Recommend a space sim
- Thread starter jgreen726
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Sins of a Solar Empire - RTS that's a bit slow to get going (depending on game settings) but rewards you with some epic battles 
Star Lancer - I personally really enjoyed this. Simple yet engaging storyline using a tried and tested formulae (think Wing Commander) executed exceptionally well with enough interesting additions to keep it fresh, well, for it's time anyway. Not sure if there are any texture packs or mods for this though, may have to play it “as is” but it’s still playable if a little dated. The way capital ships break up after being torpedoed is one of many highlights
- Has excellent intro / cutscenes!
Another vote for Freespace 2... excellent story told very well. Use the link posted by HeX, all you need is there... play the first and then the second, no excuse really... looks absolutely gorgeous despite it's age. Besides, it's the playability right!?
I loved I-War but imagine it would be a labour of love and difficult to get into for some, especially now. I used to play it all the time when it was first released and for many years after. Haven’t touched it in years now though. Worth a try! Again, excellent story and as someone already stated, the true (or near enough) Newtonian physics engine makes for a really unique experience… combat is both exciting and as in depth as you want it to be… for example, leave everything on auto and you can fly around, shoot things and complete missions. But if you want to get hands-on and take control, feel like the captain of a vessel, you can take things to a whole new level using the various console screens… gunnery for advanced targeting and engineering for manual damage control.
I-War 2 is a game I loved to play but never had the time to finish. Takes I-War to a whole new level from a graphical perspective and overhauls the interface / control system to make it less intrusive and more user-friendly. To be honest, it took me a while to get used to it and I missed the various elements that made the original I-War the perfect game for me but it certainly wasn’t a bad sequel.
As for the X series of games, never had time for them. Someone will do doubt correct me if I’m wrong but my understanding is that they are very demanding of ones time and can be difficult to get into due to the sheer scope of things. So if you have the time to invest in X3 / Terran Conflict (which I believe is said to be more first time user-friendly) then go for it! In a nutshell… gorgeous, deep and time consuming!
All in my humble opinion of course
Star Lancer - I personally really enjoyed this. Simple yet engaging storyline using a tried and tested formulae (think Wing Commander) executed exceptionally well with enough interesting additions to keep it fresh, well, for it's time anyway. Not sure if there are any texture packs or mods for this though, may have to play it “as is” but it’s still playable if a little dated. The way capital ships break up after being torpedoed is one of many highlights
- Has excellent intro / cutscenes!Another vote for Freespace 2... excellent story told very well. Use the link posted by HeX, all you need is there... play the first and then the second, no excuse really... looks absolutely gorgeous despite it's age. Besides, it's the playability right!?
I loved I-War but imagine it would be a labour of love and difficult to get into for some, especially now. I used to play it all the time when it was first released and for many years after. Haven’t touched it in years now though. Worth a try! Again, excellent story and as someone already stated, the true (or near enough) Newtonian physics engine makes for a really unique experience… combat is both exciting and as in depth as you want it to be… for example, leave everything on auto and you can fly around, shoot things and complete missions. But if you want to get hands-on and take control, feel like the captain of a vessel, you can take things to a whole new level using the various console screens… gunnery for advanced targeting and engineering for manual damage control.
I-War 2 is a game I loved to play but never had the time to finish. Takes I-War to a whole new level from a graphical perspective and overhauls the interface / control system to make it less intrusive and more user-friendly. To be honest, it took me a while to get used to it and I missed the various elements that made the original I-War the perfect game for me but it certainly wasn’t a bad sequel.
As for the X series of games, never had time for them. Someone will do doubt correct me if I’m wrong but my understanding is that they are very demanding of ones time and can be difficult to get into due to the sheer scope of things. So if you have the time to invest in X3 / Terran Conflict (which I believe is said to be more first time user-friendly) then go for it! In a nutshell… gorgeous, deep and time consuming!
All in my humble opinion of course
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Yup another for Freespace 2. Played it for the first time 2 or 3 years ago and age wasn't a factor at all. Loved it, great gameplay and story, got pretty close to the end then I lost my save 
Need to try it again one day.
Freelancer is good too. Has a nice story and nice simple combat, exploring and trade mechanics.
Need to try it again one day.Freelancer is good too. Has a nice story and nice simple combat, exploring and trade mechanics.
Looking at that now
It's also bugged to heckWith the patch being worse than the un-patched game (for me at least). Shame as I really enjoyed it otherwise.
akakjs
Been having a go since last night at the demo and overall i like it (is there proper controls in the full game as i cant use joystick\pad in the demo!)
Sins of a Solar Empire - RTS that's a bit slow to get going (depending on game settings) but rewards you with some epic battles
Star Lancer - I personally really enjoyed this. Simple yet engaging storyline using a tried and tested formulae (think Wing Commander) executed exceptionally well with enough interesting additions to keep it fresh, well, for it's time anyway. Not sure if there are any texture packs or mods for this though, may have to play it “as is” but it’s still playable if a little dated. The way capital ships break up after being torpedoed is one of many highlights
Another vote for Freespace 2... excellent story told very well. Use the link posted by HeX, all you need is there... play the first and then the second, no excuse really... looks absolutely gorgeous despite it's age. Besides, it's the playability right!?
I loved I-War but imagine it would be a labour of love and difficult to get into for some, especially now. I used to play it all the time when it was first released and for many years after. Haven’t touched it in years now though. Worth a try! Again, excellent story and as someone already stated, the true (or near enough) Newtonian physics engine makes for a really unique experience… combat is both exciting and as in depth as you want it to be… for example, leave everything on auto and you can fly around, shoot things and complete missions. But if you want to get hands-on and take control, feel like the captain of a vessel, you can take things to a whole new level using the various console screens… gunnery for advanced targeting and engineering for manual damage control.
I-War 2 is a game I loved to play but never had the time to finish. Takes I-War to a whole new level from a graphical perspective and overhauls the interface / control system to make it less intrusive and more user-friendly. To be honest, it took me a while to get used to it and I missed the various elements that made the original I-War the perfect game for me but it certainly wasn’t a bad sequel.
As for the X series of games, never had time for them. Someone will do doubt correct me if I’m wrong but my understanding is that they are very demanding of ones time and can be difficult to get into due to the sheer scope of things. So if you have the time to invest in X3 / Terran Conflict (which I believe is said to be more first time user-friendly) then go for it! In a nutshell… gorgeous, deep and time consuming!
All in my humble opinion of course
Thanks for taking the time to write this and to all of you posting opinions and Freespace 2 recommendations. I am reading through the links as we speak and i will give it a good go.
After i looked at this and waited for you all to post with some inof i looked back through my games and realised that there have been very few (what i would call good ) new games out for the PC since about 2005\6 in most genres. Funny when you look on congo
and realise that they just arent making as many game at all for PC anymore. I know that this is in many threads but it was only today i realised just how bad it was. You know its bad when you think ' Wow that Zoo tycoon looks good' 
The company that brings out a game like EVE but with first person battles should make a fortune!
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I-War 2 Edge of Chaos
Graphics are pretty good - have dated well imo. Excellent flight control system.
Freelancer?
other than that Elite IV. In fact theres someone from these very forums who works for/with Frontier Developments so he might be able to give an idea when Elite IV is coming...
Graphics are pretty good - have dated well imo. Excellent flight control system.
Freelancer?
other than that Elite IV. In fact theres someone from these very forums who works for/with Frontier Developments so he might be able to give an idea when Elite IV is coming...
Or Oolite if you want a modern version of it.
Thanks! good to hear they modded Freespace 2 i'll give that a go.
I am playing X3 Terran Conflict again because I was looking for a space-sim game aswell. It sure is a big game: lots of races, storyline, ships and almost everything is configurable. But, like all X games, it still feels like space is just a bunch of flat square bits glued together by jumpgates on the sides that teleport you to the next square bit. I think it's a great game but it just fails to draw me in somehow.
Tried Tie fighter etc but those are just too dated for me and I couldn't get the resolution over 320x240 without problems despite lots of googling. Fond memories though!
I am playing X3 Terran Conflict again because I was looking for a space-sim game aswell. It sure is a big game: lots of races, storyline, ships and almost everything is configurable. But, like all X games, it still feels like space is just a bunch of flat square bits glued together by jumpgates on the sides that teleport you to the next square bit. I think it's a great game but it just fails to draw me in somehow.
Tried Tie fighter etc but those are just too dated for me and I couldn't get the resolution over 320x240 without problems despite lots of googling. Fond memories though!