As a fan of the original Descent: Freespace (known in some places as Conflict: Freespace), Freespace 2 was a must purchase game for me - and I was not disappointed.

Graphics:

While it is more of an evolutionary than revolutionary step compared to its predecessor, graphically, the game is excellent.

Despite being over two years old, Freespace 2 still stands above all other games in its genre, including newer games such as Microsoft's Starlancer. Very good detail, from fighters which are all unique and very recognizable (leading to no confusion during intense battles) to extremely large capital ships the likes of which have still not been matched.

Weapon effects are simple for fighters are simple, but effective. Capital weapons effects are also good, giving you the effect of truly being in a large scale battle. The new capital ship weapon effects (which I'll mention later) are also impressive.

The game also features CG animation for its cut scenes. While doing their job, the cutscenes are both less common and of lower detail than their counterparts in the first game.

Glide and D3D 3d acceleration are the graphics options supported, with no software mode supported.

If any fault were to be picked, it would be the games unusual lack of resolution options.

Only two resolutions are available - 640x480 and 1024x768 (the later requiring a 400mb larger installation) with no in-between or higher options available. However this is less of a problem now since the average computer speed is much higher than back when the game was released, allowing most people to use the higher detail mode.


Sound:

Sound overall is good, without being incredible.

The soundtrack is dynamic depending on what is happening during any particular mission, and is very good and fitting.

Fighter sound effects do their job without being especially notable.

Capital ship sound effects are great. Flak will make you feel as if you're in the middle of a storm, and the charging effect of beam weapons will be a thing to fear.


Gameplay:

As an unashamed fan, I can say that the gameplay is excellent, without match.

Like the first game, the engine of FS2 gives fluid, natural movement, making the feel of the game excellent.

The game offers a good variety of missions, from the typical assault against waves of fighters, escort missions, missions in alien fighters, recon, and missions to protect capital ships from damage in asteroid fields.

A great bonus of the game is the fact that you are truly involved in the action and rarely restricted. Other games, such as WC: Prophecy many times limited your role, from capital ships being impervious to fighter weapons, and only being vulnerable to a very limited supply of torpedoes in specific locations, a frustrating flaw thankfully not present in FS2. It won't often be effective, but you can destroy even the largest of ships with your regular guns, assuming you're patient enough.

Another problem that can occur in other games, is frustrating escort missions. It's very annoying to try your hardest, and still have the ship you're protecting destroyed, seemingly randomly. FS2 lessons this problem, while making escort missions challenging, none of them are unfair.

A feature new to Freespace 2, is the inclusion of powerful weapons on capital ships, for the first time bringing to life what extremely powerful weapons these ships are. While other games in the past have had capital ships be little more than big ships firing more powerful versions of fighter weapons, FS2 brings them completely to life. Flak barrages will rock and shake your ships, and beam cannons will become a sound you look out for, as flying into beam is a certain and quick death. Even glancing blows will leave you heavily damage and spinning out of control. With these weapons capital ships versus capital ship battles also become a reality, a times leading to a deadly crossfire for you to navigate through.

Implementation of AI wingmen is also quite well done. Unlike the Wing Commander series, your wingmen are no characters, so expect wingmen to die like lemmings. While they will die, and die often, what makes their implementation good is the degree of control you are given over them. Unlike other games which will simply allow you to order wingmen to attack, hold fire or leave, FS2 gives you complete control over their actions, either by wings or individual fighters. Not only can you command a fighter to attack something, you can tell them how you want them to attack it, whether to destroy it, or try to damage its weapons or engines. Its very easily controlled, through a simple and efficient number of key commands.


While very replayable thanks to its multiple difficulty settings and ability to gain awards medals for difficult in mission tasks, the game also comes with a built in mission editor. While I have to confess I wasn't able to create even a simple mission with it, many custom missions and campaigns are available online for download.

The game also comes with a multiplay component, both via internet and LAN, which unfortunately I cannot give a true review of. Offered gameplay types are a number of co-op missions against CPU opponents, and a deathmatch/dogfight mode.

In any event, only high bandwidth connections need apply. Even at time of release servers were few, and years later I expect the situation to be much worse. I found the multiplay completely unplayable on a dial up modem. Higher bandwidth and LAN connections may fare better, but I've never been able to test these.


If anything to were to be pointed out as a disappointment or negative about the game, it would be the story. Not the actual story itself, which is good, but the fact it is a story which was clearly meant to be resolved in a third Freespace game - which is unlikely to ever be made.


Overall - I highly recommend this game.