This is a tough one, because it's hard to review given all the drama surrounding this title; but I'm glad to see that the torch is being carried for the series, even if this is a disappointing heir to the name. Star Control 2 was one of the most beloved games of my childhood. It is a pleasant enough game to earn two stars from me. It is not a *bad* game. But it is not an SC game. I think I might have enjoyed this title much more if it was not calling itself Star Control, because calling it a Star Control game gives me the expectation of a certain experience; there's the witty dialogue, the humor, the twisting and turning plot,the mysteries of the ancients, the clues of something grander happening in the galaxy that we're just playing a bit role in, there's the "Hero Captain" persona that you can embrace, even a bit of Mary Sue-level self-indulgence. in addition to the open-ended space exploration type of game that makes up the core game play of a Star Control game. This title got the open-ended space exploration, and the feel of the combat, fairly well. Mechanically it is in many ways true to the series, but not spiritually. It has no heart. It feels empty and hollow, and at the end of the day I didn't feel like I was making hard choices, as a galactic heel or as a savior. I would say, what it took from its predecessors-in-name, it took the wrong parts, rather than the parts that made it a great title. By all means check out the game, but what it does is surpassed by so many other alternatives. If you're looking for a reboot to that beloved nostalgic title from the old days of PC games, you won't find it here. On its own merits, it's relatively weak in general as well. You'll probably get a few hours of fun from it, but I can think of more worthwhile games to spend that money on.
