After 32 years, the 1992 open-world space game that helped inspire Mass Effect is getting a proper sequel
The devs who founded Toys for Bob are going back to finally build a proper sequel to their beloved 1992 open-world space game, and while they no longer have the rights to the original game's name, the Kickstarter for this new title has smashed its $100,000 goal in less than three hours.
Free Stars: Children of Infinity is a sequel to Star Control 2 in all but name, and like its predecessor it's an open-world space game where you captain a ship, explore the galaxy, and have dialog tree conversations with all sorts of alien characters. You control your ship from a top-down perspective, flying around and shooting enemies in action sequences, but the real draw is the open-ended freedom you have to change your relationships with the characters you meet along the way and forge your own way through the galaxy.
If that sort of setup sounds familiar, it probably should. Star Control 2's "inspiration is all over the Mass Effect series," as former BioWare dev Mike Laidlaw once told Hardcore Gaming 101. "Rich stories, featuring a human who finds themselves thrust into a galactic conflict against dire, overwhelming foes bent on universal extinction is a great common theme. And of course we can’t forget the Mako, which was a direct nod to the lander gameplay of Star Control II."
Star Control 2 is a beloved classic, and with Free Stars: Children of Infinity promising a similar adventure from the original developers, it's little wonder that the game's Kickstarter managed to smash its $100,000 goal less than three hours after the project launched. "This is the ultimate, best feeling in the world," as the devs say in an update post.
If you're not familiar with Star Control 2, you might be wondering why this game features an entirely different title, and why I'm completely ignoring the multiple other sequels that have appeared in the years since the original game's release. Well, buckle up, because this is a long, strange history lesson.
The original Star Control was the first game
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