Quoted from Zablon:I keep thinking I need to start moving some things around to make room for new blood. I always think SS will be on the chopping block, but then I play it, and get condition green and that changes. I'm not sure what the actual draw is, it's not my favorite game by any means, but of my older games it gets the most play.
Yeah, it's a weird game like that. I'm at that "out of room" threshold and every time I think "hmm, out of them all, maybe Space Station is the lesser-keeper" but then I play it and it's just so damn unique I want to keep it, even for not being an high lister or one of my sentimental reworks. I think if the shots were more obvious and aim-able (the lack of inlanes works against this) it would probably get more love. But to be honest, a lot of them seem more prescribed to luck. Then you have today's fan-trained flow players already hating waiting for things like VUKs and diverters and an upper pf which is essentially a long wait just to do a lane change (but I personally love how two of them are stacked; it almost reminds me of Star Light).
So I get why it's a mid-tier game: the shots, pace, and flow are never going to be universally acclaimed. But of its time, I think it's fantastic: it was different, the lights and sounds easily rank among the best Sys11, and it does have a lot of shots and fun rewards to offer IF you can adopt your strategy to a lack of inlanes.
Perhaps some new rules would help it out.