Publisher: Microsoft
Ages: ten and up.
Parental
Advisory:
Violence
It's been long under development. And while it's hard to live up to the considerable hype and anticipation, Freelancer delivers a compelling, involving and entertaining experience. Microsoft's Freelancer lets players embark on a space adventure that's loaded with fast combat action and gives them the freedom to pursue a career of their choice.
The best thing about Freelancer is its vast, open-ended universe. Players are Edison Trent, an intergalactic jack-of-all-trades freelancer who can do whatever he chooses to. He can be a smuggler, space thug, naval hero or trader. And whatever path players choose lets them explore various star systems; participate in battle; accept and carry-out missions that include cargo runs, convoy escorts and reconnaissance and more.
Throughout the game, players will find that their choices determine how allies and enemies respond to them. For example, players that undertake a bounty-hunting mission to target a member of an enemy house will soon find that they are being hunted as well. And if players succeed at a particular endeavor, they'll find that competitors will take notice and respond.
The game's universe is filled with outposts, vessels, and bases, as well as characters that include mercenaries, pirates and racketeers. The game considers commerce and politics. There are mining planets that provide minerals and agricultural planets that cultivate grain. And as traders, players have to find the best routes and deal with ever present politics.
Players can choose to take on missions that contribute towards the game's decent storyline or random ones. Players can also join friends in fun, cooperative missions via multi-player gameplay.
The interface, which makes use of a mouse and not a joystick, is intuitive and effective. Also, the game's 3D graphics are impressive and depict detailed star systems, planets and ships. Violence in the game comes in the form of ship battles.
Microsoft and game developer Digital Anvil have created a game that appeals to both die-hard space/flight sim gamers and casual gamers. Families that like science fiction and flight simulations may want to take Freelancer for a spin.
4/2/2003 www.daytrum.com Editorial Staff
