Freespace 2

Played this game when I was a kid. Played it in school, played it two years ago, played it now. Never gets old. The Vanilla game is fine, if you want 1080p and some other goodies, like speech commands (albeit basic ones), get the Open-Source re-implementation from Hard light. The game is better played on a controller. You simply can't pull up with a mouse for so long. The game is immersively challenging. You don't have access to anything that your avatar wouldn't have access to. Each mission, you need to beat in one go, no saves scumming. You can get in trouble for things that other (non-Deus ex) games wouldn't notice, and when you've managed to pull off the optional stuff you do feel like you've accomplished something. You, essentially, feel like a pilot stationed at Vega. The gameplay systems are well rounded, and well balanced. To survive the end-game, you need to master all of them, and also adeptly trick the AI. Overall, give a try, and persist. The game is tough, but fair.

Look, Freespace 2 is the greatest Space Sim ever made, and that includes Tie Fighter. But it definitely has aged over the years. So for everyone getting ahold of this game through GOG, give the SCP project at Hard Light Productions a look. Not only will you get superior graphics, you'll also find dozens of high-quality fan-made campaigns, some with complete voiceacting. Freespace 2 is a gift that keeps on giving.

This is the perfect space combat game. When I first discovered it, copies were going for $100+ on ebay. Buy this game if you're a space combat fan. For $6, buy it even if you aren't As others have mentioned, the game engine's source code was released as the Free Space Open project. There are some stellar mods (BSG and Babylon 5) and some top-notch new missions. The people on the project have even redone the graphics. FS2 still looks pretty good in 2008, FSO looks fantastic. (Though X3's graphics are nicer. Pitty the game-play isn't as good as Freespace.)

This is my all-time favorite game... Amazingly fun, eternal replay value, 100's of user created missions... go read someone elses review for the rest. This review is to alert you to the fact that since the source code got released ages ago, this game has an amazing MODDING community that has updated the sourcecode, AND CONTINUES TO RELEASE UPDATES 17 YEARS LATER. No other game has 17 years worth of mods exept for Doom. Go to http://www.hard-light.net/ to get started learning what this engine can do. Go to http://www.fsoinstaller.com/ to upgrade to the OPEN engine. Modern graphics, modern lighting effects, standalone games based on the engine... If you are "nostalgic" and you looked this game up. Stop. Google "Freespace Open Source". This game will be better than you remembered it. The best part is that none of the "game" is really different than you remember. I played this game minutes ago on three moniters, with voice activated wingmates, and had my mind blown by the fact that my missle lit up a trail on the side of a completely remodled Orion that had me jizzing myself. It will take you... a little time to figure out how FS OPEN works, but it is worth it 19282882%

As other reviewers have suggested, go to www.hard-light.net to get FSO graphic/sound improvements and to have access to more than twenty additional user-made campaigns, and also to other spin-offs like the Babylon 5 and Battlestar Galactica universes. User-made campaigns can be found at www.hard-light.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page and are set in eras that span the first and second Great Wars, and beyond. I highly recommend getting Freespace 1 as well to complete the experience. And what an experience! Your ship controls can be customized, and are broken down to Ship, Weapons, Targeting, Shield, and Squad Command controls. Missions seem to be based on a combination of simple objectives such as Destroy / Defend / Recon or Stealth but these objectives create an atmosphere of variety and plot twists. One of the high-points of the game is the ability to destroy Capital Ship subsystems and turrets along with the extreme ship to ship dog-fighting. Another great feature is the ability on most missions to customize your and squad-mate ship and weapons loadout. This game is also missile-intensive, which creates an atmosphere of large explosions, and you constantly find yourself spinning, using afterburners and launching countermeasures to dodge the enemy. The ability to create a player that earns stats, badges and promotions gives the game an epic feel from campaign to campaign, that you will have fought in every major battle. As a whole, Freespace 2 and the FSO universe is a must for space-sim combat fans.