Modern Space Combat Titles

[Elcs]

Having known for so long that this area is barren and devoid of much development at all, I have become dismayed and despite playing through Freespace 1 for the 4th time and Freespace 2 for the 9th time with the updated graphics, I am looking for something new.

Homeworld, Cataclysm, Homeworld 2, Nexus and Freelancer have all been replayed to death. Ive played Starlancer and Tachyon: The Fringe. I have X2: The Threat and X3: Reunion but despite their depth, I am frustrated by poor combat and slow buildup.

Sins is not exactly singleplayer so I havent touched that.

What is out there that I can sink my teeth into?

Ive heard little bits about something like Tar Chronicles? and also noticed that Dark Horizons and The Tomorrow War are due to be released in Europe very shortly but I am not able to uncover much about these games.

Are there any saviours out there? Am I doomed to earth-based depression?

 

[EvilComputer92]

X3: Terran Conflict is supposed to be released this month. It's supposed to have a increased focus on combat and be less slow paced.

 

[pontifex]

There was a game released a little bit ago called Dark something...dark space? i can't remember but it was a traditional style space combat sim.

it's called darkstar one

 

[Nightmare225]

Try out Nexus: The Jupiter Incident. Fantastic big ship combat. VERY difficult. But a beautiful game.

 

[Elcs]

Thanks for the suggestions.

Im not sure Id trust another X game for combat and pace. The fact that you really need to build an empire to get the money for the ships and the weapons etc. just throws me.

I'll look at the reviews for Darkstar One thanks!

Originally posted by: Nightmare225
Try out Nexus: The Jupiter Incident. Fantastic big ship combat. VERY difficult. But a beautiful game.

I mentioned Nexus in my OP but thank you for the suggestion. It is a great, beautiful game when maxxed out.

 

[Atreus21]

Moo2 still hasn't been really upstaged.

 

[WhipperSnapper]

Originally posted by: Elcs
Sins is not exactly singleplayer so I havent touched that.

But Sins in online multiplayer is a blast. Why don't you have an interest in playing games in online multiplayer? Playing against AI does not compare in any way to playing against live human opponents.

 

[Elcs]

Originally posted by: WhipperSnapper

Originally posted by: Elcs
Sins is not exactly singleplayer so I havent touched that.

But Sins in online multiplayer is a blast. Why don't you have an interest in playing games in online multiplayer? Playing against AI does not compare in any way to playing against live human opponents.

Ive never had that killer instinct in RTSes. I did play a 2v2 LAN with a few very experienced players on RA1 back when I was a youngun and matched them but I have since lost it.

I prefer the old Dune 2 approach to RTSes. Build a killzone as defence, sneak a few artillery backed by heavy tanks down a side, pick off the defences and buildings one by one and gratuitously use any superweapons along the way.

Homeworld-esque games like Sins would be singleplayer where I follow a story and get to gawp at how gorgeous things look.

The only games I play online are FPSes. Used to love Q1, 2 and 3 on a LAN and C&C Renegade + Red Faction CTF online a lot. Was imo one of the better Red Faction players online CTF.

GeoMod allowed me to burrow a small cavity into the wall near an enemy base, take out the Rail Driver which could thermal image + shoot through walls and snipe anyone who dared try to stop my players stealing their flag. Never got old.

I love a nice story-driven RTS with fun missions or Fresspace2-esque action with or without the storyline. The action is the fun part, story is just exquisite piece of icing on the cake.

 

[HannibalX]

Give X-Wing Alliance a try if you haven't. Sure it's a few years old but has great game play and you can crank up the graphics.

 

[ConstipatedVigilante]

Freespace 1/2 have a bunch of downloadable campaigns available if you're interested. IMO best space combat sims to date.

 

[Elcs]

Originally posted by: ConstipatedVigilante
Freespace 1/2 have a bunch of downloadable campaigns available if you're interested. IMO best space combat sims to date.

They are. I have used the enhanced graphics packs and played a few of the player-made campaigns but I need tomething new.

 

[Slick5150]

Obligatory "I still hate EA for killing off Wing Commander" post

 

[Raduque]

There was the space RTS Hegemonia: Legions of Iron from a bunch of years ago. It was one of the first "oooh aaah" games I remember playing, because it had neat shiny effects on ships and stations due to the sun.

 

[lozina]

One of my favorite space sims is still Independence War 2. It's combat system is outstanding. Please give it a try

There's nothing like equipping a small fast craft with mining lasers, flying up to some slow ass boat in some spiral barrel roll avoiding fire while maneuvering to the back of it's engines and letting the mining lasers rip it apart in a few seconds. So much fun!

And attacking freighters looking for expensive cargo or better yet blueprints is a blast.

 

[Newbian]

Originally posted by: lozina
One of my favorite space sims is still Independence War 2. It's combat system is outstanding. Please give it a try

I recommend this post.

There are also a bunch of mods that have a ton of extra game play in it.

 

[brandonb]

Can you buy Independence War 2 or download it someplace (not pirated or torrents)? I had the game way back when and I thought it was cool but after a few days I brought it over to a friends house so he could try it out, and I never seen the disc again. That made me sad. I tried X3 but could not really get into it.

 

[lozina]

Originally posted by: brandonb
Can you buy Independence War 2 or download it someplace (not pirated or torrents)? I had the game way back when and I thought it was cool but after a few days I brought it over to a friends house so he could try it out, and I never seen the disc again. That made me sad. I tried X3 but could not really get into it.

You can buy a copy direct from Atari.

http://www.atari.com/us/games/iwar2/pc

or maybe cheaper places like buy.com

http://www.buy.com/retail/prod...d=24273333&dcaid=17902

 

[Elcs]

Ive just Steamed DarkStar One and will enjoy that when i get home tonight...

Hegemonia is a game Ive looked at several times and I dont know why I havent bought it. Ill see if I can find it in the shops for a reasonable price first before looking online.

Ill look at getting Independence War 2 as well. Fantastic!