing expeditions are well-balanced and fun. The music is incredible, the writing is campy and fun, and the whole experience shines despite its age.

This is a game I was introduced to by my father. I was quite young at the time, and didn't even know how to progress the story. But returning to this game as an adult, I can confidently say, "I still don't know how to progress the story." Nonetheless, I always enjoyed the many different types of planets you can explore. The planet lander section is for gathering minerals to upgrade your ship, and add to your fleet. But the wide range of different worlds in the game offer a very unique experience. Ranging from the glittering ruby and sapphire worlds, to the molten shattered worlds, and alien filled jungle worlds. Their charming old school pixel graphics still holds up quite well to this day. Combat in this game is like no other space game I've ever played. If i had to describe it, its sorta like the old asteroid game on the Atari, but adapted for actual ship combat. You keep your momentum after letting go of the control key, and your momentum is highly altered by random asteroids, or a planets gravitational pull. More than that there are over a dozen unique space ships all with their own combat abilities, strengths, and weaknesses. Though some are clearly better than others... (Cough, Avatar, Cough) Overall this game will forever sit as a hidden gem with a whole galaxy at your fingertips for those brave enough to face the depths of space.