GIVE THESE PEOPLE THE STAR TREK LICENSE!

Seriously, with the number of promising Star Trek games all amounting to a mountain of dashed hopes, SAIS delivers everything you want from space exploration in a game that can be completed during a coffee break. Despite the speed, the complete random generation makes this a game with endless replay value. The galaxy map always offers unique challenges based on what kind of drive and order of exploration you'll need to see it all within the time limit, as well as cargo and crew management, while the real time combat is surprisingly robust, with careful flanking, distraction, and weapon range management to eat up your time.

While the number and variety of races, ships, and weapons could still be improved, the game has an accessibility you loose with the "kitchen sink" mentality of so many modern strategy games. Strange Adventures in Infinite Space has all the elegance of simplicity while still retaining deep gameplay.