I'm in the mood for a big, complex space sim. Right now I'm leaning towards grabbing the X Superbox on Steam, but I figured I'd ask if there's some game that's universally considered the greatest or something. I've played Evochron Mercenary, but I found it kind of shallow because you can never expand beyond a little craft, and the combat/newtonian physics model was kind of a pain in the ass.
Oh, and I'm not interested in playing EVE online -- I want a game, not a job.
I know it's not really a Space Sim but Unreal Tournament 2004's space levels are great fun.
I've tried really hard to enjoy X3, but I'm at a stage after the first few missions where I want to explore and mess around trading, but the trade system just seems to be such a pain in the ass. The combat is very satisfying though and the visuals are stunning.
If you're not fussed about graphics, I suppose you could try some of the earlier Elite games, Frontier: Elite 2 especially is one of my favourites, partially from nostalgia but mostly since I believe it uses a galaxy map to generate all the random systems (there are lots of pre-built ones too). There are also cool features like forcing a mis-jump, which can either wreck your warp drive or send you off hundreds of light-years away, sometimes onto the other side of the galaxy :v:
But yeah, I'd be interested in any others that people post here too
X3 is definitely the best in this regard. Terran Conflict is probably the one you're looking for, since it's expack, Albion Prelude, is largely centered on wars, and since the AI in AP uses missiles more, combat fucking sucks until you get some Missile Defense turrets.
Spore!!!
I don't think this counts, but I always loved the space portion of Mass Effect 1.
[QUOTE=Protocol7;39096602]X3 is definitely the best in this regard. Terran Conflict is probably the one you're looking for, since it's expack, Albion Prelude, is largely centered on wars, and since the AI in AP uses missiles more, combat fucking sucks until you get some Missile Defense turrets.[/QUOTE]
Should I bother with the Superbox, or should I just get TC and AP? Figured it might be worth it for the bonus content and also for the sake of completionism, but eh.
And I'm not just interested in combat... I usually enjoy trading and playing the economy in games like this as well. (Good or decent combat is a plus, though. :v:)
You'll just want TC and AP, yes. There's no real story continuation between them all so you're not missing much by not playing X, X2 or X3:R.
Good for you that in X3, the economy is a huge part of everything. You can even build mines, and you have to build power plants to fuel your mine, and automate a few cargo ships to continually stock up on power, sell your refined ore, et cetera. And Albion Prelude adds a stock market, which is clearly not unlike the one we're all familiar with, so it's economy is just about as interesting as the combat (and the combat is good, don't worry).
Elite.
Eve Online, or Kerbal Space command are my two all time favorite space games.
For a slightly less complex experience, you could try out Evochron: Mercenary as well.
Space Station 13
Moonbase Alpha
[sp] John Madden [/sp]
Kerbal Space Program isn't a hardcore sim, it's more arcadey. But fuck me running it's fun. Go pick the free demo up. Full game is currently $23 and the game is using a minecraft-esque pricing model.
[editline]5th January 2013[/editline]
[QUOTE=The Rifleman;39101246]Eve Online, or Kerbal Space command are my two all time favorite space games.[/QUOTE]
Erm....
[QUOTE=postmanX3;39096483]
Oh, and I'm not interested in playing EVE online -- I want a game, not a job.[/QUOTE]
A space sim eh? how about orbiter 2010
You could pick up Freelancer for cheap, play it if you haven't, if you have, mod it. there are still many mods being made for this game.
It may be a linear mission space sim, but Freespace 2 is [I]by far[/I] my favorite space sim, especially when its sheer amount of incredibly well done mods is taken into account.
Space Station 13
Well, its a space sim in some form (even though the atmospherics code doesnt even work properly)
[video=youtube;WYSupJ5r2zo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYSupJ5r2zo[/video]
Best Space sim out there.
Dead Space...if you manage to stay alive. Don't forget the gravity boots.
[QUOTE=postmanX3;39096483]I'm in the mood for a big, complex space sim. Right now I'm leaning towards grabbing the X Superbox on Steam, but I figured I'd ask if there's some game that's universally considered the greatest or something. I've played Evochron Mercenary, but I found it kind of shallow because you can never expand beyond a little craft, and the combat/newtonian physics model was kind of a pain in the ass.
Oh, and I'm not interested in playing EVE online -- I want a game, not a job.[/QUOTE]
I'll have to second the opinions for X3:TC/AP. It's easily my favorite simulator/tycoon-esque game, there's so much to do. The economy and combat are equally entertaining, and you can be pretty much anything. There's also a very, very active modding community and there's tons of scripts (this game's version of mods) that do just about anything you can think of. And you can fly anything from a tiny scout fighter to a freighter to a massive carrier. Loads of fun.
For a proper simulator, Orbiter is pretty entertaining, though I haven't played enough of it besides just dicking around with the mission editor to give you an educated opinion of it.
kerbal space program is starting to become a really good space sim, what with docking added and the now dozens of different worlds with their own challenges to contend with
FTL Faster Than Light
Mass effect lol
Universe Sandbox
Spacebase DF-9
S.P.A.Z.
Rochard
DOOM 3
EVE Online: Retribution
Moonbase Alpha
FTL: Faster than Light
Kerbal Space Program
[QUOTE=Cronos Dage;39109692]Universe Sandbox
Spacebase DF-9
S.P.A.Z.
Rochard
DOOM 3
Moonbase Alpha
FTL: Faster than Light
Kerbal Space Program[/QUOTE]
It's like "space sim" has no meaning anymore
Halo and Mass Effect are excellent space simulators. They're officially used to train astronauts for combat against aliens.
[QUOTE=wulfe8857;39109918]It's like "space sim" has no meaning anymore[/QUOTE]
'space sim' is a really broad term. Universe Sandbox simulates space itself. Kerbal Space Program simulates the space race and getting into space with stuff. Moonbase Alpha simulates running a base on the moon and yelling JOHN MADDEN. Stuff like X3 and Evochron Mercenary simulate space dogfighting.
[editline]5th January 2013[/editline]
It's like saying 'earth sim'. This'd mean anything between Street Cleaning Simulator and Hearts of Iron 3.
X3
X Superbox and Tachyon are my personal picks.
Oh, and Homeworld if you want a strategy game... IN SPACE!
Homeworld is amazing
I was playing against my friend who has steamrolling my little army of fighters and corvettes
and then my three destroyers, which I had sneaked over the battle zone (You can move units on a 3D plane because Space), descended onto his base and murdered it.
He hasn't wanted to play since then.
Garry's Mod Spacebuild!
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