FreeSpace 2 is a 1999 space combat simulation computer game developed by Volition as the sequel to Descent: FreeSpace – The Great War. It was completed ahead of schedule in less than a year, and released to very positive reviews. However, the game became a commercial failure, and was described by certain critics as one of 1999's most unfairly overlooked titles.
Reviews: https://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/freespace-2?ftag=MCD-06-1…
Amazing game. Probably the best space sim I’ve played. There’s still a dedicated community modding and improving on the game with new campaigns (some are highly polished with voice acting) and updated graphics over at hardlight productions forum as well.
Agree, still the best space sim I've played
Anyone remember Freelancer? Also a great game, around the same era
I do, absolutely loved it. Played Freelancer before FreeSpace 2. Maybe the game was a bit too easy, but I remember it feeling very polished and clean compared to other games. ah the memories.
I just remember the main mission was only a teaser into doing all the side missions and finding all the rare shipwrecks and loot!
Thanks for bringing it up. That's a game I should play one day (as somebody who still owns boxed copies of Privateer 2 and IWar).
There is so much IP nowdays (books, audiobooks, video games, TV shows, movies, music); we need to focus our limited time on this planet on the best productions and skip the dross productions. Recommendation thus are always helpful.
Absolutely loved that game. Loved playing on Archy's server back in the day.
Played thousands of hours of it.
Used to play on a role play kind of server, hosted by 'GetOnIt' in Townsville I believe.
There were factions that fought over the different areas of the map etc, some pirates, 'police' type factions etc. Was pretty fun. Had organised battles etc to claim ownership of these areas.
There was even a whole economy build around trading ship parts and using freighter ships to do trade runs to make money.
I was in the clan called 'BoB', Band of Brothers, a couple of my cousins also played.
Fun times. Time to install it again. I actually reinstalled it a couple years ago and played through the story again.
Freelancer was my first online game. Such good memories, plus the SP was fun too. Wish they had made a sequel or two. Star Citizen is taking its sweet time coming out so I may have to duck into Freespace 2 for the time being
Wow how was this a commercial failure? The gameplay was awesome, graphics stunning and the storyline was intense.
Yeah, I played the crap out of the pirated version, so did most of my friends. I can't understand how this didn't do better.
Well put
I see what you did there.
"It was completed ahead of schedule in less than a year", now we have early access games that sell an unpolished turd; Star Citizen, first conceptualised in 2011 still isn't a complete game by any measure despite $250 MILLION DOLLARS in funding
Goes to show the difference is in management and who holds the money.
I loved FS2.. but you're not really comparing like for like here. FS2 was a space combat game, SC has wayyy more to it.
I mean.. take a look at this video about FPS mining released a few days ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHTvAUuHJrg
It's taken a long time, and I do wish they'd focus on the single player Star Citizen experience and get that finished, but what they're building is still pretty impressive. I played it a bit a few years back and had some fun in the sandbox universe… did a few missions.. mucked around with other players. Then put it down and left it alone for a while… each time I come back I'm impressed by what's there and what they're working on. I do hope they can bring it all together in the end.
What a game, oh the memories, definitely ahead of its time.
I remember buying this when it was released, it was - and still is - fantastic.
It has been free for almost two decades
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FreeSpace_2_Source_Code_Projec…
I was going to say was this the one with the hidden license to share?
The EULA with the share clause was replaced. See here: https://wiki.hard-light.net/index.php/FreeSpace_2_EULA
"The most notable difference between the two versions is the absence of the so-called friends clause in the current revision of the EULA. Because Interplay granted all rights in the original EULA on a temporary basis, even those who installed the game from the retail CDs may not use the friends clause to distribute game data."
Not quite. Source code does not equal the game. The source code for the game engine was released by Volition. The campaign and assets (models, textures, sounds, etc.) belong to the publisher, Interplay.
If you want to play FreeSpace 2 using something built from the FreeSpace 2 Source Code Project (e.g. FSO) it will require the original game to already be installed, or to be provided with the GOG installer. There are however Total Conversions (e.g. Wing Commander) using the game engine for entirely new content that do not require a copy of FreeSpace 2.
One of the greatest underrated space sims of our time. Played the first and second one at least half a dozen times combined. Even better with some custom/modded campaigns.
This is fantastic :) I would LOVE a remake of this one day :P
Great game - haven't seen a space sim since that incorporated capital ship battles as well as FS2 did.
When you were a fighter in the middle of that mayhem it really felt epic. And you really felt like your actions made a big difference to the battle… do you try and take out those bombers, or focus on disabling that capital ships main weapons…
Such a shame that it was a commercial failure.
Love this game, one of the best space sims I've played.
For those looking to play this and want it updated and looking its best I recommend installing Knossos mod manager:
https://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php?topic=94068.0
There are some really good mods that make the game look even better and some nice mods for new stories etc.
A lot of games under GoG but never play any of them XD
Oh man. I've spent so much time playing this, Wing Commander Prophecy / Secret Ops, and the various fan made mods for both back in the day.
I have played that game over and over again throughout the years. Such an amazing game.
![[PC] FreeSpace 2 - Free @ Good Old Games.com](https://files.ozbargain.com.au/n/22/485822.jpg?h=034624ad)
Damn fantastic
This september has had soo many decent giveaways lol