One of the BEST features of Freelancer in my opinion...

Tue Apr 01, 2003 7:30 am by guptasa1

*VERY SLIGHT SPOILERS* Actually, they're minor enough and very general, so I didn't think it warrented posting this in the spoiler forum. Nonetheless, thought I better put a disclaimer.

Anyone else feel that one of the coolest and best thing about the Freelancer universe is the actual universe? I mean...these guys clearly took some time developing it. Reading about all the stations/planets, reading all the news and talking to all the people (minus the repetitive dialogue - I'm talking about the text stuff), reading about various factions...even reading about all the various commodities and the ships that you get...it just makes it feel so real.

*Here's where the slight spoilers lie about the basic setting of the game*
Some of the subtleties are the best. I've caught myself thinking several times in regard to the different systems "Typical - people never change" (and I'm just approaching Mission 5, so I'm not even halfway through the game). I guess I just think they did a fantastic job of setting up the atmosphere of the game - each system really does have a personality and story to tell. It's not just a bunch of planets and stars and stations on a map. Everything has a reason and a history, and sometimes it's even scary how much you can see our own history/nature in the story (though maybe I'm just too cynical - lol).

I also have to say people who don't pay attention to this stuff are really missing out (though I grant that some people this just doesn't appeal to as much). It's like a really good book...it draws you in and makes you want to learn more about everything. That's an odd analogy for me since I'm a bit obsessive compulsive and don't read books at all anymore since it's too frustrating for me (takes me FOREVER...get stuck in loops on paragraphs). Happens for games too, but Freelancer is worth it (not THAT much text, and it's sooo interesting). Anyways, maybe that's part of the reason I'm excited - it's like a book I can stand reading, but still...great stuff and great universe. Kudos to the imaginative people who thought all this out!

Just my two cents,
Shaun

Tue Apr 01, 2003 8:25 am by The Mole

Actually, I know what you mean...

Freelancer just gives this feeling of really being in space and giving you that feeling to want to keep exploring... To see everything possible that there could possibly be...

I know what you mean.

Tue Apr 01, 2003 10:22 am by Kodakmoment

I know what you mean. Every time I go for a long exploring trip with my cruise engine on, I go into turret mode and just pan around my ship looking in all directions. Every section (ie. Rhineland, Bretonia ect.) has a distinct look as well as every system in those sections. I think thats the obvious reason it took so dam long. The Sirus Sector is just massive. But its not just quantity, its got a lot of quality to it. Ive played for only 28 hours and have about 50% of the systems explored. I cant see how people sya the game too short. Theres no way you could find everything in the 15 hours most people that complain talk about. Unless they check the spoilers, but if you check spoilers then its your fault the game isnt as long as you thought.

ps. Sorry for rant I just got thinking and went off. :/

Tue Apr 01, 2003 2:03 pm by avisolo

Freelancer to me is simply about THE EXPERIENCE OF FLYING THROUGH SPACE

Albeit a simulated experience, the enjoyment in hitting the H button and panning about almost anywhere (especially in formation with a convoy) is rewarding in itself regardless of the storyline/repetitive random missions etc.
Surprising how philosophical it becomes in terms of experiencing life for it's own sake!LIVE IN THE MOMENT!
Avi
http://www.geocities.com/avisolo

Tue Apr 01, 2003 2:08 pm by Weadge

I couldn't agree more. In fact, this past week I've found myself more engrossed in the game than ever and I finished the story line over a week ago. Last night I ventured into an unexplorered area that opened up at least half a dozen more. It seems that the universe never ends.

I've become obsessed with my quest to find one of the high level heavy fighters and I'm enjoying the heck out of every minute.

What impresses me is the detail in graphics. And even the physics in some ways. For example some of the space stations have these wonderfully detailed green house areas that you can see right into. And in the asteroid fields the small ones will deflect off your ship in a realistic way. It's just amazing and very absorbing.

Oon-tee-dee!

Tue Apr 01, 2003 9:14 pm by slug609

Oh, I agree! Freelancer is a very pretty game with a great background. After seeing the intro sequence for the first time, I knew it would be a while before I stopped playing.

I have such hi hopes that this community will release MODs to bring the rest of Freelancer (mission variety etc.) up to the level it so deserves to be at. The game engine and the experience of being in space is already there... it could just use a bit more help from it's loyal fans.

But I won't give up on it! It's still fun to play, even long after SP.

Tue Apr 01, 2003 11:36 pm by Raptor013

I agree. I just love flying through space with cruise engines on. I love to explore. I love to read all the info I can. I always go into the bar every time I land anywhere. I love to be pulled into the story and history of a place. It makes it feel more alive.

Thank you,
Raptor013

Wed Apr 02, 2003 2:19 am by Easy Rhino

Gee, I'm surprised more people haven't jumped in complaining about the lack of large-scale distance, or dynamic ethnic cleansing, or destructive supernovas, or whatever

My favorite piece of background info was discovering the "rest of the news story" involving a Planetform transport that collided with an asteroid in Bretonian space.

ER

Wed Apr 02, 2003 7:47 am by bbrock81

I love the way that just cruising around looking at the scenery with the classical music playing relaxes me. I don't think I've ever had a video game that could relax me before. It's awesome! Freelancer can be absolutely anything you want it to be; fun, exciting, adventurous, or relaxing. What a great game!

Wed Apr 02, 2003 4:14 pm by Zaratomb

I do like the visuals, another feature that actualy impressed me was when just out flying around, you could target friendlies/neutrals on patrol or convoys and join their formation. Safety in numbers thing.

Thu Apr 03, 2003 3:58 am by Fulcrum

One of the things people don't really notice about the game is the nebulas. Not only are they nice but they are actually in proportion to the location of the system. If you look south, sometimes you can see the golden colored nebulas in the Rhineland area, and towards the north, the blue nebulas in the Kusari area. If the system you are in, is closer to the Kusari than the Rhineland, the blue nebulas are more apparent while the golden nebulas are less so.

Thu Apr 03, 2003 4:11 am by maswastage|BG

I agree that the game makes it feel like Sirius is real, but it should also make it feel like you're there. I realise that I may be asking for alot, but it would have been so nice to be able to actualy affect the world(s) around you. When a bounty hunter kills 5 corsair ships, he(she) makes it into the news. So when i kill 50 corsair ships in a row, I should get in the news, no? When an outcast patrol attacks a Samura convoy, they make it into the news; when I killed 3 convoys (to try and get my reputation up with the Outcasts) I should get in the news. And it's not just the news; it's the environment, too. If the amount of illegal smuggling of artifacts and cardamine is on the rise, security should increase. If the news says that the Dauman research facility in the Ring has created a new weapon, it should become available (over time). It's things like this that would make the game feel truly alive. This was not a problem during the SP missions; you did make the news then. But after the missions are over, the game just seems to freeze in time. I see I am beginning to ramble on and on, so i shall stop for now...

Thu Apr 03, 2003 5:21 am by Anik

Perhaps I assume too much, but I feel that for those of us who grew up loving Star Trek, or Star Wars, or B5, or reading Analog or whatever, Freelancer is the fulfillment of many a youthful fantasy. What SF fan hasn't wished for a beat-up but sturdy freighter with which to ply the spacelanes? What young kid hasn't wanted a rocket ship, to explore the stars with?

Sure, I wish that planets were bigger, and that space was space-sized, and all that. I wish that there was a massively multiplayer server out there, with 5,000 ship designs and 20,000 items of equipment and 100,000 trade items and 500,000 simultaneous users - but for sheer wonder, and for the delight of exploration and discovery, Freelancer is peerless.

I liked the SP storyline - it was exciting, enthralling, and sometimes had my heart beating a mile a minute. Kind of like when I started dating my wife. But now, after SP, Freelancer has matured, and I've come to appreciate its subtleties, the exquisite details, (400,000 words of text, several different composers, etc.) and the beauty. Kind of like after I'd been married for a few years.

Man, I sound dorky - but it's a great game!

Anik

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