While Chris Roberts was busy with the Wing Commander series, his brother Erin was toiling away on Privateer. Priv 1 was everything I wanted WC I & II to be. And Priv 2 does likewise for WC III & IV. It adds a huge degree of freedom. Instead of flying fixed missions with fixed ships in a fixed location, you get to explore, trade, blow up stuff, buy cool stuff, interact with NPCs etc etc. Yes the FMVs are cheesy and dated by today's standards, but you wouldn't be on GOG if that was your criterion. The gameplay was addictive, the ships and guns were cool, and the atmosphere is just beautifully immersive. The sound effects haunted me for years! If you have any love for space sim games, this title is indispensable.
I've been playing this game for ten years. Every few months I start it up again and then lose myself entirely. I've longed for the day that it became available on GOG, because this game is so deserving of a second chance! Super addictive turn-based strategy that is simple enough for anyone to pick up. Beautifully retro graphics, great voicing, and addictive gameplay. This is like a near-perfect indy game.
