X4: Timelines

The timeline missions are very enjoyable to play, even if you don't have much time. It's really fun to try out so many different play styles that you might never have tried otherwise. I know the story of the X-Universe relatively well, but it's still very interesting to play it and read more about it. The soundtrack is very good. The dubbing is (as always) terrible, they really need to do something about it.

This DLC takes the best aspects of X4 and throws them out the window, and forces you to play through linear missions filled with the weakest aspects of the game. You'll have to do it, too, because otherwise you miss out on very meaningful, important story content. Straight up garbage.

Given that it was aimed more at new players than existing ones (and so is more of a detour than a continuation), I think TImelines works about as well as it was going to. The missions are nothing to write home about (timed EVAs and races, timed mining, repairs, lots of pew-pew); but neither are they long and the bar for earning sandbox rewards is very low (you just need to score 1 star outta 5). The plot is decent, giving off slight Matrix/GANTZ vibes, and the writing is solid (though the VOs are of varying quality). All in all, it's more stuff to do. It's decent, it won't take long and it'll earn your sandbox save 11 new ships, 7 new systems and a new station or two. At the very least, it'll give Egosoft the money to keep improving a six-year-old game, which -- in my book -- is a fair trade for 15 bucks.

I bought the DLC to find out that there is no download for Linux yet. Also, I could not find a release date for Linux anywhere which is frustrating. I do not mind a preliminary release date being postponed when problems occur but not giving any information at all is not what I deem acceptable.

I understand why some folks may rate this DLC as a 1 star as it doesn't add anything really noticeable to your savegame, and I too was the type to get a refund due to there being no linux download option during release month (what are you doing GOG?). However, when 7.5 was released I decided to re-purchase it and I now see the beauty in what Egosoft are conveying. Some may see it, some may not. Thank you Egosoft.