Space Games?

Yeah the tunnels were pretty fun. Blast objects to gain seconds.

Interestingly it was rather hard in the Missile Boat.

But I really liked the simulator missions, especially the first Tie Fighter mission. I got up to beating the first 7 Headhunters of the 12 group before they got me. Phiew... it was fun and I loved it. Impossible odds (should you defeat the 12 headhunters you would be faced with 12 X-Wings as the last group) in an unshielded fighter. Fast in and fast out, no flying straight for more than a couple seconds are those red darts were getting closer and closer past the cockpit, but at least that gave away how close they wetre getting to hitting me. Then jink and juke until an enemy was in front with it's rear to me, blast him and repeat.

Only ever played demos of Free Space games, but always thought they seemed
enjoyable. I seem to remember playing a free series of downloads of Wing
Commander Prophecy, seemed like a good game, but my computer at the time
had issues with it. Also enjoyed playing Starlancer, although never bought it.
Moved onto the X games, but never got anything beyond X-tension. Refreshing
for me, someone who never really enjoyed the Elite games.

First space combat simulator I played was Wing Commander 2. After that I
progressed to X-Wing, and then on to what I think was certainly the most
enjoyable: TIE Fighter. Honestly think nothing beats it, and I do have X-Wing
Alliance and found it to be lacking by comparison.

Although I had no idea there was a X-Wing Alliance TIE Fighter conversion. Is it
a finished version, or work-in-progress? Also never thought that the games
would work on XP. {Add to that the fact that I'm now lacking a gamepad of any
kind, although that would be relatively easy to sort out.}

[As far as space strategy is concerned, I loved Homeworld, although I have
never played Homeworld 2, so would be interested to see what veterans of the
first game and Cataclysm think of it.]

Homeworld 2 is good enough, but for some reason it lacks a lot in feeling. I guess that you just can't top being the last few survivors of an entire race with no place to call home.

Also the game turned from fighter-heavy to cap ship-heavy, meaning that fighters and corvettes are relatively useless against the big ships (battleships). I think that was a bad choice.

But visually it is spectacular and the controls are as natural as ever, but it just never felt as 'right' as Homeworld 1.

And I agree there is nothing that can beat Tie Fighter (Gold is even better with so many missions that you think it will just carry on forever). Perhaps nostalgia does have it's impact here, but the storyline was just so full, the missions hard with several tiers of completion for different experiences... Oh here I go again. Well you know how I feel.

I'm sorry I have lost my Tie CD, I would love to play it again with an Alliance upgrade. "Ready to serve, Grand Admiral Thrawn!"

Downloaded the demo of Homeworld 2 last night, only to realise I'd seemingly
already played it. Wasn't too impressed with it, [use of squadrons, and some
minor changes in controls irritated me enough - and the interface seemed too
cluttered to me] although I might pick it up if it's going cheap somewhere.

And Kraxis, I do actually have two original copies of TIE Fighter.
{One was part of some classics compilation, I think. First is ridiculously
scratched, but could be repaired.} You're just a bit too far away across the
water there. ~;)

[This site has good list of features in
the mod and a link to the main site.]

If anyone should happen to have a copy of the original European version of the Iwar manual, I would be interested in parting with some money for it since I lost mine.

What can I say about TIE? Only that it is the game of games. The atmosphere of it was great, the story, everything. I loved the TIE-Interceptor, fast, deadly, and sheildless so you had to be good.

Unmentioned game that is entertaining is Starshatter little game that was surprisingly good. Not TIE but worth a shot, still come back to it now and then for tours with the 112th Attack.

Was familiar with Matrix Games, but never once saw anything of Starshatter.
It certainly looks interesting, though it would be hard for such games to
compete with something set in an already well established universe.