I encountered the original Star Control on the Sega Genesis (terribly underperformant.. I went back to play it a few years ago when I had my hands on the cartridge and a physical Genesis, and I did not remember the frame rate being that low).

I didn't even find out they had made a sequel until I got to college. Burned several weekends playing it. I can't imagine people having played through it back when you didn't have guides on the critical path... Playing so far in only to find out that the galaxy has a clock ticking against you must have been incredibly frustrating. But that was the style at the time, and it is a brilliant game.