Yora
Legend
I made a list a few days ago of works I am familiar with, and which ones of them create the space opera feel for me.
Totally Space Opera
Biggest thing for me are cool alien planets. The Moon or Mars won't do. They have to look cool on a wall with stuff going on. Desert planets at least have to be majestic desert planets. Places that are perhaps more out of fantasy than what you would expect from astronomy. And in 99% of cases, no character needs a space suit to walk around.
I also want to see at least half a dozen different aliens. It doesn't have to have them, but I will always be very much hoping for them. Even if they are effectively just different space nationalities much more than different species.
And to be blunt: Action.
Doesn't have to be a lot. Doesn't have to be huge. Doesn't have to be fancy. But I find it very important that the characters always have to be aware that someone might try to shoot at them in an unfamiliar or hostile place. It does need to have that sense of potential danger.
Totally Space Opera
- Babylon 5
- Dune
- Homeworld
- Mass Effect
- Star Trek (60s)
- Star Wars
- Cowboy Bebop
- Star Trek (80s and 90s)
- StarCraft
- The Fifth Element
- Alien
- Dead Space
- Halo
- Riddick Series
- Stargate
- The Expanse
Biggest thing for me are cool alien planets. The Moon or Mars won't do. They have to look cool on a wall with stuff going on. Desert planets at least have to be majestic desert planets. Places that are perhaps more out of fantasy than what you would expect from astronomy. And in 99% of cases, no character needs a space suit to walk around.
I also want to see at least half a dozen different aliens. It doesn't have to have them, but I will always be very much hoping for them. Even if they are effectively just different space nationalities much more than different species.
And to be blunt: Action.
Doesn't have to be a lot. Doesn't have to be huge. Doesn't have to be fancy. But I find it very important that the characters always have to be aware that someone might try to shoot at them in an unfamiliar or hostile place. It does need to have that sense of potential danger.