Escape Velocity

"One of the best Macintosh games ever created."

If you haven't ever played Escape Velocity, you either don't have a Macintosh, or you're a hermit. Ambrosia Software has created one of the very best space adventure games. Because the game is nonlinear, you can go in endless directions with how you want to play the game. Do you want to become a pirate and raid convoys, or do you want to be a mercenary and get paid big bucks for your services? The possibilities are endless.

Gameplay: 10/10
This is an endlessly fun game. From exploring planets to trading with alien governments to beating the living tar out of pirate spacecraft, it has it all. The game can also be as easy or as hard as you want it to be. It can be easy if you decide to take the safe route of trading, but it can be hard if Bounty Hunters are after you, or Confeds are on your tail.

Story: 10/10
The underlying story of Escape Velocity is the battle between the Confederation and the Rebellion. When an alien entity began attacking and raiding planets, worlds banded together and formed the Confederation. Together, they defeated the alien threat, but the Confeds weren't ready to give up their power. Taking ores and minerals from other planets, another alliance formed out of the oppressed, the Rebellion. Throughout the game, you will see Confed and Rebel ships duking it out, and you can choose to take a side, if you wish.

Sound Effects: 10/10
There is a wide range of sound effects for the game, and they sound great. Explosions, gunshots, electronic beeping, everything. The sound however is something to throw a stick at. The introduction music is excellent, but there is no other music throughout the game. It's probably for the better anyway, with all the shots and explosions of space battle, music would drown out other sfx.

Replayability: 10/10
No matter what, you will never get tired of this game! The nonlinear aspect makes the game 'unbeatable,' in the sense that there is no real end to the game. With thousands of choices to make, what ship to buy, what turrets to equip, what people to attack, you'll never run out of gameplay.

Buy or Not?
Well, you really can't rent this game, so the question is, buy or not? Buy it. It's worth the registration fee, and it gets rid of that annoying Captain Hector. ^_^

Once you play it, you'll be hooked too.

As a special secret, I'll give you the code on how to get the Forklift. Option-click the title screen so you get the EV theme. Wait until ''-MCB 4:35 A.M.'' appears, then hold down control-command-option-shift-F. You'll hear the Forklift theme song. The loaded pilot will now have the Forklift. ^_^ Enjoy!

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 05/27/02, Updated 05/27/02