X3: Reunion

I've been playing this series for ages, having got the last two some years ago as part of a bundle with a new graphics card. Recently, I got the whole X series again from GOG on a promo, to get DRM-free, up to date versions. Sadly, X3-Reunion seems to be bundled with the eXtend pack, which amongst other things includes the seriously doubtful decision of removing the suit repair laser, thus making some of the game start alternatives near impossible. Also, it seems to still have an tendency to crash every 45 minutes or so. I would highly recommend the X3 series (which will draw you in and provide countless hours of exploration, building, trading and fighting fun), just not X3 - Reunion: skip it and get X3 -Terran Conflict.

I use Linux i386 version for play X3 Reunion runig linuxmint-18.3-mate-32bit (code base Ubuntu 16.04.3 LTS) $ sudo apt update $ sudo apt upgrade video driver nouveau work $ chmod +x gog_x3_reunion_2.0.0.3.sh $ ./gog_x3_reunion_2.0.0.3.sh install $ cd /home/<user>/GOG Games/X3 Reunion/game $ ./X3R_config play =) or install $ ubuntu-drivers devices $ sudo ubuntu-drivers autoinstall for nvidia GT 730 DDR3 $ sudo apt install nvidia-384 this script dont work /home/<user>/GOG Games/X3 Reunion $ ./start.sh

X³ - Reunion is a really great and immersive space game. It is a wonderful start into the newer X series. If you go back from Terran Conflict the oldschool steering requires some getting used to (although it can be changed in the Options with the Bonus Pack, I think). The story is actually really good, also helps a lot to find your way into the game. In fact, this is the main reason I recommend starting off with Reunion rather than Terran Conflict or Albion Prelude. Just stop after the story before you build your empire (and oh, it's tempting to at least build this or that... and get lost in construction) and move on to TC or AP. 4 stars out of 5 *only* due to the lack of content compared to TC or AP. Yes, there are more systems and ships in TC. Also the steering is somewhat outdated. Mind you, back in the days this would definitely have been 5 out of 5 stars!

Loved the Elite series to death, and nothing came close to it until X: BTF, and then the earlier X2 games. It got a little tiring being the same thing, with only tiny incremental improvements, and you needed to follow the fora to figure them all out, but that incremental nature also helped in that regard, as you only needed to learn a little per game. This revision promised the things many users asked for. Unfortunately, the implementation of those extra bits was very rudimentary, wooden and unpolished. Worst of all, it is horribly documented, and even varying docs per update, with tiny piecemeal explanations that don't take account how things fit together in the greater game. If I was 13 and had all the time in the world, I'd surely figure it out but this is deductive punishment if you can't commit tons of steady and frequent hours. Sad, as it was once wonderful. Not going to invest in the franchise again. YMMV.