While many players on planet earth are eagerly awaiting the release of Starfield, the JV team has altered spacetime to create 10 old and new space exploration themed games. It’s even rumored that some of them were a source of inspiration for Todd Howard…
But also…
We could also have talked about Star Citizen (still in development), Stellaris, Spore, Outer Wilds, Kerbal Space Program, Space Conquest: A Galactic Odyssey, not to mention countless space conquest-themed FPSs and RPGs . , such as Halo, Killzone, Phantasy Star or Star Ocean: The Last Hope.
Summary
- Galactic Empire (1980)
- SunDog: Frozen Legacy (1984)
- Elite (1984)
- Star Flight (1986)
- Homeworld (1999)
- Eve Online (2003)
- Mass Effect (2007)
- Endless Space (2012)
- FTL: Faster Than Light (2012)
- No Man’s Sky (2016)
Galactic Empire (1980)
Galactic Empire was developed by Doug Carlston in 1979 and released the following year one of the first video games whose goal was to conquer the galaxy through economic and military development. Released on Apple II, Atari 8-Bit and TRS-80 Micro Computer System, the software is a strategy game that puts the user at the helm of a fleet to conquer twenty planets in a galaxy in less than a thousand years. In order to successfully complete his mission, the player must recruit soldiers, but also build ships. Despite its age, the Galactic Empire allowed to send probes into space, to produce resources according to the planets’ level of development, to levy/collect taxes, but also to reduce the waiting time (thanks to Doctor Henderson). The game’s interest lies in the player’s ability to manage his time and travels in order to reach his destination before time runs out.
SunDog: Frozen Legacy (1984)
When asked about his inspirations for Starfield, Todd Howard names two games. The first is Traveller, a SF paper role-playing game that the developer wanted to adapt to Apple II, while the second is SunDog: Frozen Legacy, a trading and space combat app. It was one of the first games where you could move and assemble objects, and where you could have your own ship to explore the environment. SunDog: Frozen Legacy requires the player to travel from planet to planet to buy and sell goods. The problem is that pirates are after the loot and willingly engage in combat. With its cities to explore and its many characters, SunDog: Frozen Legacy made a strong impression. Still not convinced? Note that Richard Garriott, the famous creator of Ultima, confessed that it was his favorite game of all time, describing it as “a cross between Ultima and Wing Commander”.
Elite (1984)
One of Elite’s special features is that it has managed to fit 8 galaxies with 2,000 stars into a program that is only 20 KB in size. Unbelievable, isn’t it? Thanks to the feeling of freedom, a very refined interface and its innovative technology for the time, Elite is an important piece in the history of video games. Developed by David Braben, the software challenges the player to take control of a cargo ship to indulge in the pleasures of trading (legal or illegal). A real simulation, Elite challenges you to properly manage the size of your ship but also the risk-benefit ratio of the missions. Unlike other games in the genre, the software released by Acornsoft does not have an end or main goal that must be achieved before a countdown ends. 30 years later, Elite Dangerous will entertain lovers of space conquest by significantly deepening the experience. Thanks to an update, it will even offer the possibility of landing on planets.
Star Flight (1986)
In a way, we find a little of Starfield’s exaggeration in Starflight. Released in 1986 and published by Electronic Arts, the title combines elements of adventure gaming, strategy and role-playing. The project was so ambitious at the time that it put off Dave Boulton, one of the developers, who was convinced it would never be possible to complete this production.. In terms of software, the player’s goal is to assemble a team, customize their ship, survey the environment, and embark on an adventure to explore the galaxy. Alien races can stand in the way of the adventurer, aliens that we can fight or with whom we can try the path of diplomacy. What’s interesting about Starflight is that it’s a real-life scenario with multiple twists.
Homeworld (1999)
Rated a nice 93% on Metacritic, Homeworld impressed its little world when it landed in our green lands. Homeworld is a real-time 3D management/strategy space simulation. At the controls of a gigantic spaceship, the player has the mission to find the home planet of the residents of Kharak. In Homeworld, the user is assisted by a very useful on-board computer to help them in their quest. If the software released by Sierra in the late 1990s excelled, it was because it offered impeccable 3D for both the units and the space to be visited. In terms of content, more than 26 ships were available, from the lightest to the flying fortress ship, to help the player in his tasks. Although the story is simple, it was fun to follow. This didn’t allow Sierra’s title to become just another territory domination game of the kind there were many back then.
Eve Online (2003)
How to broach the subject of space conquest without addressing the MMO that gave him his letters of nobility? On paper, Eve Online is a dream come true for any SF fan. With its epic stories, impressive depth and aura of inaccessibility, the CCP title is a veritable UFO in the world of massive online gaming. Because no, Eve Online is no ordinary MMO. It doesn’t offer you dozens of main or side quests. It’s not such a game to throw a PnJ in your way with an exclamation mark on its head, asking you to kill X enemies or gather a certain amount of resources. NO, Eve Online is a sandbox game where the player sets their own goals, which is an offer as modern as it is enticing.. Unfortunately, this comes at the expense of unmanageable menus, miles of stats, items, text, skills, and a certain economy of the user interface. But his wealth is such that the adventure deserves to be experienced. You should know that since 2014, Eve Online is no longer strictly linked to a subscription: you can try the experience without risking losing a euro.
Mass Effect (2007)
Of course, with a theme like this, we couldn’t miss the Mass Effect saga either. The Mass Effect trilogy has enough to bring to life an epic SF epic that insists on its character’s incarnation thanks to difficult choices. Better yet, it incorporates a bit of romance, allowing for players who want to forge friendly — even romantic — relationships with other machine-run protagonists. We recall that Starfield will also offer to express his feelings. The wonder you feel when you discover the galaxy and the species that live within it makes Bioware’s series an action RPG to remember. Mass Effect is an excellent trilogy that still works well today. It should be noted that the theme of space exploration is also addressed in Mass Effect Andromeda. In many ways, Starfield is reminiscent of BioWare’s title, although Bethesda’s software goes a lot further in the things you can get to (build bases, ships, etc.) and see (hundreds of solar systems to visit). appears ).
Endless Space (2012)
Endless Space is a space management and strategy game featuring eight factions set on exploring and conquering a galaxy once ruled by a mysterious race known as the Endless. To achieve this, they must rely on diplomacy, research, or even the army. Here the emphasis is on turn-based management, without forgetting the famous 4X for eXploration, eXpansion, eXploitation and eXtermination. So they start by exploring their environment and then populating different planets with the right ships. Well done and with online games, Endless Space could easily fit into 4X’s credentials alongside Galactic Civilizations or other Sins of a Solar Empire at the time of its release.
FTL: Faster Than Light (2012)
During the Starfield Direct, many players yelled the name “FTL‘ in the chat as Bethesda introduced the management of the ships. FTL is a space roguelike whose goal is to reach the other end of the galaxy aboard a small ship to warn of the imminent invasion of the Rebel fleet. The journey requires the adventurer to traverse eight different sectors. FTL has a small side”book whose hero you are“Welcome, some choices lead to particularly dangerous sequences. Both the player’s ship and his opponent’s ship benefit from a 2D bird’s eye view. The different systems are presented there, allowing us to carry them in a targeted manner by disabling the enemy’s shield, taking out the hull, neutralizing the attack potential to suffer less damage, destroying the oxygen generator to suffocate the crew … the player is spoiled for choice choice in his strategies.
No Man’s Sky (2016)
While not a single-player narrative RPG, No Man’s Sky is very reminiscent of Bethesda’s game. There are actually robotic companions, extraction beams, space combat, or even basic evolutions.. However, Starfield will be 100% single player and should be viewed as a Bethesda space roleplaying game rather than a survival/exploration game like No Man’s Sky. However, if you like adventure and visit hundreds of different planets without ever really knowing what to expect, Hello Games software is for you. Due to the numerous updates, farming has been simplified. Also, it has a great atmosphere enhanced by a soaring soundtrack. It should be noted that No Man’s Sky has a VR mode to better experience these crazy space epics from the hero’s point of view.
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