The title says it all. Great game, you have an arcade mode, which I prefer, and hardcore mode. The word of caution, though: you should install this game using the GOG galaxy, otherwise multiplayer would be semi-functional, plus I had issues with big hooks working like small ones when I installed it using backup offline installer.
For a hardcore X series player it's like a place of pilgrimage, the past that defines the future. I played this game after countless hours of Elite on Speccy and PC, and the first impression was, why the game's universe is so small? Why the combat is so easy? The "Verbose Shipcomputer" is a total disaster! Shut up, you stupid piece of silicon! Ha-ha-ha... These are the only cons I'm aware of regarding this game. This is an exploration game. It's like any other space or naval exploration game, where you have to do your homework: make notes on prices and places, draw a chart (mine was about 1m x 1m), and think about what you are basically doing. Money are very easy to earn once you get the solid idea of goods and prices in the 5 or so initial sectors. Speed upgrades are progressively more expensive, so you always have something to spend money on. Upgraded ship is very fast, and the game world is becoming even smaller. The late game turns somewhat challenging, but dispatching Xenon destroyers is pure fun. Kids really like them, they look like chocolates. Proper flight joystick is a must, you need that speed control handle, otherwise the big destroyer will easily ram you while turning - they are heavy, and they are fast! I went through the XBTF plot at least two times, and replayed the end game countless times trying different strategies. The plot itself is engaging, a little brief in terms of storytelling, but still requiring a good amount of time to complete. The whole X series truly follows the spirit of original Elite, so if you like space opera games and movies, you'll find yourself in a place where you belong.
