It seems that you're using an outdated browser. Some things may not work as they should (or don't work at all).
We suggest you upgrade newer and better browser like: Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer or Opera

×
Community
General discussion (archive)How does the freespace games compare to Freelancer?(21 posts)(21 posts)
(21 posts)
Pages:
1
2
This is my favourite topic
Posted June 20, 2011
I posted this in another thread, but it is worth reposting:

For all those who just bought (or in this case are thinking of buying) Freespace 1+2 ... be sure to check out the Freespace Source Code Project and hard-light.net.

The Freespace Open Engine makes the game look gorgeous, provides other general improvements, and adds a large amount of content through the available mods.
Posted June 20, 2011
avatar
crazy_dave: I posted this in another thread, but it is worth reposting:

For all those who just bought (or in this case are thinking of buying) Freespace 1+2 ... be sure to check out the Freespace Source Code Project and hard-light.net.

The Freespace Open Engine makes the game look gorgeous, provides other general improvements, and adds a large amount of content through the available mods.
Can you or anyone tell me if the system requirements for FSO are much higher than those of the original FS2? My notebook is not exactly a gaming system, so usually graphics overhaul mod equals too heavy.

Also, I saw someone saying that you don't need to buy FS1 at all because of the port for FS2. How similar is that to the original game? I have played through FS2 once, but for my first time on FS1, I want to play it just as it was, no improvements/changes other than bug fixes.
Posted June 20, 2011
avatar
crazy_dave: I posted this in another thread, but it is worth reposting:

For all those who just bought (or in this case are thinking of buying) Freespace 1+2 ... be sure to check out the Freespace Source Code Project and hard-light.net.

The Freespace Open Engine makes the game look gorgeous, provides other general improvements, and adds a large amount of content through the available mods.
avatar
Dragobr: Can you or anyone tell me if the system requirements for FSO are much higher than those of the original FS2? My notebook is not exactly a gaming system, so usually graphics overhaul mod equals too heavy.

Also, I saw someone saying that you don't need to buy FS1 at all because of the port for FS2. How similar is that to the original game? I have played through FS2 once, but for my first time on FS1, I want to play it just as it was, no improvements/changes other than bug fixes.
I think the FSO system requirements are indeed higher and while the latest build 3.6.12 is pretty, I've heard complaints that it is not very well optimized and stutters on less capable rigs. 3.6.13 is supposed to fix much of that but I'm not sure when it is supposed to be released.

I've not played the original FS1 in the original engine. I've only played FSport. However, I bought FS1 anyway and am glad I did since some of the FSport cutscenes didn't work and I had to replace them with the original FS1 version - however, that problem with FSport cutscenes is a Mac thing only. I should state that the cutscenes for the two version are identical except in their encoding and in fact I'm pretty sure that in general the campaigns are identical though there may be some slight differences in how you'll play due to different AI, graphics, etc ... But otherwise my understanding is that FSport and FS1 are practically identical.
Posted June 20, 2011
Guess I'm the lone voice of dissent here in a sea of favorable praise, at least to the OP's question. I don't think the Freespace games compare favorably at all to Freelancer/Starlancer, or its cousins in the Wing Commander series.

I've only played the sequel, Freespace 2, snatched up one lazy afternoon in Le'Bargain Bin. I suppose I technically finished it, though now for the life of me I barely remember any of the details. What I do recall is an Automat approach to gaming. Queue up to the gruff, clinically depressed-sounding cafeteria worker / mission briefing guy, receive your food tray / flight mission, then mindlessly consume. Rinse, dump your tray / dock your ship, repeat. And it followed this formula each and every time. There was no arching narrative or entourage of characters to speak of, or richly layered universe that you were given a backstory concerning the geopolitical situation therein. Or maybe you were, in bits, during text briefings, but nothing the somnolent, grim narrator ever said to me stuck. I'd been spoiled by Wing Commander's production values, and approach plot, pacing, and of course the cast. Freelancer's default storyline and setting was pretty engaging too.

If all you care about is a pure space combat sim, and cutscenes or lengthy interludes are more a bother than anything else, then you've found your game. Many people seem to like that aspect of it, based on its accolades in this thread and the ongoing modding community...however it left me as cold as the vacuum of space. It's certainly not an open-ended game like Freelancer/Privateer so don't purchase it thinking it's anything like it. I slogged through it to the very end (sense of duty I suppose, or mayhaps faint hope of it blooming later on), but felt like I'd colossally wasted my time, even by video game standards.
Posted June 20, 2011
avatar
MaridAudran: Guess I'm the lone voice of dissent here in a sea of favorable praise, at least to the OP's question. I don't think the Freespace games compare favorably at all to Freelancer/Starlancer, or its cousins in the Wing Commander series.

I've only played the sequel, Freespace 2, snatched up one lazy afternoon in Le'Bargain Bin. I suppose I technically finished it, though now for the life of me I barely remember any of the details. What I do recall is an Automat approach to gaming. Queue up to the gruff, clinically depressed-sounding cafeteria worker / mission briefing guy, receive your food tray / flight mission, then mindlessly consume. Rinse, dump your tray / dock your ship, repeat. And it followed this formula each and every time. There was no arching narrative or entourage of characters to speak of, or richly layered universe that you were given a backstory concerning the geopolitical situation therein. Or maybe you were, in bits, during text briefings, but nothing the somnolent, grim narrator ever said to me stuck. I'd been spoiled by Wing Commander's production values, and approach plot, pacing, and of course the cast. Freelancer's default storyline and setting was pretty engaging too.

If all you care about is a pure space combat sim, and cutscenes or lengthy interludes are more a bother than anything else, then you've found your game. Many people seem to like that aspect of it, based on its accolades in this thread and the ongoing modding community...however it left me as cold as the vacuum of space. It's certainly not an open-ended game like Freelancer/Privateer so don't purchase it thinking it's anything like it. I slogged through it to the very end (sense of duty I suppose, or mayhaps faint hope of it blooming later on), but felt like I'd colossally wasted my time, even by video game standards.
Think i would have to agree with this guy. I dont think Freespace games can be compared to Freelancer at all. Totally, TOTALLY different games. The only thing either game has in common is that they are both space sims.
Post edited June 20, 2011 by StonerMk2
Posted June 21, 2011
avatar
StonerMk2: Think i would have to agree with this guy. I dont think Freespace games can be compared to Freelancer at all. Totally, TOTALLY different games. The only thing either game has in common is that they are both space sims.
Freelancer, no. I never played it, but it's obviously in the Elite/Privateer tradition. I recall hype about its mouse interface when it came out. Freespace doesn't qualify as that kind of game.

Starlancer, yes. It's a WC-style arcade shooter with a linear series of missions with fixed objectives, just like Freespace. The only structural difference is the movie cutscenes advancing the plot. I found the gameplay and plot a step down from WC, to say nothing of Freespace. The enemy characters were silly cartoons. The AI was lousy. Your 5 wingmen were beyond useless. But Freelancer does some things right. And it definitely feels more like WWII in space than anything else, if that's something you're looking for. Although it's ironic that the cold war twist groups the US with its WWII enemies against many of its WWII allies.

avatar
MaridAudran: There was no arching narrative or entourage of characters to speak of, or richly layered universe that you were given a backstory concerning the geopolitical situation therein. Or maybe you were, in bits, during text briefings, but nothing the somnolent, grim narrator ever said to me stuck.
How far did you get? There are no character-heavy cutscenes driving the plot outside the cockpit, but after the first few missions there are big plot upheavals and reversals with plenty of ties to what's come before. The overall story is far more serious and epic in scale than Starlancer's.

Freespace has a more sterile presentation. That was a problem with a lot of Volition games. Red Faction and Summoner were even harder to relate to. However, Freespace's stark presentation fits well with its storyline of humanity trying to survive in space against impossible odds.

Everyone has their preferences. Nothing wrong with liking Starlancer's presentation over Freespace's gameplay.
Pages:
1
2
This is my favourite topic
Community
General discussion (archive)How does the freespace games compare to Freelancer?(21 posts)(21 posts)
(21 posts)