Str: SAIS [by Digital Eel]

Game Review: Strange Adventures in Infinite Space
Release Date: 2001
Developer: Digital Eel
Genre: Strategy
System Requirements: Pentium II 350MHz (600MHz or better recommended), 32M RAM (64MB or more recommended), Windows 95/98/ME, DirectX 6, DirectX compatible video card capable of 640x480 resolution, DirectX compatible sound card, 16M of free hard drive space, Mac OS9 and Mac OSX
Players: 1
Price: $15.00


Strange Adventures in Infinite Space is one of those simple yet deceptively compelling games. I found myself playing multiple games each session. I'm even playing a few games while I write this review!

In SAIS, Sector Prime is off-limits for unlicensed starships to explore. Even the government won't step in until a new thorium fission drive has been perfected. Enter Lextor Mucron, who offers you, an ex-pilot, the potentially rewarding adventure of exploring the system within 10 years. Return in that time with new knowledge of the planets in the system as well as exotic specimens and items, and you will be handsomely compensated!

Mucron provides you with a military ship that was modified with a larger cargo bay. Upon your return, the expense of the voyage will count against the profits you bring, so it is entirely possible to end up in debt, but it is also possible to earn enough money to start a new life.

While most strategy games are incredibly complex and require some time to learn, and even more to master, SAIS actually simplifies everything. You don't need to memorize numerous shortcut keys and you don't have to mine resources to build units. The game is designed to let you play for 15-20 minutes each session rather than requiring hours of commitment. I've found that sometimes a really fun game might last less than five minutes, depending on such things as how dangerous your enemies are or whether you are lucky enough to get the right type of super light-speed drive early on. Whether you manage to become rich or lose your ship to an exploding star, each game ends relatively quickly and so you can start a new one right away. At the beginning of a game, you get your ship, a randomly generated star system, and a 10 year time limit. There are multiple star systems orbited by planets of varying climates. Each system may have a new species of animal, a new component for your ship, or rare and potentially powerful items. You may meet other starships, though some are more friendly than others, and you can pick up allies who will help you in battle.

Exploring star systems is just a matter of traveling to them and seeing what's there. Some drives are much faster than what you have equipped by default, so trading and finding new drives can help you explore more star systems before your time is up. You can also find probes which will allow you to learn information about any star system, although obviously not with as much detail as you would get by exploring it directly. Still, if you find that you need to return home and don't have the time, a probe will help you earn that much more money in the end.

Battles are easy to control as well. You don't get to control your ship or your allies other than by telling them where to go or who to attack, although certain items and equipment can give you more options. There are also different weapons, shields, and thrusters available to help turn the tide in your favor.

The simplicity might bother those who are used to having more control, but like I said, the game is deceptive. It is hard to get bored, even after playing multiple sessions in a row. There are multiple aliens, planet types, enemies, allies, items, black holes, and other elements that make each game interesting. Once in awhile you will find that entire systems are being destroyed inexplicably, but the pattern shows that your home planet is on the list! SAIS offers quite a bit of variety while also making it easy to pick up and play.

To make it even quicker to start up a game, you can disable the mission briefing, which never changes anyway. Now when you click "Start Game" and select your game settings, you can immediately begin exploring. I would also advise you to turn on the option to countdown the time so you can easily see how many days you have left, which for some reason is not the default.

While it is possible to play for hours, each game takes minutes so you always know you can stop if you need to attend to family, run errands, or even get some actual work done. SAIS is a great game, especially for gamers who, for one reason or another, find that they have limited time to dedicate to playing.

Graphics: 7
Watching a star go supernova is cool, and some of the weapons also have amazing effects, but the sprites do not look as good as most modern games. The HUD is clear and easy to understand, however.

Sound: 7
Music only occurs during briefings and debriefings. Otherwise, the game features mostly space ambience and sound effects related to what you found.

Game Play: 9
The controls are very simple. Most of the time you are clicking and accepting orders, and on special actions you might need to enter in a value. It is very easy to get into this game.

Value: 8
For $15 and the focus on simplicity, you get an amazing amount of replay value out of SAIS. You can play a quick game or two during your busy schedule or log in multiple hours at a time.

Concept: 9
It is a game that focuses on being short and sweet. Even people who normally play involving strategy games should enjoy the change of pace that SAIS provides, although some might not appreciate the lack of direct control during battles.

Fun: 10
Just writing this review I found myself playing in a number of sessions. Hours later, I finally managed to finish the review, but I don't think I'll go to sleep yet. Just one more game...

Overall: 8
While the graphics aren't as high quality as some games, the game still gives you quite a bit of fun stuffed into a few minutes. While some games reach to provide more and more detail, SAIS is a compelling game while still being easy to play. As each game only lasts minutes, you can easily squeeze in a session here and there. Strange Adventures in Infinite Space is definitely a game to play if you find yourself wishing you had more time to play fun strategy games, though hardcore strategy fans might be put off by the focus on simplicity.
Added: October 3rd 2005
Reviewer: Gianfranco Berardi
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