Space Games?

[Androo]

Completely without warning, I have recently become interested in games set in space, a genre the charms of which had previously eluded me. Stupid me. Starfleet Command III has just arrived and I am enjoying it tremendously, but I want more...

Any thoughts on Freelancer? And has anybody got X3: Reunion yet? The screen shots for the second look amazing and the open-endedness (for want of a real word) of the campaign sounds great. However, there has been some talk about it being buggy and the StarForce copy protection being problematic(?).

Any other suggestions? (My taste tends to the tactical sim rather than grand strategy, but I make exceptions- the upcoming incarnation of Galactic Civilizations will probably be one, if I still have the "outward urge").

Speaking of "The Outward Urge": damn it, why hasn't somebody made a game of "The Day of the Triffids" ?!?

[AggonyDuck]

I'll definately get Galatic Civilizations II, when it comes out. It seems like such a sweet game.

[English assassin]

IMHO Conflict Freespace 1 and 2 were excellent space combat sims. Bit old now I suppose.

[[DnC]]

Freelancer is a fun game. The singleplayer campaign is quite hard if you play through the story without doing many sidequests and thus getting better ships, weaponry and accessories. The way the game is designed makes it rather easy for you as a newling to get sucked right into the story. At certain points I really wished I had a better ship, because instead of blowing up enemy fighters I had to evade like a coward and hope to survive. Ha ha! It does lose it's appeal rather fast though, but that might just be me (played MP aswell for a couple of weeks).

I have X2. However I have barely played it yet and I have it for a couple of months already, perhaps even a year? Anyways it had or should I say it didn't have certain things that discouraged me to play on. Such as the use of a mouse for many things where I would consider it useful and is more of a standard in most games nowadays. You can't for example use your mouse in the gamemenu, really annoying. Feels like a game from 10 years ago because of it. Flying was rather hard, I couldn't adjust the sensitivity. But as I said I barely gave it a try, so perhaps it is a good game and the patches turned it into a less cumbersome game and even enjoyable for me. I do really like their general idea though!

You most likely already know about the Homeworld series? Still a good recommedation in my opinion.

Starwars: Battlefront 2? It isn't a Strategy space sim and only a semi-space game, but thought I'd mention it. I thought about buying it today, but decided not to. I still have to many games that I need/want to finish or can still play for quite sometime before I get bored with them.

Can't think of anything else at the moment.

[Crandaeolon]

Freespace 2 is still one of the best space combat sims. So is Independence War 2. Both are rather old games, but still enjoyable.

Nexus: the Jupiter Incident is a great tactical simulation of capital ship combat (a couple dozen ships per battle at maximum), but it lacks replayability since the story and battles are pre-scripted and linear. Bargain bin material.

Then there's, of course, Space Rangers 2. Not sim, more like Star Control 2 or Elite. One of the most fun games this year imho.

[King Kurt]

Sid Meyer's Alpha Centuri is an excellent Science Fiction strategy game with hours of game play - a sort of civilisation in space. What's more you can pick it up for a song now - I saw it in game the other week for 99p!!

Different factions with different abilities - just loads of choices. But be warned, it is not a wild shoot em up, but is a game of deep thought (no not that deep thought). However, many actions can be automated so you can concentrate on the strategy.

Finally you can change the faction leader's name to what you want - I had an excellent game with the Spartans - the militaristic, attack everybody faction - who were led by Susan the Terrible.

[econ21]

You mentioned a game of "Day of the Triffids" and that got me thinking of System Shock 2. It's set in two space ships and is an action/rpg hybrid with horror overtones. One of the best computer games ever - certainly one to make the best impression.

I went back to X-Com1 the other day and had a lot of fun with it. It's squad level tactics - on earth but vs aliens.

Two excellent futuristic RPGs are the Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic games and the Fallout games.

[The_Doctor]

Starfleet command 2. It is a lot better than 3.

[Kraxis]

Ahhh System Shock 2... I get all warm inside whenever somebody mentions it.

Anyway on to the subject.
X3: the Reunion is good, a significant upgrade to X2 in regards to looks, but it is horribly unstable and has a huge drain of memory when there are more than just a few ships and stations (which means practically all the time).
The story is so-so compared to X, but it is not bad.

The universe is big, and there are big money to be made, but beware of the dynamic economy, severe backlashes can indeed happen.

If you liked the other games it is most certainly worth it, but if you aren't much for creating a huge economic empire and traveling a whole lot, then this isn't for you. But you can always become a hunter or a pirate.

[Androo]

Whew, thanks for all the suggestions! Sorry I have been so slow to reply: about yesterday, just let me say 'stuff happens'. (Feel free to substitute for "stuff".)

1pain1Duck, Galactic Civilizations 2 does look sweet, doesn't it? I especially like the ability to customize your own species: wow that sounds fun!

Thanks for the reminders about Freespace 2:ya know, I actually have it. It came bundled with a joystick I got a year ago. I gave the tutorial a try and it didn't grab me, but I should give it a second look now that I'm more interested in this genre.

Ok, Freelancer is definitely on the list. I hadn't even heard of Nexus: The Jupiter Incident; Alpha Centauri ;Fallout or Space Rangers 2, but will check 'em out. I am definitely thinking about Homeworld 2, especially in regards to the Warlords Star Wars mod.

System Shock 2 could be a little too shocking for my system! Still, if two mods recommend it... I will have a look at some screen shots and see if I don't have too many nightmares.

Martinus, what is it about SfC2 that you much prefer?

Kraxis you have confirmed for me all the things about X3 which sounded great to me. But you have also confirmed the doubts I had regarding performance and stability. Have you tried it with the latest patch? According to the manufacturer it fixes a memory leak (not that I really understand what that means), if I remember the blurb correctly.

Cheers you guys: if I get even a third of those games, they should keep me out of trouble for a good while!

[AggonyDuck]

I'm again looking forward for the ability of building your own ships.
Anyways the game looks like it has huge amounts of potential to me, so I'm definately getting it.

[Androo]

I'm again looking forward for the ability of building your own ships.

Yes, that should be cool. I also like the way the different species are nicely differentiated both physically and in terms of their personalities.

[Mikeus Caesar]

An interesting game to look out for is Star Trek: Online. I believe that it is basically going to be an MMORPG set in the Star Trek universe. You can be all sorts of races, do all sorts of things (nearly anything!). You could even be captain of your own Starfleet Ship! It is expected to go beta in 2006, and (this is just me guessing) will probably be released in 2007.

http://www.startrek.com/startrek/vie...ine/index.html

[Androo]

An interesting game to look out for is Star Trek: Online.

I've only got dial-up at the moment , but surely I will have a fast connection by then. If they pull it off, if it feels 'Trek', it will be fantastic...

edit: using the word "cool" way too much.

[The_Doctor]

what is it about SfC2 that you much prefer?

Yes. Have you played it?

[Androo]

Martinus, no I haven't played SfC2, just SfC3, which I do like. But if SfC2 is that much better, I could be convinced to give it a try. Will it work with XP?

[The_Doctor]

Works fine on XP.

I found a demo:
http://www.fileshack.com/file.x?fid=2513

If you have a Fileplanet account:
http://www.fileplanet.com/50426/5000...Volume-II-Demo

[frogbeastegg]

Still, if two mods recommend it...

Three mods. If you don't get it now then we'll need to see about a ban

It's scary. It's creepy. It's disturbing. It's old and now rather ugly. It is ... unsurpassed. It has a wonderful plot for a game, a great way of telling it, atmosphere, it hooks you in and refuses to let you go. It requires brains more than blasters. Don't think it's pure horror though; it has some funny parts, some inspring parts, a touchingly understated lovestory sideplot; some of everything. If it's any help, I don't like scary games much either. They simply don't interest me.

[Androo]

Hey, thanks Martinus, I will check it out!

If you don't get it now then we'll need to see about a ban

*sigh*I knew it was only a matter of time, but I didn't think that it would happen so soon...

Frogbeastegg that is the best (and most succinct) review of a game I have ever read. It sounds tremendous, almost the game I have been dreaming of. Three mods* makes a quorum: it is now at the top of my must-play list. (It doesn't quarrel with XP?)

*Three mods are also sufficient to take on the rockers on the beach at Brighton. Mods vs Rockers mod of RTW anyone?

[Bob the Insane]

It's scary. It's creepy. It's disturbing. It's old and now rather ugly.

For the ugly bit, I believe there is a mod that does not change the game, but rather updates all the textures in the game making it look much prettier...

In fact check out:

http://www.fileplanet.com/filelist.aspx?s=94465&v=0

The TExt reads:

Did you ever wanted to play System Shock 2 with new enhanced graphics ?
That's what the "System Shock Rebirth" mod is made for... It will replace all the originals low polygons AI meshes by totally new Hi-res ones...
SHODAN is back... but this time, in all her beauty...

This Beta contained the following enhanced characters:
- The Many Hybrid with Pipe
- The Many Hybrid with Shotgun
- The Many Hybrid with Grenades
- The Midwife
- The Cyborg Assassin
- All Dead Crew Members of the Von Braun and the Rickenbacker
- The Ghosts

[frogbeastegg]

It works fine with XP, at least on my system. Now, off you go. Go find a copy, so you too can learn why I get all nervous when I hear monkey noises.

Ah, yes. I remember that mod. Last I heard it had only just been started, so it's obviously been a while.

[Crandaeolon]

Just for the sake of discussion, SS2 is not a space game - more like a cyberpunk action/adventure/RPG/horror game. But a great game, yes, that it is.

I revisited it a couple years ago with a friend; we played it cooperatively in LAN. (A later patch added multiplayer to the game.) A darkened room, powerful sound system, and the increased tension of having to pool resources and be more careful in combat added even more to the already thrilling atmosphere. We had quite a few amusing friendly fire incidents with the heavier weapons.

[Kraxis]

I wouldn't dare co-op SS2... I think I would kill my teammate too often out of pure shock.

I used to play it at night... It was scary and tense, but not horrorlike as good old froggy says. It was just very tense, you never knew what would come at you, or if you had enough ammo to deal with it.

I remember a time when I had run out of ammo, and three Many Hybrids came at me. They hadn't seen me so I bolted into a sideentrance (the long corrideros where you meet the Walkers)... The Hybrids walked by, but then the last one stopped. I was standing there in the darkness with my wrench, I was tensed up so bad that I hadn't noticed I was perspiring heavily... Just as the Hybrid turned to face me a single drop of perspiration dropped from the armpit (don't think about it) to my side and I literally screamed out loud of fear and shock and I jumped from the chair ready to fight.

My parents came running wondering what was going on, finding me standing in combatpose looking for unseen assailants... Boy have they had a lot of fun on my account.

But the game is highly entertaining, and I think half of the goodness coems from the combination of the ghosts and the logs you stumble over. They are so damn alive. And who cam forget when that pair you have been chasing all over flees from that Brute while you can only wait for the door to open enough. ARGH!

[TinCow]

Homeworld 2 is a very good space RTS. Since it's a RTS set in space, you operate on all three axis, something that is rather unique in the genre. The graphics are VERY good as well, even though its a couple years old.

[Androo]

It works fine with XP, at least on my system. Now, off you go. Go find a copy, so you too can learn why I get all nervous when I hear monkey noises.

Frightening monkey noises!?! O well, I'm off to eBay...

For the ugly bit, I believe there is a mod that does not change the game, but rather updates all the textures in the game making it look much prettier...

Even better! Thanks for that, Bob the Insane. I don't have a fileplanet account, but perhaps I can find it elsewhere. (Or perhaps it is time to give up and get an account.)

I remember a time when I had run out of ammo, and three Many Hybrids came at me. They hadn't seen me so I bolted into a sideentrance (the long corrideros where you meet the Walkers)... The Hybrids walked by, but then the last one stopped. I was standing there in the darkness with my wrench,

That sounds absolutely brilliant! I love the subtlety of the last one stopping.

I literally screamed out loud of fear and shock and I jumped from the chair ready to fight.

Hee! Hee! Not a problem for me, living on my lonely-o. I may be , but by the time anybody sees me, I should be like Fonzie .

Just for the sake of discussion, SS2 is not a space game - more like a cyberpunk action/adventure/RPG/horror game.

Good point, duly noted.

you operate on all three axis, something that is rather unique in the genre

Yes, that is one of the few things I don't like about SfC3. Come on: it's space but the ships only move on the x and y axes?!?

[The_Mark]

Thanks for the reminders about Freespace 2:ya know, I actually have it. It came bundled with a joystick I got a year ago. I gave the tutorial a try and it didn't grab me, but I should give it a second look now that I'm more interested in this genre.

If you already have it, go for it. It's excellent, quite immersive. I particularly liked how the plotline is revealed in-game, tying the player into the conflict.

I still remember the names of almost every spacecraft in there, with their class designations.

[Androo]

If you already have it, go for it.

Definitely shall!

I still remember the names of almost every spacecraft in there, with their class designations.

Yeah, that can happen...

[Fragony]

Homeworld! It still looks awesome, and the atmosphere is amazing. It really has this 'space is big' quality, with awesome almost tribal music that really enhances that lonely feeling. Cool epic story as well, very good game.

[Androo]

Fragony, is that the original Homeworld? (Homeworld 2 should already be on its way to me )

Does anybody know if X Wing Alliance will fly with XP?

edit: X wing question.

[Togakure]

From what I've been told SFC3 is considerably "dumbed down," and far less complex that its predecessors. I've not played SFC3, but I have played SFC and SFC2, and I find the sim to be a lot of fun--lots of complexity in controls, variety in ships, which results in a plethora of different tactics and strategies. Be warned, while the battles are excellent, the campaigns are terrible, imo. But the battles you can fight make it worth it to me, especially since you should be able to get it very cheap now.