Freelancer demo is here

[Loki]

The Freelancer demo is here. Go to www.microsoft.com/games/freelancer/ and download the 150 MB game. Then go to www.microsoft.com/windows/directx/ to download DirectX 9.0 (required to play Freelancer) and install it.

I've only gone through the first trip down the space trade lane (is that what they called it?) and scored two kills (but failed to grab any loot because the concepts are still a bit confusing) but the atmosphere in the intro scenes really grabs you. Anyone try it out yet?

 

[LcKedovan]

Originally posted by Loki:
The Freelancer demo is here. Go to www.microsoft.com/games/freelancer/ and download the 150 MB game. Then go to www.microsoft.com/windows/directx/ to download DirectX 9.0 (required to play Freelancer) and install it.

I've only gone through the first trip down the space trade lane (is that what they called it?) and scored two kills (but failed to grab any loot because the concepts are still a bit confusing) but the atmosphere in the intro scenes really grabs you. Anyone try it out yet?

Just downloading now.

-W.

 

[Skylinkdave]

First review I've seen. Not glowing, but still looks like fun. I'm sure I'll still get it.

http://www.gamespy.com/reviews/march03/freelancerpc/

Dave

 

[Beladan]

Reviews are tricky and often say more about the reviewer's bias than the game so take this for what it's worth - but I'm sure you know that already...

I have checked out the game and it's reasonably safe to say that if you liked Elite or Frontier there is enough here to like. I haven't reached the 'shallow' point that reviews have mentioned yet and it's basically a lot of fun. Worth looking at - especially since EVE: Second Genesis has been delayed by 6 weeks!

Beladan

 

[lightsenshi]

I've played the demo through and yes the controls are a bit confusing. I combat by mouse, btw. I get like 7 kills by the end of the first story line.

 

[manley_t]

I've done the beta and here is what I have to say:

ship combat controls appear 'odd' at first but turn out to quite easy, just different than what most stick-jokey's are used to.

trade-lane idea is pretty cool and I've been working on a way to turn it into traveller tech

story-line is cool, but beyond that you don't *have* to stick to the story line. Part of beta was playing through the story-line, but I also set up a multi-player server and tried that. The game is set to be a pseudo-persistant world. I think it's really close to be able to be an mmporg but they just didn't go that route.

In the game you can play successfully any of the following paths:
-- good guy/cop
-- merchant speculative trader
-- bounty hunter
-- pirate

and probably other things I haven't tried.

I think the enviornment is pretty interesting and have thought about turning it into a T20 campaign. It would take some work as the weapons and ships are focused on the smaller end for players.....but I think with a little munging it can make a pretty cool Traveller setting.

All in all, I'll buy the commercial release when it comes out, not to play the story line, but to play on-line on servers hosting 'worlds'. The free-form do what you want thing was what MOST intrigued me by the whole thing.

 

[flyingsquid]

I tried the Freelancer demo (160 mb, yikes!).
I was really impressed by the way the game handled space combat - both the effects and the interface are nicely done.

But it appears there's no freedom to roleplay or adventure planetside -- all interaction and dialogue at the various ports is pre-scripted, and while the player is allowed to choose his own path and missions, the game still feels linear.
And "Trent" is a really lame attempt at a Han-solo anti-hero -- if there's no way to shut him up, I don't think I could handle an entire game...

I think Microsoft is aiming this one at the younger crowd... but why they chose to target 10-year-olds is beyond me.

I posted this on another similar thread, but now that a little time has passed since my first impression, I just want to add that I still think the game is overall just another over-hyped space-shooter. The basis of the reviews that it's "shallow" should appear obvious soon enough.