Freespace 2

In my opinion, THE greatest single-player space sim ever created (yes, even beats out X-Wing vs Tie Fighter). For updated graphics, you can use the Freespace 2 Open Source Project but you must own the original game. So, get this, install, then go get the Freespace 2 SCP. Two thumbs way way up!

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I used to play this when i was a kid after i found it hidden amongst some of my dads other games back around 2002-3 before i lost all of my discs (it came with like 2-3 discs at the time). Ever since then i had always wanted to hop back onto Freespace 2 and fast forward to 2019 and it still lives up to how much i enjoyed it back then. Out of all of the space sims i have played - Elite dangerous, star citizen and even the recent infinity: battlescape; none of those compare to the immersion that freespace 2 give me for space simulation combat, but maybe i'm biased. The graphics though dated still hold up well and the atmospehere and voice acting really sets the scene for the relatively interesting storyline. I tried playing originally with just a keyboard as i was keep to play but that was pretty grim, i used to play with an old microsoft joystick so i ordered a new one, if you're interested in this game (which i would highly recommend) a joystick is a must, it's makes it a lot more fun!

This is the height of the 90s space sim, and unfortunately also one of the genres last gasps. I say this having not played the Wing Commander series aside from Privateer, so take it with that in mind. But in terms of story, gameplay, voice acting and graphics this was the game that blew me out of the water. Tie Fighter, X-Wing, love them- but the problem with Star Wars is that all of the weapons are pretty much the same. Few torpedoes/missiles, and turbolasers of one form or another. Freespace 2 capital ships have huge beams weapons, both anti-fighter and anti-ship, there are bombers with torpedoes, single missiles, swarm missiles, huge variety of fighter projectile weapons. Enemy variety is great too, every faction has their own flavour- and the big bad are truly epic. Atmosphere is great too. If you play just one space sim game, this has to be it. If you play two, pick up Tie Fighter after this. Can't recommend it enough.

Few games could hold up to this one when it came out, and even today this game provides me more entertainment than many 2013 games. Through the power of open source projects I'm playing this game at 2560x1600 res with beautiful graphics and 3d sound...I'm playing the freespace 1 campaign on freespace 2! For Free! I'm so glad this genre is being revived in 2014...but until that happens, you gotta play this game!