Darkstar One

As a space sim it's quite good game (have retail version on DVD), nice graphics, straightforward gameplay and basic-simplified economy. If you fancy Freelancer, but don't want to be involved in brilliant and complex X series (especially X Reunion and X Terran Conflict), give it a go, and you should be satisfied. Shame there's no continuation to it, DS 2 would probably be great.

While I agree with many the posts on the faults of this game (only 1 ship), Limited upgrades, Almost no dynamics of the surrounding world, Systems that could be considered carbon copies. The mostly linear story line was enjoyable. I've played the game 2 times. The upgrades the the ship are cool. The game is challenging. Although I'd call it more a RPG, Space shooter. Then a simulation. I'd say the only game that advanced past freelancer would be X3. This one would be a few steps backward, with some graphical leaps forward.

I had passed on getting this game when it was originally released. I was turned off by the idea of being stuck playing one character in one ship. Well, I was wrong, and I'm happy to admit it. While it would be nice to be able to create your own character, the ship is so customizable that it doesn't really matter that you keep the "same ship". Being limited to playing the single available character does have an advantage in that the plot is less generalized, as would be required for custom characters. The only thing that makes it a good game rather than great is the general repetition. The game shuffles from one dogfight to the next, without much variety. What makes it very good, however, is that these dogfights through space are fun. I haven't had so much fun destroying things in space since Wing Commander.

Well, it's good, it's polished, but it shouldn't be classified as economic and it lacks any replay value whatsoever. GOG offers a much better deal than the full-price copy I picked up since I didn't know better, so if you like space shooters it's still worth picking up.

I haven't had this much fun in a long time, and it caused me immense pain to drag myself away from Darkstar One to even write this review. This game is incredible - the game universe is huge and beautiful, and the gameplay is superbly non-linear and varied. Want to be a pirate or a smuggler? Go ahead! The story and free play intertwine seamlessly, and the space combat is terrific as well. I can't reccommend this game highly, and for under $10, there is no excuse for not owning this game.