Freelancer (PC, Microsoft, G8+)

By PETER ELEY

(Herald Rating * * * * *)

Good games have the ability to suspend disbelief and make players feel they are somewhere else. Add excellent visual effects and an easy, intuitive control system and you have a great game. Freelancer has those attributes and fulfils much of the enormous hype which has surrounded its development. It isn't the game to change life as we know it, but it is highly playable and quite addictive.

The game is set in the frontier reaches of the universe in the 30th century, where the remnants of humanity have divided into two factions, the Coalition and the Alliance.

You play Trent Edison, a freelance pilot who makes a living by inter-planetary trading and carrying out missions of often dubious legality.

A lot of early PC games had a similar theme, but Freelancer leaves those in its vapour trail in terms of graphics and the sheer size of its playable universe.

The control system has been simplified to the point where you can fly your space fighter at warp speed in minutes. Most players will like this, although those expecting a more demanding game may feel it has been dumbed down too much.

The control system makes combat easy as you can concentrate on firing rather than maneuvering your vessel. The real interest comes in trading and exchanging goods in markets on different planets.

It is a big game, with 150 landable locations on 40 planets, and scores of non-playable, interactive characters.

Freelancer's only fault, is that it is quite structured and linear. Overall, it is enjoyable and exciting game which will appeal to players who want something more than all-out combat.


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