Star Control: Origins

I am so mad that the fake Star Control game is actually decent. It can't touch Star Control 2 and the story makes no sense in context with the Ur-Quan stuff but as a stand-alone game, I am enjoying traveling a galaxy that I don't have memorized.

A really good "sequel" to star control II. Keeps a lot of what made the original great.

However the space battles are worse. somehow they didn't grasp the asymmetry design of the ships from star control II. Star controls II ships are all so different with unique abilities.

So far, most of the ships of Origins are samey. samey lasers. Star control II will always be replayable because of that feature. also found the power-up drops to be immersion breaking, plus they are pointless.
Once i'm done with the origins fun story and engaging enough rpg mechanics, i won't be back to play ship vs ship battle. rather do that in Star Control II.

I have been aware of and influenced by the Star Control games for 30+ years at this point, but I only finally completed one here in 2025. I have to say, I am sorry it took me this long, but I finally understand what I was missing (even if I realize this was not really made by any of the same people as any of the previous titles).

Star Control: Origins is a series of deep and intriguing contemplations about the nature of exploration, war, friendship, motivation, religion, deception, and self-justification, all wrapped up in a game where you explore large swaths of the universe and meet dozens of alien races with their own goals and motivations, sometimes breaking to shoot lasers at tiny ships or pick up valuables on a Little Prince-sized planetoid, and all in a setting graphically reminiscent of Paw Patrol. And it is fantastic.

If I have anything at all negative to say about this game it is that you move slowly enough at the start that it took me a few tries to actually finish exploring the starting solar system despite me exploring similar solar systems in a few minutes at most by the end of the game. Once the pace picks up a bit, so too does the game's fun, and honestly both continue accelerating pretty well together. You feel like you are progressing not only mechanically but also socially and, like, civilizationally, as you continue putting together the pieces of the grand mysteries of what the hell is going on and how in the world you are involved in it all.

This game reminds me in some sense of the System Shock remake--and yes I realize that came out -after- Star Control: Origins--but both crucially recognized that great design is great design, and keeping almost everything about the original game(s) intact when recreating things for a modern audience, while smoothing over any infamously rough aspects of the design or mechanics, proved absolutely the right call in both cases. Star Control: Origins even basically kept the same music that played when you flew through hyperspace in Star Control ][, which certainly made my Demoscene heart happy to hear. And I even saw that the developers smoothed over things with the developers of the first two Star Control games and seemingly they started integrating their designs by the time of the expansion here; dare I hope for a Star Control IV: Origins II? That would probably end up my favorite space game ever if it came out as well as I am envisioning.

I liked it though it's basically a kinder, gentler version of Star Control 2.

There is no time limit to your goals. Yes, the main enemy will expand its territory over time, but you can always take it back when you feel ready to do so.

There is a random alien that attacks you like the Slylandro Probes but they aren't as aggressive and dangerous. Overall the game is not as challenging, but there are some optional fights that are pretty deadly and take you by surprise if you stumble into that star system.

A few of the alien races are too similar to the ones in Star Control 2, though there were a few like the Phamysht and the Mukay that were pretty funny and interesting.

The landing segment is different from SC in that it's 3D. Mining in either game gets boring fast, but the 3D terrain takes longer to navigate so it's worse overall.

This game's version of "Super Melee" is quite fun. The ships are easy to control and there are powerups scattered across each map. Instead of the screen looping, you're set in an arena with a deadly outer zone. This can be useful for whittling down heavily armored ships. Because this game is newer, I found the ships easier to control and had a better time. There is also a large variety of ships and most of them are useful.

Overall, if you like Star Control 2 you will probably enjoy Star Control: Origins, though it won't blow your mind.

The DLC is ok. It doesn't have as many voiced parts and it feels unfinished. However, you get access to some powerful hybrid ships that make the final missions easier.

If you're into space exploration and adventure while exploring different planets and meeting, befriending, and/or fighting all sorts of aliens then this is the game for you.

gotta love it! good sense of humour combined with some space adventures and blowin up some bad guys :D

Recommended for fans of space exploration and adventure. It is fairly unique in its blend of storytelling and combination galaxy and planet explorations as well as ship duels. I could also recommend you look into Rebel Galaxy, Mass Effect, or Galaxy on Fire 2.

+Visuals
+Music
+Story
+Variety of unique races, ships
+Exploration
+Some meaningful choices
+Options, key rebinding
+Fully voiced
+Writing/humor
+Variety of ship parts/upgrades

-Resource collection can be tedious
-Difficult to see/compare available upgrades
-Lacking direction at times
-Slow movement
-Clunky battle and planet controls
-Can't deactivate AI autobattle when selected
-Can softlock some battles due to AI
-'Fleets' only fight 1 ship at a time
-Some achievements are broken (Lose fleet battles)