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Topic: Ur-Quan Masters reviewed by Finlands #1 Games Mag (Read 10398 times)
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FalconMWC
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Acually I had NEVER heard of SC3 before going to these forums. I had heard of UQM - but never SC3. So I don't think it is because of SC3 - I mean that got even less then UQM. So - I think they just don't like the idea of taking a old game and "putting new breath into it". I also think it is because UQM has never paid for advertising. (Nor, in my opionion should it.)
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Jarre
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I love YaBB 1G - SP1!
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Hi,
Here is word to word translation of the article published in Finnish "Pelit" magazine. It may not be perfect english but better than Orz english, I guess  . The original article is written by Tapio Berschewsky.
Enjoy.
The Ur-Quan Masters
Heinlein was wrong: There are free lunches. One of the spiciest is The Ur-Quan Masters project, a fan made windows version of one of the best computer games in the world, Star Control 2.
Star Control game sequel, especially part 2, is often remembered by older generation players with tears in their eyes. The game was launched in 1992, got 96 points in Pelit magazine review (vol.1/93) and was the first Game of The Year awarded by Pelit.
Star Control 2 combined epic space exploration adventure with clever and fascinating combat scenarios and its attractiveness has not diminished in 11 years even quark's diameter downwards. Luckily it is possible to confirm this, thanks to the developer of the game, Toys For Bob. TFB released Star Control 2 3DO-version source code for free and project Ur-Quan Masters was born.
Can you come together with Orz for *parties*
Star Control's melee, a top-down perspective space combat is legendary. Space combat takes place between two ships at time in zooming area which is full of asteroids and a planet in the middle with gravitational pull. This simple arcade-shootout is devilishly catchy because there are great number of different kind of ships to choose. Each species has own ship type which have individual speed, maneuverability, armament and special advantages.
For example ariloulaleelay skiff-class ship moves completely without inertia, is pretty fast, turns on a penny and shoots self-aiming but short range laser beam and is able to teleport. The slow and clumsy Ur-Quan Kzer-Za dreadnoughts shoot flaming long-range plasmadeath and can launch bunch of small fighters to destroy enemy. There are 26 different kinds of ships in the game, including the player's own mothership.
Ur-Quan Masters is divided in two parts: super-melee and actual game with a plot. In super-melee the name of the game is especially the duel between ships. At first, two fleets are created from the ships which are ranked by lethality against the enemy, even though small ships are remarkably under-estimated. Starfleets are then sent against computer or a friend (using same keyboard).
FREEDOM OR DEATH!
The story begins 20 years before the start of Ur-Quan Masters. The war between the Ur-Quan hierarchy and the Alliance of Free Stars has been devastating and furious for a long time. Finally Ur-Quans win the war against alliance of human race and Chenjesu race. A group of scientists are surrounded behind enemy lines. A rescue ship was never heard so scientists continue colonization and digging. On planet surface old ruins of ancient precursors and a factory suitable for creating spaceships are revealed. There are resources to manufacture one mothership. It is built soon and sent to earth to find out war situation.
First task is to fly to earth and make an alliance with the commander of space station that is controlling the human slave planet. So, the base station is now found and off you go to conquer galaxy and eliminate nasty and unhuman Ur-Quans. The precursor ship is a mothership that transport fighters within it. The game still lacks the intro demo and the final demo so the game starts, quite oddly, from edge of the solar system. It is odd that game still lacks the original intro still-pictures and music.
Exploring the infinity
The universe of the game consists of hunderds of star systems. Each of them can be visited and every planet and moon can be explored. The purpose of visiting balls is to collect resources in order to purchase ships, components, gas and crew. Every now and then the findings are transported safe to Earth in which ship is supplied with new equipment and new combat-ready spaceships.
Biological data is offered to Melnorme who sell extremely important new technology and information about galaxy events. Uncertain energy readings are found in some planets which often means that storyline is about to move forward.
Findings are collected using a lander craft that glides on planet surface. At first, some rocks are too dangerous to land. Without good shields and extra-speed, landers are far too weak to resist such hostile climate or dangers of unstable ground like fire-stroms, lightning or earth quakes.
Inter star system traveling is done in red colored hyper space. Every now and then some other race is encountered in middle of stardust. Some of them are hostile as <censored>, some are neutral and some are friendly. There is a lot of dialogue and it is full of absurd inner circle jokes and dark humour.
Other spaceships encountered usually first send player to their home world to take care of diplomatic relations with planet leaders. It is always good to try to convert other races against Ur-quans. Some races join gladly, the other races require special mission to be done while some races are always hostile. After the alliance is made it is possible to develope spaceships based on technology of new friends in home space station.
An old dog learns new tricks
The graphic is converted from original 3DO version directly but colourful, beautiful and large-sace artwork made in 1992 still looks playable. The original PC tracker music is included and also mixed pieces made for 3DO version from which it is possible to choose. In the same way it is possible to choose either 3DO-version or PC-version user interface and menu bars. Many of the original composers (Finnish Riku Nuottajarvi among other) were recruited for UQM-project to re-mix old pieces, first remix-packet was just released.
It is no wonder that the Ur-Quan Masters is able to stand the test of time. The game desing is brilliant, dialogue is timeless and hilariously funny. Different kinds of soulful races and their strange spaceships are hard to forget even when the game is finished. I have played the Star Control 2 through about ten times and once again the scenes and creatures appeared in my dreams even weeks after finishing the game.
Only thing to be bothered is that it is not possible to play melee in net. Lack of intro demo and final demo is no big problem especially because just third alpha version of free game is available. No other words to be said, as Orz would put it "Is it time for *playing* yet".
Good:
- Cultural event of the year
- Everything
Bad:
- It is not possible to play melee in net
Summary: High quality space-opera with brilliant combat system. UQM must be played in order to believe the finesse of it.
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« Last Edit: February 09, 2004, 01:40:04 am by Jarre »
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FalconMWC
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If only the other review mags. can take a hint! :-/
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« Last Edit: February 08, 2004, 11:47:42 pm by FalconMWC »
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FalconMWC
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Well as the programmers would say, "Let us know when the beta version is ready DJ!" - Though in my personal thought is that it would be the coolest feature.
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FalconMWC
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Not to mention how to get your CPU to accept code!
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Chrispy
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Whats with the bitterness against TW. So they waste size, and time with crappy ships, that they churn out at an unimaginable rate.. but if you ignore that the melee is good.
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FalconMWC
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You can overcome a little "dislike" for TW to get help from them. They are'nt THAT bad. There melee engines are good - just not the ships.
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Culture20
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If you're talking about just taking code from one project and sticking it in another:
Why doesn't somone graft gills onto their neck so they can breath underwater? We understand how they work in fish, and we understand the human body.
The big problem is that they don't work together at all.
If you're talking about making an SC2-ship-only version of TW, anyone can do that. Download the source, remove the non-SC2 ships from the makefile/project-files & directories, recompile. Voila! You might even be able to hard-code 16-angle turning.
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Pages: 1 [2] 3
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(for free ofcourse!.
Deep Jiffa Owns j00!