Reviews / previews
The next space-combat game from the developers of the awesome StarLancer has been cooking away in the incubator for several years now, but the wait might pay off as the scope of FreeLancer is truly impressive. In a vast universe, youll take on missions like collecting bounties, escorting convoys, recons, and moreall of which will be generated based on your reputation and the local circumstances. FreeLancer is a yawningly wide-open game with tons of different options for exploring, dogfighting, trading, etc., and its this freedom and scale that gives the game such potential.
-- 0 / GamePro
Truly hardcore PC gamers can remember where they were the first time they heard about FreeLancer. Wing Commander: Prophecy was just hitting the bargain bins, and space-shooter fans were unknowingly staring at many long years of starfighter starvation. FreeLancer represented the promise of a true, massive universe filled with options, choices, and, most of all, actionthe announcement of such a huge starfighter sim made everyone wonder if it would be the last game they ever needed.
Well, its almost here, and based on the preview version, it looks like itll be everything you were waiting for.
FreeLancer has become known as a StarPG.EYoull have access to a huge universe of adventure, which has been divided into three main sections by the descendants of humanity who colonized this area of space. Liberty was settled by colony ships from the USA, Rheinland was built by settlers from Germany, and Bretonia is the home of the descendants of the British. While a detailed story line will lead you through the whole game universe, youll also be able to accept missions from characters and job boards on planets and space stations. Youll use money and equipment from those missions to upgrade your ships or even buy new ones.
Aside from its freedom and scope, FreeLancers most striking feature is the way it controlsyoull never use a flightstick with FreeLancer. The entire game is mouse-and-keyboard driven, and while the preview versions controls were a bit confusing, they quickly became second nature. Once you get used to it, youll wonder why you ever needed a joystick before. Mouse-driven menus in the HUD enabled quick selection of select weapons, targets, and waypoints; and keyboard shortcuts made it even easier.
Already looking impressive in beta, FreeLancer could be just the thing for starfighter enthusiasts this March. If developer Digital Anvil can stay on target, it could just have a lock on the space-shooter genre.-- 0 / GamePro
Its amazing how long PC gamers will wait for a title, but its even more amazing when that magic release day finally arrives. At long last, PC space-shooter fans, Freelancer sits upon your gaming store shelves, and have no fearit was worth the wait.
Going It Solo
The game casts you as an interstellar pilot named Trent, who survives the destruction of Freeport 7, a space station in Freelancer's massive galaxy consisting of over 40 systems and countless bases, planets, and spacedocks. You choose exactly what you want to dodisable trade routes, hunt down criminals, follow police on their patrols (then jack em), or simply run commodities from one station to another. Who likes you and what you have access to depend on what you do and how you do it.
Freelancer isn't completely open-ended, though, and thats one of its faults. To advance beyond certain ranks and get access to better equipment, you have to complete story missions that railroad you into certain situations. Youll have to protect your reputation with certain groups in order to complete those quests. Of course, once you win the story quest, youre free to do whatever you want, and if you dont mind flying about with the worst equipment the whole time, you can ignore the story completely.
Stars in Your Eyes
Digital Anvil didnt skimp on Freelancers presentation. Some of the best graphics and sounds to date exist right in the Sirius System. The ambient music and low hum of your engine perfectly invoke the feeling of being out on your own in space, while radio chatter around the various planets and bases only enhance the realism. If youre not moved by the chaos of combat in Freelancer, you might want to check your pulselaser blasts shooting past, missiles and mines exploding, and pilots barking out taunts and frightened wails make for some of the most intense dogfighting combat yet.
Freelancer controls with the mouse and keyboardno joystick needed. It works well, but it takes a lot of getting used to, and youll want to make hotkey flash cards so you can work essential systems in combat without worrying about using the mouse to click on the onscreen menus.
The Future Is Finally Now
Dying for some starship dogfighting? Looking for a more sci-fi Morrowind? Tired of waiting for Freelancer to come out? Its your lucky day. Freelancer is here, and its good. Its very, very good.-- 0 / GamePro
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