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Req.: PII 350, 32MB RAM, 16MB hd, Win 95/98/ME, Direct X sound/video card,
640x480 res. Reviewed On: P3 667, 384 MB RAM, GeForce 2 MMX, Soundblaster Audigy, Win 98SE | |||
Intro The tongue-in-cheek ads for Strange Adventures in Infinite Space boast that you may now “Explore the galaxy in 20 minutes or less!”, a claim that effectively sums up both the sense of humor and style encapsulated in its strategy-lite style of gameplay. With a touch of Star Control and more than enough sci-fi silliness to fill several full-length games, SAIS is a great way to see the galaxy, kill a few aliens, and discover a few bizarre intergalactic artifacts, all before your coffee break’s up. Gameplay: 7.5/10 As stated earlier, SAIS is all about offering an action-packed glimpse at space exploration with enough time left over to finish your coffee. As a result, almost everything about the game is designed to be thankfully brief and to the point. Even the plot is just an excuse to toss into the inky wilds of space, as you supposedly land yourself as a former convict in the service of Lextor Mucron, who funds your dream of returning to space in exchange for whatever discoveries, creatures, and artifacts you can net for him from uncharted space. There is a catch, however: you’re working on a time limit, and traveling through the galaxy is no quick walk in the park. In other words, you must explore and get a hold of as much as you can as quickly as possible, and make it back home before your ten-year deadline comes up. Fail to make it back by the designated date, and incredibly heavy fines are imposed, drastically reducing your overall score. However, should you make it back with a list of new discoveries, plenty in your cargo hold and time to spare, your score will be much more favorable, as will your “ending”, which reflects your final tally. Finish your mission in Lextor’s good books, and you might end up as an intergalactic spy; end up in the red, and you’ll find your final days being spent as a conscript, janitor, or worse. The opening stages reflect the game’s general philosophy, requiring but a few moments to name yourself and your ship, choose one of three weapon combinations, as well as the relative difficulty of the task ahead of you. After a few seconds, you’re ready to launch yourself into a randomly generated galaxy that’s dotted with numerous planets, not to mention the occasional black hole. Of course, there’s also the ever-present Nebula, which immediately and drastically slows down any ship foolish enough to travel through it, often forcing you to carefully decide which planets you’ll visit on your voyage. Those seeking a quick and easy shot through the galaxy can always opt to reduce the nebula’s size in the opening settings, though the trade-off is once again a lower score. In fact, between the time limit, the distance between the planets, and the nebula, it becomes somewhat of a challenge to actually obtain a healthy, positive score. Even death will do a number on your final tally, and avoiding its icy grip is no easy task: black holes, collapsing stars, singularities, hostile aliens, and some hilariously strange items best left unmentioned can often bring your trip to a quick end. However, this constant challenge is decidedly part of the game’s addictive charm, urging you to try it just one more time…time and time again. Strange discoveries abound throughout Strange Adventures in Infinite Space; some are helpful, some are not-so-helpful, and some are downright weird. For instance, you’ll constantly come across new and bizarre parts that you can swap into your ship, such as stronger thrusters or engines that boost your travel speed. Some are more useful for combat, such as a Micrometeorite Gun, stronger shields, or even a type of cloaking device. Other items are purely useful in terms of monetary value: while the Cenotaph of Rylex or the Codex of Primordius might not seem particularly worthwhile to you in the wilds of space, you can bet that Lextor will pay you well for them if and when you return. Naturally, it’s impossible to poke around the galaxy, stirring things up without bumping into its inhabitants, and these are varied as well, ranging from the strange Klakar, who will gladly trade for just about anything, to the hostile, Borg-like Ru Tan who want nothing more than to blow your ship into little tiny pieces. This last aspect, combat, is actually quite entertaining in that it’s utterly simple and uncomplicated: when you’re tossed into battle, you need only to click wherever you’d like your ship or allies to move or shoot. Of course, there’s a bit more to it than that – weapon combinations, shield strength, enemy formations, ship sizes, effects of any devices you’ve picked up – but in the end, it’s easily and thankfully reducible to a short, point-‘n’-click affair that’s just long enough to be entertaining without feeling drawn out. When all is said and done, the broad range of discoveries available to you is probably the most appealing aspect of SAIS, as any given voyage will land you with any combination of bizarre and helpful items alongside all manner of aliens. The problem here, however, is that the game's “quick-shot” nature doesn't it lend itself very well to long-term play; unfortunately, it doesn’t take long to see most of the items, which damages a bit of the charm in the long run. However, if you play the way it’s meant to -that is, in short spurts every once in a while -it can provide you with a great way to distract yourself when you're short on time. Graphics:
7/10 Sound:
8/10 Overall: 7.5/10
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