That's right! Star Control 2 (now renamed "The Ur-Quan Masters" 'cause of rights for the name) is available for free here.
For those not familiar, Star Control 2 was a space fight/sim/expolration epic for the PC. The story starts when you, a colonist returns to earth with new alien technology. However, during your absence Earth was involved in a war with the invading Ur-Quan. This warrior race of space octopus-things won the war and installed a slave shield around the Earth which prevents any contact. By rescuing a small group of Earthlings who are maintaining a Ur-Quan station you start the rebellion against the Ur-Quan Masters.
What makes the game so great is the excellent writing and alien interactions. There are about thirty or so alien races to interact with, with 25 different alien ships to pilot. The races are all well conceived and unique. The best part of the exploration is discovering a new race and learning their quirks and mannerisms (and just how they'll blow up you). My favorite is the Spathi, a race who evolved by being the most cowardly. They joined the Ur-Quan hirachy because they where too afraid not to, but can be convinced to join the rebellion if you prove that you can offer them more protection than the Ur-Quan. They are truly afraid of the Ultimate Evil, that lurks just outside the range of all sensors (which proves its malicious intent). In a clever turn, their ships are called "Eluders". I'm also found of the Mmrnmhrm. Just because they're name is fun to say. The writing is also peppered with in jokes to all sorts of sci-fi entertainment. I let out a loud guffaw when I discovered that the city the Ur-Quan destroyed was Buenos Aries.
So yeah. Go download it. Play it. Enjoy it. It's well worth your time.
For those not familiar, Star Control 2 was a space fight/sim/expolration epic for the PC. The story starts when you, a colonist returns to earth with new alien technology. However, during your absence Earth was involved in a war with the invading Ur-Quan. This warrior race of space octopus-things won the war and installed a slave shield around the Earth which prevents any contact. By rescuing a small group of Earthlings who are maintaining a Ur-Quan station you start the rebellion against the Ur-Quan Masters.
What makes the game so great is the excellent writing and alien interactions. There are about thirty or so alien races to interact with, with 25 different alien ships to pilot. The races are all well conceived and unique. The best part of the exploration is discovering a new race and learning their quirks and mannerisms (and just how they'll blow up you). My favorite is the Spathi, a race who evolved by being the most cowardly. They joined the Ur-Quan hirachy because they where too afraid not to, but can be convinced to join the rebellion if you prove that you can offer them more protection than the Ur-Quan. They are truly afraid of the Ultimate Evil, that lurks just outside the range of all sensors (which proves its malicious intent). In a clever turn, their ships are called "Eluders". I'm also found of the Mmrnmhrm. Just because they're name is fun to say. The writing is also peppered with in jokes to all sorts of sci-fi entertainment. I let out a loud guffaw when I discovered that the city the Ur-Quan destroyed was Buenos Aries.
So yeah. Go download it. Play it. Enjoy it. It's well worth your time.
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