Seldom have I played a game with such a varied, eclectic roster of species, and while many are perhaps not terribly realistic or even a bit gimmicky (a bit like pro wrestling was around the same time, in fact), they are appealing and memorable all the same. There are quite a few as well though, so I'll split this into several parts. This is the second of two posts featuring the less-friendly half of the roster...
Spoiler Warning! - It's probably not really worth mentioning for a 25-year-old game but just in case - the following post will likely contain some small spoilers relating to Star Control 2 and the story found in its main game, so proceed with caution if you've yet to play through it! (assuming you plan to) :)
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| This is probably fan-made artwork so credit where it's due... |
Spathi
Anyone who played the original SC game will most likely remember the distinctive Discriminator/Eluder ships these guys use so it was interesting to see what the pilots were like. If you play the game thoroughly right from the start, you should meet one of them - Captain Fwiffo - very quickly, at which point you'll learn that these mollusk-like cretins are the most cowardly species you'll ever meet! The further they are away from their homeworld the more scared they apparently are, and they live in perpetual fear of some hitherto unseen species referred to as the 'Ultimate Evil' by the terrified Spathi. All they want is to be safe, nothing else matters.
If you find them irritating, however, and there's a reasonable chance you do/will, you should be pleased to hear that you don't actually need to spend any time with them if you don't want to. They can be entertaining and they have a few bits of helpful information, but there isn't much of use that can't be found elsewhere if you're patient. Not ignoring them does offer a couple of minor side-quests though, and any game is the sum of its parts, big or small.
"My eternal gratitude is yours, oh devastator of helpless beings."
Anyone who played the original SC game will most likely remember the distinctive Discriminator/Eluder ships these guys use so it was interesting to see what the pilots were like. If you play the game thoroughly right from the start, you should meet one of them - Captain Fwiffo - very quickly, at which point you'll learn that these mollusk-like cretins are the most cowardly species you'll ever meet! The further they are away from their homeworld the more scared they apparently are, and they live in perpetual fear of some hitherto unseen species referred to as the 'Ultimate Evil' by the terrified Spathi. All they want is to be safe, nothing else matters.
If you find them irritating, however, and there's a reasonable chance you do/will, you should be pleased to hear that you don't actually need to spend any time with them if you don't want to. They can be entertaining and they have a few bits of helpful information, but there isn't much of use that can't be found elsewhere if you're patient. Not ignoring them does offer a couple of minor side-quests though, and any game is the sum of its parts, big or small.
"My eternal gratitude is yours, oh devastator of helpless beings."
Thraddash
These blustering pig-oafs are basically the opposite of the whiny Spathi. They are a race of warlike barbarians and all they do is burble on about their numbered planetary 'cultures' while talking and acting as toughly as possible. Typically for a species that acts so tough, they are actually weedier than the smallest weed in a garden which has already had weedkiller sprayed on it. In fact, much amusement can be had from flicking away the many Torch vessels they insist on throwing at you.
Sadly, this entertaining diversion will most likely not be enjoyed until you're pretty far into the game as they reside in the Draconis stars right at the top of the starmap. The snorting brutes are worth the trip though, and not only because they have an artefact that may prove useful in the main game. The only time they are to be avoided is if you decide to half-inch their precious artefact. Even then they aren't a threat but their quest for revenge just becomes a nuisance.
"Inferior Aliens. You have once again intruded upon the territory of the Thraddash. This is a patrolled region of space. Your presence here is considered an act of War! How wonderful!"
These blustering pig-oafs are basically the opposite of the whiny Spathi. They are a race of warlike barbarians and all they do is burble on about their numbered planetary 'cultures' while talking and acting as toughly as possible. Typically for a species that acts so tough, they are actually weedier than the smallest weed in a garden which has already had weedkiller sprayed on it. In fact, much amusement can be had from flicking away the many Torch vessels they insist on throwing at you.
Sadly, this entertaining diversion will most likely not be enjoyed until you're pretty far into the game as they reside in the Draconis stars right at the top of the starmap. The snorting brutes are worth the trip though, and not only because they have an artefact that may prove useful in the main game. The only time they are to be avoided is if you decide to half-inch their precious artefact. Even then they aren't a threat but their quest for revenge just becomes a nuisance.
"Inferior Aliens. You have once again intruded upon the territory of the Thraddash. This is a patrolled region of space. Your presence here is considered an act of War! How wonderful!"
Umgah
I don't know how your SC2 progress went (or will go, depending on whether you've played it yet or not), but these sniggering blobs were the last species I met during my first play through the game. I'm not sure why now that I think about it either. They're a worth a visit though, if for nothing else then just their appearance alone! They are pink blobs with apparently randomly-positioned eyes and mouths as well as a number of tentacles or floppy arm-type things.
They are of course also Hierarchy Battle Thralls and, judging by my eventual encounters with them, they probably take great enjoyment from doing the Ur-Quan's bidding. They're known throughout the galaxy for their skills in bio-science as well as their warped sense of humour and the perverse pleasure they take from their incessant pranks, some of which have a significant impact on the main game. You will need to deal with them at some stage too, but despite their constant giggling and sometimes helpful-seeming words, they aren't trustworthy.
"Hey look everybody! Human Earthling came back! Har! Har! Har! Wonder if we'll kill him this time? Har! Har! Har!"
I don't know how your SC2 progress went (or will go, depending on whether you've played it yet or not), but these sniggering blobs were the last species I met during my first play through the game. I'm not sure why now that I think about it either. They're a worth a visit though, if for nothing else then just their appearance alone! They are pink blobs with apparently randomly-positioned eyes and mouths as well as a number of tentacles or floppy arm-type things.
They are of course also Hierarchy Battle Thralls and, judging by my eventual encounters with them, they probably take great enjoyment from doing the Ur-Quan's bidding. They're known throughout the galaxy for their skills in bio-science as well as their warped sense of humour and the perverse pleasure they take from their incessant pranks, some of which have a significant impact on the main game. You will need to deal with them at some stage too, but despite their constant giggling and sometimes helpful-seeming words, they aren't trustworthy.
"Hey look everybody! Human Earthling came back! Har! Har! Har! Wonder if we'll kill him this time? Har! Har! Har!"
Ur-Quan
Oh dear, it's the scary Ur-Quan, or the Kzer-Za version of the Ur-Quan to be precise, the main bad guys of the first game and second-to-worst bad guys of this game after their cousins, the Kohr-Ah. The reason they are only the second-worst here is that the Kohr-Ah want to exterminate all sentient life whereas the Kzer-Za merely want to enslave all the races. Which is much nicer, obviously.
We already know about their fearsome Dreadnought ships but I was pleased/scared to see they are just as intimidating themselves, particularly their booming-yet-sinister voices which will be the first voice you hear when starting the game owing to the security drone near Earth. It probably won't be too long before you meet them in person for the first time either though as, along with the Kohr-Ah, they have an enormous circle of influence that covers many systems and areas you will need to visit. Plus, you'll need to have a chin-wag with them at some stage anyway as contact with them is essential for finishing the game.
Being evil slug monsters, they will inevitably attack you when they get the chance too, or 'punish' you for violating the Oath of Fealty as they see it. Like their black cousins, however, they will usually talk to you first and they are actually quite interesting. They are apparently happy to discuss their motivations, history, and even concerns regarding their Doctrinal Conflict before unleashing fiery death upon you! You might even end up feeling sorry for them!
"Your presence here is further violation of the slave laws which your species have already violated so flagrantly. We cannot tolerate such insubordination!"
Oh dear, it's the scary Ur-Quan, or the Kzer-Za version of the Ur-Quan to be precise, the main bad guys of the first game and second-to-worst bad guys of this game after their cousins, the Kohr-Ah. The reason they are only the second-worst here is that the Kohr-Ah want to exterminate all sentient life whereas the Kzer-Za merely want to enslave all the races. Which is much nicer, obviously.
We already know about their fearsome Dreadnought ships but I was pleased/scared to see they are just as intimidating themselves, particularly their booming-yet-sinister voices which will be the first voice you hear when starting the game owing to the security drone near Earth. It probably won't be too long before you meet them in person for the first time either though as, along with the Kohr-Ah, they have an enormous circle of influence that covers many systems and areas you will need to visit. Plus, you'll need to have a chin-wag with them at some stage anyway as contact with them is essential for finishing the game.
Being evil slug monsters, they will inevitably attack you when they get the chance too, or 'punish' you for violating the Oath of Fealty as they see it. Like their black cousins, however, they will usually talk to you first and they are actually quite interesting. They are apparently happy to discuss their motivations, history, and even concerns regarding their Doctrinal Conflict before unleashing fiery death upon you! You might even end up feeling sorry for them!
"Your presence here is further violation of the slave laws which your species have already violated so flagrantly. We cannot tolerate such insubordination!"
VUX
I was very interested in meeting these guys after reading their backstory in the supplementary material for the first game which revealed how they were potential members of the Alliance of Free Stars until they heard a human captain make a disparaging remark about their appearance, unaware the VUX's translator was operational. They were furious and have hated us ever since, even throwing their hat in with the Ur-Quan instead of the Alliance due to our faux pas!
Typically of course, upon meeting them we find they are indeed ugly motherf*ckers (to borrow Arnie's saying) more than a little reminiscent of a bipedal, one-eyed squid! Interactions with them in the main game are optional - you don't actually need to but there is one minor side quest you would need them for - but it's worth dropping by their home in the Luyten constellation anyway just to hear their amusingly dramatic upper-class voices! Naturally they think we are the ugly ones too...
"Augh! You are even uglier than I had thought possible! Can't you see you are making me sick? Please, foul creature, turn your head, or better yet, put a sack over it. Never mind, I have adjusted my display so it is dim enough to be tolerable."
I was very interested in meeting these guys after reading their backstory in the supplementary material for the first game which revealed how they were potential members of the Alliance of Free Stars until they heard a human captain make a disparaging remark about their appearance, unaware the VUX's translator was operational. They were furious and have hated us ever since, even throwing their hat in with the Ur-Quan instead of the Alliance due to our faux pas!
Typically of course, upon meeting them we find they are indeed ugly motherf*ckers (to borrow Arnie's saying) more than a little reminiscent of a bipedal, one-eyed squid! Interactions with them in the main game are optional - you don't actually need to but there is one minor side quest you would need them for - but it's worth dropping by their home in the Luyten constellation anyway just to hear their amusingly dramatic upper-class voices! Naturally they think we are the ugly ones too...
"Augh! You are even uglier than I had thought possible! Can't you see you are making me sick? Please, foul creature, turn your head, or better yet, put a sack over it. Never mind, I have adjusted my display so it is dim enough to be tolerable."
Yehat
Ah, the good old Yehat, we can always rely on these friendly squawkers to help us out. BUT WAIT!! Since the end of the Great War, they apparently switched sides and are now a Hierarchy Battle Thrall! Oh dear. Regardless of their allegiance, however, it was highly amusing to find here that, in addition to looking like sentient Pterodactyls, they also all talk in a strong Scottish accent (chortle!).
As with the VUX, visits to the Yehat stars are optional, but if you do choose to drop by, you'll find that they do not share the love the Pkunk have for their distant cousins which is sad to see. How can you not love the Pkunk? Chatting with the Yehat will also reveal that many of them are ashamed of the decision by their queen to join the Hierarchy. Who knows, you might even be able to provoke a revolution! They are an honourable species at heart, and they have pretty cool ships too!
"BRAK! What am I seeing on my view screen!? HOOT! It is none other than the flattened old face of our friends, the Human! But old ally, are ye not knowing that we, the Yehat are allied with the Ur-Quan now?"
Ah, the good old Yehat, we can always rely on these friendly squawkers to help us out. BUT WAIT!! Since the end of the Great War, they apparently switched sides and are now a Hierarchy Battle Thrall! Oh dear. Regardless of their allegiance, however, it was highly amusing to find here that, in addition to looking like sentient Pterodactyls, they also all talk in a strong Scottish accent (chortle!).
As with the VUX, visits to the Yehat stars are optional, but if you do choose to drop by, you'll find that they do not share the love the Pkunk have for their distant cousins which is sad to see. How can you not love the Pkunk? Chatting with the Yehat will also reveal that many of them are ashamed of the decision by their queen to join the Hierarchy. Who knows, you might even be able to provoke a revolution! They are an honourable species at heart, and they have pretty cool ships too!
"BRAK! What am I seeing on my view screen!? HOOT! It is none other than the flattened old face of our friends, the Human! But old ally, are ye not knowing that we, the Yehat are allied with the Ur-Quan now?"
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