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Good but not perfect

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 1 / 2
Date: March 13, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Freespace 2 has a lot going for it. It's a model space flight simulation. You spend almost all your time flying and fighting with great controls, there's good AI both for enemies and your wing, graphics and sound are very good also. Additionally there's good multi-tiered story although part of it remains unresolved at the end. Some of the briefings that advance the story, introduce new weapons and review mission objectives can drag a little too long.

But as I finish the single player campaign what sticks in my mind isn't the good above but the disappointments. Most of the game takes place in a large nebula. Multi-colored 'gas' and lens flare effects fill the screen, the result feeling like playing with a large flashlight in your eyes. It doesn't improve the gameplay it just irritating. Most missions are the straight 'kill everything' type. Other missions seem designed to frustrate you. For example one mission requires you to fly a series of waypoints that are basically in a straight line. The catch is you can't see the next way point from your current one so if you waver off course you become hopelessly lost and have to start over. Finally a handful of missions are usually difficult, pitting you solo against a large number of enemies or timed with unclear objectives.

Apart from a badly-scratched install disc I had no trouble running the game in Windows 98. Nothing I tried would get the game to install in Windows 2000.

Still great game, but come on, not worth $70-150!!!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 6 / 6
Date: June 15, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Like so many people reviewing this game, I heard all the raving about this game. I heard some comparisons to the Wing Commander legacy, and at that point, had to get it. I was a huge Wing Command fan back in its day (1989??). But after looking around, was totally discouraged. People asking over a hundred bones for used copies. However, there is a way to get this game for free. I'm not gonna say where to look, but its out there...available in one big file. (Hint: Google Hint: Abandonware) I've been playing it the last couple days, and yeah, its grrrreat, but I'm glad I didnt spend $70 for it. Go find it and maybe the price will drop to a reasonable level.

Great game, I just wish I had gotten it sooner

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: February 25, 2006
Author: Amazon User

This game is definately the best space flight game out there. It has great graphics and controls, along with an interesting storyline. The battles are intense and sometimes I find myself wondering how I got through a certain level. The only disappointment I have with this game is that you can't play online. You can still play on LAN's and stuff like that but ever since Volition gave up Freespace, you can't play online in tournaments or against players around the US. Don't listen to the complaints people have about prices. This game is incredibly hard to find at stores now and even if you do find it, (...). A must play game for all flight enthusiests, you won't be disappointed.

More of the same

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 4
Date: July 24, 2000
Author: Amazon User

Take 'Conflict: Freespace', polish up the already-gorgeous graphics, and you have 'Freespace 2'. Essentially a re-run of the original, this adds new ships, new weapons, at least one outstanding graphical effect (capital ships now attack each other with 'beam weapons' - giant shafts of light that cut through ships like a hot knife through butter), and some new cut-scenes, all wrapped up in a sturdy cardboard box. At the risk of souding boring, if you liked the original, you'll like this, as it's more of the same - the controls and interface are identical, and it's just as derivative of 'X-Wing' and 'Wing Commander' as it ever was, with an emphasis on fast action and spectacular effects. It has absolutely no depth, and very little replay value (the missions are often tightly-scripted, and replaying them is often quite dull, as you know exactly what's about to happen), but it's the best combat flight simulator on the market. One tip - try and play the original first, as this game doesn't usher you into the flow of play gradually, it drops you right in the thick of things from the first mission.

Buy this game!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 16 / 16
Date: December 11, 1999
Author: Amazon User

This game is by far the best space sim out there. The graphics are incredible, but make sure you have a good 3D card (my 12MB VooDoo2 gets a little jerky at times). The storyline is captivating and well thought out. Anyone playing this game will not be disappointed.

One of the best Space Sims I have seen!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 16 / 17
Date: January 26, 2000
Author: Amazon User

Looking for a game that combines the best of all space simulators in one package? Then try Freespace 2! Freespace 2 is an AWESOME, fast-paced space simulator that is "very simular" to a wild combination of Descent, Star Wars, Star Trek, and the best space movies that you can think of. The game's story plot is very cleaverly designed and is enjoyable. The missions are beautifully designed and well planned. The manufactures of this game have obviously put hours of careful thought into making this game of the best of the year. I wouldn't be surprised if this game doesn't continue to win big in the next year also. The game play is very smooth for Pentium III computers; excellent for those that are slower. I have a Pentium II 433 and the game play is still awesome! One thing that makes this game a winner is that it comes with a variety of very nice features that most space simulator packages don't come with. Some of these features are FREE multiplayer game-matching service, in-game chat rooms with multiple public / private channels, automatic statistics tracking, smooth game play, well designed missions, beautiful movie inserts, voice read mission debriefings, the actual game play is like being inside of a live movie (a little addicting, I must admit), mission builder, campaign builder, the ability to modify your missions by selecting your star fighter, equipment, weapons, etc. Another neat feature is that this game comes with a lot of movie clips and communication that occurs in the play time. It also comes with about 40 missions that are aways fun to replay. Missions can come out differently, which is always a welcomed feature. One extra feature (which I have already used is that the game is upgradeable. This way, you can keep freely upgrading your game in case the manufactures find any bugs.) The current version is 1.20.

If you like to have fun, give this game a try. I personally don't buy very many computer games, but this is one that I WILL HAVE TO RECOMMEND. It is definately a must buy!

FreeSpace 2: The best space combat simulation game ever made

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 13 / 14
Date: March 11, 2000
Author: Amazon User

By now some you have already heard of or read reviews of FreeSpace 2, the sequel to the excellent Descent: FreeSpace-The Great War which was published by Interplay back in 1998. There aren't enough adjectives to describe this magnus opus but here are a few: breath-taking, immersive, nonpareil, magnificent, astounding, absolutely brilliant. First things first: FreeSpace 2 requires a Pentium 200MHz with a 3D accelerator card that supports either Glide, OpenGL, or Direct3D. I recommend at least a Pentium II 266MHz or higher and about 1 gig of hard drive space. The game's high resolution artwork supports 1024x768 in 32-bit color and the standard 640x480; 800x600 need not apply.

The game picks up 32 years after the original. The Terrans and Vasudans (the original enemies from the first game)have formed an alliance called the GTVC but a group of renegade Terrans called the New Terran Front have begun to shake things up. It gets worse: the nigh all-powerful Shivans make a return from the last game as well and add more fuel to this cosmic conflagration. As a GTVC pilot you will get to fly new Terran and Vasudan vessels as well as engage in epic dogfights against new Shivan craft. Locales now include nebulae which interfere with your ship's instruments but also your enemies' too.

This game has to be played to be really appreciated. On the hardware side of things EAX and A3D audio support are present and accounted for as well as force feedback. And to make things even merrier Interplay has recently released the game. It's called FreeSpace 2: Sci-Fi Sim of the Year Edition and it has 20 additional levels, which brings the total number to 50. There's also high resolution wallpaper and a few other goodies not found on the original CD

If you have even the faintest interest in computer games, or enjoy playing hardcore sci-fi sim combat games, then get FreeSpace 2. It will totally rock your world.

Move over Wing Commander, Take a seat X-Wing, FS 2 is here

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 12 / 14
Date: April 01, 2000
Author: Amazon User

Where to start...well, I know I won't make a catch all neanderthal statement to the effect that this is the best game ever, (that is until the NEXT best game ever comes along), because it isn't. Freespace accomplishes many things by providing a solid story line to back up very impressive game play. Where Freespace might lack is in two small areas-lack of creativity for naming of vessels within the GTVN and the fact that no military structure would allow or stand for the sniveling and back talk that gets carried over in the com-traffic between fighters and capital ships. But these are minor quibbles to what lies in store for the player. Freespace 2 offers an expansive campaign with several missions that lead you from a civil war led by Admiral Aken Bosch (voice of Ronny Cox from Robocop & Total Recall), and his Neo-Terran Front faction to a resurgence of activity care of the Shivans, whom Bosch has somehow brokered a deal with. Where the missions shine is the player is never lacking anything to do, and the game borrows from both the Wing Commander and Star Wars games in mission design. However, unlike the other space combat sims, Freespace 2 never suffers from the worry of having to be all over the map in order to accomplish a mission. The flight model is much improved over the original game, though I think the GTVN fighters could be a little faster, even without the afterburners. Flight dynamics are second to none, the ships responsive, especially with a good joystick. Fighter choice, weapons and missiles are in good supply, and each have their different effects, though I would have preferred a little more discretion in outfitting my fighter in early missions. Graphically, Freespace 2 is very strong, whether it be the detail on the various fighters to the overwhelming scale of the capital ships, especially the Sathanas-class juggernaught (which I think gains its inspiration from the Vorlon vessels from Babylon 5). However, it's the little things you notice that really make the game, like when you fire at ship and miss, your weapons' discharge flashes over the ship hull with a visible light effect, the visual and aural effect of a capital ship's flak guns as you do a strafing attack across it's surface (you quickly learn how to skin dance across the hulls of these big beasts) or the spectacular nebula effects of the later missions as you pilot your way through pea soup-like gas clouds. Ship design is also better than in the first game as they play up the more insectile forms of the Shivan fighters, whereas in the first they resembled awkwardly placed slabs arrayed in different angles. Human and Vasudan fighters are a mixed bag, but they all have a functional look about them, and have much less of a polished look than either Wing Commander or the Star Wars. Boiled down in it's essence, Freespace 2 is a solid shoot-em-up type game, carried on thanks to a solid game engine, and exceptional graphic design and terrific 3D support (I have 16 meg Voodoo 3000). This is all enhanced by a great interface that doesn't over complicate the flow of the game or game play. This is not the best game ever, as no game can claim that crown. However, it is the best of the current crop of space combat sims. It easily outclasses X-Wing Alliance, and I feel that Lucas Arts really needs to rethink how they design their game missions, because in XWA, you are flying practically the same missions you flew in X-Wing & TIE Fighter. Freespace 2 gives you a vast playground that is not merely beautiful, but ultimately function and very rewarding.

Best Space Sim to Date

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 9 / 9
Date: December 23, 1999
Author: Amazon User

Let's see, why would you want Freespace 2?

- Incredible gameplay
- Huge capital ships that are miles long
- Amazing graphics and sound
- 70 ships and 20 weapons
- An engaging plot
- Cooperative multiplayer SquadWar

I could use a lot of other adjectives to describe the wonder that is Freespace 2, but I leave that exercize up to you.

Fantastic!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 8
Date: January 03, 2000
Author: Amazon User

Look, there's nothing I can say that can do this game justice. Saying that the graphics are groundbreaking, the sound is excellent, and that it has an honest-to- plot that would actually make a fairly decent SF novel just doesn't capture the magnitude of this game.

Go to the Interplay website and download the playable demo. Afterwards, pick your jaw up off of the floor so that you can buy the full version.

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