History VideoGame / StrangeAdventuresInInfiniteSpace

** The hyperdrive is one. If you are lucky enough to find one, or to obtain one via trade with the Klackar, relatively early in your session, you can safely stop worrying about the time limit (which can get quite hairy otherwise, especially if there are lots of nebulae in the galaxy). The hyperdrive will get you to any system instantly, with a recharge time of 60 days between jumps - which is '''absolutely nothing''' compared to the travel times with even the fastest conventional drives. It doesn't care if there are nebulae or black holes in the way, either. There is one drawback: if you jump into a system with a supernova set to go off within one month and have no other drive in the cargo hold which you can install, it's a guaranteed game over, as your hyperdrive won't be able to recharge until the EarthShatteringKaboom. However, if you happen to have a backup drive lying around, you can safely swap them and escape. In all other situations, the hyperdrive is a guaranteed winner, with zero drawbacks. In ''Sea of Stars'' however, the very first hyperspace jump has you pick up the Vortex Beast, a dimensional lifeform that normally lurks in hyperspace. While it can be traded or sold just like any other lifeform, it can become a pain in the ass as with every trip you take to a star system there's a chance it will break loose from containment and either eat one of your other lifeforms or damages one of your ship's systems. Fortunately the Vortex Beast is unique so you won't pick up another one Jumping even if you unload it somewhere.

** Several of the stars in the sector are usually named after science fiction authors including Creator/ArthurCClarke, Creator/LarryNiven, Creator/CliffordSimak and Creator/RobertHeinlein. Also, some stars might be named after Creator/DanAykroyd and Creator/JohnBelushi, perhaps because the devs were fans of ''Film/TheBluesBrothers''.

** Several of the stars in the sector are usually named after science fiction authors including Creator/ArthurCClarke, Creator/LarryNiven, Creator/CliffordDSimak and Creator/RobertHeinlein. Also, some stars might be named after Creator/DanAykroyd and Creator/JohnBelushi, perhaps because the devs were fans of ''Film/TheBluesBrothers''.

In the game, you control an {{AFGNCAAP}} spaceship captain hired out by a [[TheSyndicate shady "businessman"]] to explore a region of space known as Sector Prime on a ten-year charter. Along the way, you explore new solar systems, discover exciting new technologies, and find new alien races to talk to (or kill). At the end of the ten-year period, you are expected to return home with loot and tales from your [[TitleDrop strange adventure in infinite space]].

* SpaceFighter: Enemy fighters will [[TheSwarm swarm]] you and can be deadly, especially if you only have a low-end shield and no weaponry that can do point defense. [[SpaceStation Space stations]] come with their own squadrons. You can also happen upon stranded fighters and recruit them or hire mercenary fighters. Almost none of the fighters are capable of lightspeed travel, with the sole exception of [[AcePilot Ripcord O'Reilly's]] [[AceCustom experimental craft]].

** Strangely enough, even if you have the Nebular Prow installed, which pushes nebular matter aside, your ship still moves slow. After this, though, you can move at normal speed. ''Sea of Stars'' features a 3 dimensional Navigation Map which allows different angles of approach and star system placements so the Prow is DummiedOut.

* LoanShark: Lextor Mucron, infamous Tiberian moonshine baron and interplanetary gangster who finances your expedition in ''Strange Aventures'' and ''Sea of Stars'', as well as in ''Weird Worlds'' if you choose the Pirate Corvette as your ship. Of course he expects to see a cut of the profits from your venture.

* TheReptilians: Garthans.

** [[SpaceStation Haven Station, the Klackar Orbital Nest and the Urluquai station]] will send out fighters when attacked.

* SpaceStation: Haven and Gamma Stations, the Klackar Orbital Nest, the Urluquai station... and Primordius's haunted space station.

* PlanetOfHats: In ''Sea of Stars'' most species you encounter in a game[[note]]Calatians, Garthans, Muktians, Urluquai and Zorg[[/note]] will have designated homeworlds in random systems where you can attempt to [[PracticalCurrency barter]] for weaponry and starship systems proprietary to that race, or [[MidseasonUpgrade upgrade a ship]] of that race in your fleet assuming you get past the starship(s) in that system- peacefully or otherwise. Most of the hostile races[[note]]Ravians (when they're not trying to invade Hope), Tan-Ru, and Tchorak[[/note]] will instead have a TreasureRoom[[note]]Brood Chamber, ?, Tchorak Garbage Dump[[/note]] filled with random items. No such luck with the Yellow Kawangi or Primordius.