Darkstar One is generally a fair game. The missions, while they get repetitive after awhile, are varied enough that they won't get overly tiresome, and you always have the option of cargo missions or hunting pirates. The problem comes from the bugs. The game has a tendency to crash or bug up your display drivers, which if you haven't saved is a serious problem. There's also numerous minor issues with it. The voice acting is horrible. Your little co-pilot is the worse, constantly shouting annoying and repetitive messages that have no use into your ear in battle. I just can't take another, "That Oc'to is rather close." Also, you'll get tired very quickly of staring at the interfaces of plain gray space stations. Unlike Privateer, which let you land on planets, and spiced things up now and again with unique palettes, there are only about three set pieces for every race, and they're all utterly forgettable. This is a problem, since generally the trade stations are the only thing in any given system that you can interact with. That means the systems, despite their beauty, really just come down to one station with a lot of doodads and gimmicks around them. I don't recommend it, even at 9 bucks. If you're looking for the next Privateer, you'll have to keep the same lonely vigil we've all been keeping since 1993.
Operation Flashpoint requires a level of sophistication, and tactical awareness, above and beyond every other game in its class. It's learning curve is steep, but its a close to real tactical combat as you can get. This dedication to realism is likely why Flashpoint alienated so many FPS gamers, who were used to sprinting in and blasting everything in sight with ridiculous arrays of weapons and machinery. This is no HALO. It's not even Battlefield. Your character is not an invincible, bullet soaking machine capable of carrying 19 weapons, and single handidly operating every weapon in the arsenal of the United States, but for those who enjoy tactical shooters, that's part of the fun. It's especially nice that this game includes all the expansions. Each has its own to offer, and gives a unique spin on the game mechanics. The difference between playing as a Marine and a resistance fighter are striking. Each operates largely the same, but requires you to think differently, and each has fun and exciting tactical situations. If you've never played Flashpoint before, I recommend you give it some time. It takes a while to master, and you may have to play through the single missions often before you're prepared to tackle the campaign. The payoff, however, is well worth it.
I've been waiting for this game to be released on GOG.com since GOG got started. Crusader has always been a hidden gem, and is my all time favorite DOS-only release title. It's a top down action game in which you play a super-soldier turned renegade out for revenge against the company that betrayed you. The game gives you everything you could want in an over-the-top shooter: pricelessly overacted FMV cutscences, gratuitous violence, a wide array of fun and effective weapons, and of course a destructible environment. Crusader shows how fun it is to be the anti-hero. The Silencer is a remorseless killer who massacres anyone in his way. You get the feeling throughout the game that he supports the Resistance not out of a sense of loyalty but only because their goals are tangential to his, murdering the people who betrayed him. Firing a rocket and watching your victims staggering around, engulfed in flames is utterly satisfying, and the fast paced missions give you the impression that you're doing very real damage to your corporate foes. Seriously, get this game. It's well worth your time.
