Space Sim

Alright! First a thank you to all those who helped me with suggestions for this genre of game in previous posts.

I'm looking for a space ship sim. I prefer combat over trade (as I'm impatient). I do not have a joystick. Previous games I've liked would include all of the X-Wing/TIE Fighter series, Freelancer, Freespace 2.


1. X3: Reunion
I've heard great reviews of this game, both here on the forums and elsewhere. The chance to buy your own capital ship really appeals to me. However, as mentioned above, I'm not really into trading (too complex for my simple mind!), so I wonder if I'd still be able to enjoy this game to its fullest, or even get the endgame ships that would be more fun.

2. Darkstar One
Heard some good and some bad things about this game...as well as some issues with Vista (which is what I run now). Anyone have some good opinions about this game?

I've narrowed it down to these 2 games, but since I have limited money and time, I can really only pick one. How do they stack up against each other in terms of story, plot, playability, overall fun?

If there are any great ones I missed or upcoming worth waiting for, I'd love to know too

Thanks.

 

hmmm.... battlefield 1942 expansion? you can use tanks, airplanes, infantery, more planes =P.... its a good games

 

X3: Reunion is very deep and takes a lot of time to learn, and lots and lots of time to play. It's more of a "space opera" as some put it. It is so involved, but this can be very rewarding as well. It is pretty much free-form, and not your normal action game.

Darkstar One is a good action game, and more mission based, with a little bit of free form.

One of my older favorites is Independence War 2: Edge of Chaos. Be warned that this game can be problematic in Vista, but there are workarounds. XP, as far as I can recall, worked fine. Now that you mention it I'll have to load it up again.

I-War 2 is a good mix of space combat with trade and missions. It is more of a spaceship simulator than anything else. Great fun and requires some skill. Still looks and plays great even today.

 

There are space trading games? Besides the flash ones?

 

Try Homeworld Series, Nexus: Jupiter Incident, or even Galactic Civilizations.

 

Homeworld is RTS. If you can get past the awkward control scheme, it can be fun.

Nexus: Jupiter Incident is another RTS that I got bored with relatively quickly. But YMMV.

Galactic Civilizations is a turn based strategy game, but still good nevertheless. Although never got real far in any game yet. Just the patch process can be a little annoying with the auto patcher.

 

Thanks for the suggestions so far. GalCiv and Homeworld are both strategy games, and while I like both, aren't quite what I'm looking for this time around. I'm actually quite eagerly awaiting Sins of a Solar Empire to be released, but that's another topic.

Please keep it limited to 1st-person space ship sim shooters

 

Tarr Chronicles is another game due out in another week or so. Made by some German developer I'm not aware of, but looks promising. Keep an eye out for that one.

I love those space sim shooter type games too. Freespace and Freespace 2 were my favorites.

 

He was responding to me i think. Sorry about that.

And thanks for the recommendations!

 

Same here, though I wish they'd make Homeworld 3 XD.