Freelancer

"A welcome and WORTHY addition to the genre - definitely worth playing !!"

FOREWORD

Freelancer is a space-based flight simulator, with elements of smuggling, piracy, legitimate trade of goods, weaponry, ammunition, assassination, ship-upgrading, earning of credits and a whole host of other things thrown into the mix. It breathes life into an otherwise mildly restricted genre and, whilst its counterparts (including the LEGENDARY Frontier: Elite II, and Wing Commander: Privateer) are for the most part EXTREMELY enjoyable games in their own right, we ask ... can Freelancer holds its own against the big boys ?? Or will it be knocked out like a little pipsqueak ?? Read on !!

OVERVIEW AND OBJECTIVE OF THE GAME

There is no single objective to the game. As with most games of this ilk, you pick your own objectives. Freelancer DOES have a set plot that weaves throughout the game, taking you from place to place, and enabling you to mature as a pilot through detailed and dangerous missions, whilst at the same time giving you breathers (for example whilst your cohorts are determining their next move, you can go off and ''freelance'' - i.e. take on missions you choose yourself, move from system to system and planet to planet, trade, smuggle, and so on), but as I say, there IS no set objective to Freelancer.

GRAPHICS - 9/10

The game is graphically BEAUTIFUL. When played on a reasonably powerful PC the game is fluid, combat rolls very well (even though it uses the mouse but we'll get to that in a bit), the animation of the pilots when they are walking around on solid ground is slick, loading times are acceptable, space flight through trade rings and jump gates is GORGEOUS ... all in all it is a very visually satisfying game.

On a more nitty-gritty level, attention has been given to even the most minor of details. Actual physical damage can be done to ships piecemeal - e.g. you can blow out one or more of a ship's thrusters and they will either spark out or fly off into space, causing the ship to spiral out of control until the pilot regains his composure. Also, depending on the type of shield you are using, the graphic effects when your shields are hit vary. Similarly, adding additional weapons to your ship causes them to be displayed on the ship (as you would hope), and you can see and move them whilst you're flying.

All in all this game is graphically SUPERB.

SOUND - 7/10

The combat sounds (from laser fire that changes with the weapon you're using, through to the metal-scraping goodness of tw@tting an asteroid, block of ice, or other ship whilst flying around are VERY effective and will stick in your mind.

The speech has been very well done, and is always clearly audible, well acted and (in some parts) funny, but there is, sadly, ONE THING that brings the overall mark for sound down in my book, and it's this.

''We don't own this base, but we do have a sizeable stake in its operations''.

Trust me. It'll become clear when you play.

Oh alright, I'll explain.

Basically you will get the impression when you play that the voice actors (of whom there are not that many - I would say 10 or less) have recorded pre-set sentences in a studio to be chopped and changed. The result is that you get things like this.

''Well I work for'' (break) ''Samura Industries.'' (break) ''We don't own this base, but we do have a sizeable stake in its operations''.

... or ...

''I'm delivering'' (break) ''H-Fuel'' (break) ''from'' (break) ''California'' (break) ''to Planet Manhattan''.

The breaks are VERY short, but noticeable, and whilst it's not a problem early on when everything is still ''oh WOW that's so BEAUTIFUL'' in your mind ? After you've completed the main plot and you're able to go around just freelancing, it will start to play on your nerves a bit ...

However, to counter that there is the cool factor associated with being known. Basically, once you've identified yourself to somebody, they WILL remember you if you ever come back and visit them again, which is always nice.

So to sum up, the sounds are GREAT ! But they will get repetitive over time.

CONTROLS - 9/10

For a flight simulator that DOESN'T use a joystick, Freelancer manages REALLY really well !! When this title was first released my brother and I looked at it and he scoffed at it because it was mouse-based and he couldn't see the fun in not using a joystick ... but he has come around to my way of seeing things - the use of the mouse just DOESN'T detract from playing the game (fine so I'm not a die-hard flight sim maniac, so mine may not reflect everybody's opinion). I found that the controls (the majority of which can be accessed through the keyboard when you become comfortable enough with them) are very logical and easy to get to grips with, and once you've done a few missions and settled into how to manoeuvre and control your ship, you'll be pushing buttons like a pro !!

It's easy to use, reasonably quick to pick up, and fun to interact with.

PLOT - 7/10

The plot is introduced gradually and enjoyably - you feel like you're being immersed in it and, as the pace quickens, you WILL get caught up in it. Even when Juni (your immediate boss, if you like) tells you that you can go away and freelance for a bit until she has further news for you, you'll be waiting to hear from her ...

Geographically the plot takes you in a big circle almost, around the MAJORITY of areas that you are likely to visit during your normal playing of the game, and then brings you right back to square one after it has all ended.

... my only regret is that the plot does just that ! It ENDS. It's all fine and dandy and you're all caught up in it, and then one you've beaten the ''plot'' (i.e. NOT the game - you can't BEAT the game as far as I'm aware), you just get left to your own devices ...

... no kudos really ...

... nothing special ...

... but you can then do some heavy-duty exploring and stuff ;)

So whilst the plot itself is enjoyable and immersive, it ends too abruptly for my taste.

GAMEPLAY - 9/10

There's just something about gunning down a fleeing pirate that causes me to chuck my head back and cackle with glee ... blowing off their thrusters ... then working them over with my lasers ... hell ... it's like eating gummi-bears it's so fun !! :)

Seriously though, Freelancer is a very enjoyable title to play ... the fun-factor of taking on missions, attacking the political groups that you don't like and reaping the rewards of their pain and suffering CAN hold a longer-term merit than you'd think !! ;)

The gameplay is fluid, enjoyable, and this has the feel of a title that you can just come back to, do a few missions and then leave again (this becomes especially true once you have completed the main plot and are back to square one).

With good loading times on the whole, and some truly beautiful graphics, it's good eye-candy to play too. There is also the satisfaction of piloting your own ship. All in all the GENRE is very playable, and this game is a good representative OF that genre, when it's done well.

REPLAY VALUE - 7/10

The main problem that has ALWAYS existed with this type of game is that whilst it IS really enjoyable, and it's good wholesome arcade deathstick fun, and you can pick it up and play it and put it down and go do something else ? The LONG-TERM character development is what I feel is lacking.

Once you have completed the single-player plot you are on your own. Sure, you can advance in levels and buy bigger and better ships and explore uncharted regions of the universe, which is ALWAYS good fun, but once you've done that it will start to become routine.

Games like Frontier: Elite II got around this by releasing add-ons ... little things ... like ... yeah ! Like a notepad that you could jot down your thoughts on whilst you played. Freelancer has a notepad, but your character (Trent) jots down his OWN thoughts during play ... and whilst it makes for interesting reading, 9/10 times you won't think to check it ...

Freelancer will have you coming back to play it because of its slick graphics, its quirky sounds, enjoyable dog-fights and kick@ss assassinations ... I just LURVE assassinating people !! (realises he shouldn't have said that QUITE so loud, but nevermind).

VALUE FOR MONEY - 9/10

This is always a difficult thing to gauge, as it depends on what you're looking for ! If you are looking for a slick space-flight shooting game cum flight sim that incorporates MANY but by no means ALL of the elements of Frontier: Elite II, the trade-off being that in exchange for the lack of ... say ... rank-gaining in the Federal Military or Imperial Navy, or INSANE amounts of trading with OODLES and oodles of ships, you get what is kinda like Frontier: Elite II *Lite* 2003 ... with less variety of missions but graphics and sound that have been brought RIGHT up to a 2003 standard ? Then THIS is the game for you !!

If you are looking for something that is going to have you going out and buying a wardrobe to match the game, so that you can just LIVE this game forever and ever ?? Then a) you should check yourself, b) you shouldn't be using a pc, and c) this ISN'T going to be the right game for you ...

It IS a good game, and it IS worth buying. I strongly recommend it for general consumption.

OVERALL - 9/10 (This is NOT an average)

This game is VERY enjoyable and, whilst it lacks Frontier: Elite II's depth in the long-term ? It MORE than makes up for it in terms of the IMMEDIATE level of stimulation the title provides. I'd say it's a case of substance -v- eye-candy, but that doesn't do this title justice. Freelancer DOES have depth, and it DOES have replay-value ... it's a high-quality game that boasts great graphics and sound (bar the minor niggle I mentioned), an immersive plot and is VERY enjoyable to play. It deserves to be given a serious look at, if not bought outright.

MAIN GOOD POINTS

* Graphics are STUNNING.
* Sound and voice-acting are both very well done (even though you will ultimately start to tire of them)
* Immersive plot
* Very enjoyable combat

MAIN BAD POINTS

* Longevity - once the main plot has been completed you might not want to play it as much.
* The sound will wear on your patience after you've heard everybody say every possible combination of quotes about a BILLION times.
* There aren't as many ships or missions as I would have liked to have seen.

SO SHOULD YOU GET IT ?

If you're a fan of the genre then DEFINITELY get it - it's worth the money. If you're looking for instant-gratification in a space-flight-arcade-shooting-stylee ? Then this ranks as one of the best games I've played. If you're looking for something that is going to provide you with yonks and yonks and YONKS of enjoyment and keep you coming back to just that liiiiiiiittle bit more with your character each time ?? Then check out Frontier: Elite II either in addition to or as a shareware alternative to this title. There is NO comparison graphically - Frontier: Elite II plays like this game's GRANDFATHER, but then again it was released MANY many years before this puppy was even a twinkle in its developers eye.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 12/31/03