| Volition FreeSpace 2 Review - Page 9 |
The
Greatness
There has never been a space sim quite like FreeSpace
2. The impressive graphics and adrenaline-rushing dogfights
will keep you glued to the game for days. I found myself
irresistibly progressing through the missions even though
I had promised myself earlier to end the game for the
day.
For fans of
space sims who have never tried the original FreeSpace,
you MUST give FreeSpace 2 a try. The original impressed
me and I believe the uninitiated should be amazed by this
second offering. Those who have experienced FreeSpace
will be happy to know that there's more greatness from
where it came from.
The
Lameness
Had to do some nitpicking here because there can never
be a product without a flaw or two. The AI for wingmen
can do with some improvement. There have been a number
of times where they blindly collide with my ship and other
friendlies during non-combat situations.
The cut scenes
need further improvement. They look flat and lifeless
due to unpolished lighting and the lack of bump maps during
rendering. In fact, the cut scenes are comparable to those
we see in the games of 1994. Rather disappointing here.
Multiplayer
lag is a problem, especially with 56k modems and below.
An obvious indication of this is the disdain of some players
in Parallax Online when these users join their game.
Conclusion
FreeSpace 2 is a fantastic game which offers the best
in combat space sim experience you can ever get your hands
on now. Its excellent audio and visual departments do
very well to endear the game to the masses. Though far
from perfect, Volition's free multiplayer service on Parallax
Online offers a new dimension to gameplay. With such an
impressive features line up, there is little to complain
about. It is no idle boast that FreeSpace 2 is unarguably,
one of the best games before the coming millennium.
If you have
any doubts or queries, Email
me or direct your comments/thoughts in our forum.
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