X2: The Threat
Sam offers a few choice X-pletives of his own...
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No other game since the dawn of home computing has been the source of as much retro-lust as the mythical Elite. Over twenty years after it was released gamers are still waiting for the definitive modern update. Over the years there have been many pretenders to the Elite throne with titles such as Hardwar, Privateer, Mercenary and Freelancer taking the Elite premise and trying to do their own thing with it. Even a couple of legitimate children of Elite have vied for your patronage, although by some bizarre irony these have been some of the weaker challengers to Elite's continued supremacy. A few years ago an unknown German developer going by the eponymous title of Egosoft released X: Beyond the Frontier. It was the latest attempt to capture the freeform nature, intense combat and empire building of Elite and marry it to the abilities of modern computers. It was a worthy attempt. Yet its limited scope, non existent plot and repetitive gameplay mean that X: Beyond the Frontier was destined to join the piles of slain knaves and knights that have smashed themselves against the seemingly insurmountable supremacy of Elite. Fast forward a couple of years, past one expansion pack, and Egosoft are back for another stab at the prize.
X2: The Threat has a lot going for it. It takes the massive improvements that the expansion, X-Tension, made to the original X and coats them in the most sumptuous graphics this side of a pre-rendered cutscene. The images that X2 paints onto the monitor are so lusciously detailed and coloured that they initially overwhelm the player with their beauty. This time round the entire galaxy is literally there for the taking. Whereas in the past you could build a few factories and set up a couple of trading runs, this time round you can oversee the construction of an entire trading empire. Rather than humble yourself with a single fighter you can invest in your own armada, even owning carrier ships which will empty squadrons of fighters onto any who dare to stand in your way. There's even a rudimentary plot tacked on. X2 should be the daddy, the space empire game we have all been waiting for these many years, the title that will hold us off until the holy grail of an online persistent world Elite has been realised.
But it isn't. Rather than a Queen Victoria who builds on the achievement of her predecessors and then takes her empire into realms never conceived of before she is more akin to an Edward VIII. It gives up on the legacy that it has inherited, preferring to go slink off and peruse its own whims and desires. This isn't the space game you were looking for. Where intense action should be we find frustration. Where believable worlds should be we find cut and paste alien civilisations which, while all looking different, have about as much differentiation in their personalities as a clone army. Where we should have the exquisite cyber-tools of an intergalactic space trader emulated on our computers we have a system that feels as if it has been designed for pulleys and levers.
Where to start? The game breaks you in very gently with a soporific introductory cutscene, which sets up the lamentably poorly acted and scripted story. You are a criminal, captured and given a second chance by some benevolent figure who gives you 20 pence and a wanging big spaceship as a punishment for your crimes. Then you are dumped into a space system and told to go pay another captain a visit. And that's as much help as you get at the beginning of the game. Sure, if you follow the instructions the next few missions will help to give you an idea of how to go about things, but this only works if you can find the bugger in the first place. And all this as you have to fight your way through what must surely rank as one of the most abysmal interfaces known to man. You know those fancy pointing devices that have been common for nearly 20 years? Well, you might as well ditch the thing because the only thing it can do in X2 is sway your ships nose from side to side. No, to do anything on your ship you will have to use the keys. And the shift and control keys in conjunction with the keys. I almost gave up in total frustration within ten minutes of encountering this interface. You can't view information and fly at the same time, the info you need is buried under the hierarchy from hell and the whole thing looks like it came out of the serial port of a very ill BBC Micro. It isn't quite as terrible as this picture paints, but how Egosoft managed to make the less-then stellar interface form X so poor is, after the graphics, the most incredible feat of programming in this game.
Comments
Enjoyable review, even if the game sounds disappointing.
Obviously not a true Space Sim fan. A mouse is no replacement for a joystick and you can't use a joystick and mouse at the same time effectively so the keyboard based interface is actually perfect.
Your defnition of perfect is obviously a lot looser then mine. And as I broke my joystick replaying some Freespace 2 and there were no new space games coming out I didn't replace it. And as there's nothing else on the horizon spending cash on a joystick for this title would have been a waste of money.
If you only like "brain no required to be able to play" types of game then stay away from X2.
If you like a game with depth that draws you in and won't let go then go for X2.
So you can't control your ship whilst you have a system menu on the screen - I can't drive a car while holding up a newspaper to read it; but that doesn't stop me driving a car!
You have no idea mate.
Review games you know about
You chose to review a space game without even having access to a joystick? No wonder you were frustrated that you couldn't use the menus and fly at the same time.
Since when was the lack of a plot a reason why a game couldn't take the "Elite Throne"? Elite didn't have one either.
Oh, and it's X-Tension, nnot X-Tensions. You're definitely not of PCGamer calibre.
A decent review and picked up on some of the games weaknesses, but, you failed to mention some more of the games strengths, like its addictiveness, and the great reputation egosoft have for not only patching bugs quickly, but the little "extra's" they seem to throw in with the paches which enhance the game even further. I dont know alot of companies that would do this.
As for the mouse play, i use the mouse all the time, and find i can latch onto an enemy ship's behind and stay with him untill I have blown him out of the stars. although it was difficult at first, but, once mastered it becomes second nature.
The idea of an open ended game is appealing, and is a refreshing change to these dumbed down games you get today which basically pull you through the game without you having to engage the brain.
Maybe if your intelligence quotient is not upto par, then maybe a simple freelancer game could be more to your liking.
It doesn't in any way sound like the game i'm playing right now, for example you don't have to play more than an hour or two to be able to afford a jumpdrive, and with SETA wich is affordable from the beginning it do not take that long to cross a system.
And if i'm not mistaken, you can use your numpad to fly while you ar reading in the menus. I'm not sure because i'm using a joystick, so i have no problem at all with that.
Pirates hard as nails? That must be because of you are using the wrong tactics. If you do i right, you can take them out with a peashooter. Anyway i'm loving and enjoying the game big time, and find it better than Elite so i guess it's a matter of taste.
To the Author
I am surprised you were able to write this review.
You don't sound too bright.
these nasty, nasty people hurt my feelings so. I'm think I am going to cry...
" And as X2 is little more then a giant patch for the first game "
Exactly, Sam is 100% right, I'm playing X:BTF since 1999 and this game is nothing more than a cosmetic operation with a worst gameplay and lots of framerate flaws.
Its amazing how I could duplicate in X2 my whole life in X-Tension!
It feels good to play X Universe with better graphics but essentially the game is the same!
Good job Sam, great review! ;-)
I have been playing the game for many hours and still not tired of it. BUT the storyline starts easy but becomes X-treamly hard.
Good
+ GTA style freedom to ignore the storyline.
+ Possibility of owning just about anything.
Bad
-- The Threat keeps destroying me
-- VERY steep learning curve
I couldn't agree more with this review. I was really looking forward to getting this game out of the box. After investing a couple of days I gave up completely.
Perhaps the manual could have actually explained how to do stuff?
This game take the crown off elite and then pisses on it , stunning in all departments and combat is great WITH A JOYSTICK
The game stinks. I hate micromanagement and even the combat feels like micromanagement.
The review is a bit harsh but fairly accurate. I'ts interesting that the reviewer mentions 3 of my favorite games of all time. I'm one of the gamers who loves X2, H&D and H&D2 and I see past all their flaws.
This is the most time-consuming, enthralling & addictive game I've played in years.
Interestingly, this game seems to appeal to the 20-40 year old crowd, and Egosoft's forum has the most educated and well mannered members of any game forum I've ever visited.
at every stasion i buy lottre but never win. that suck
But if you won the lottery vlad you would be set for life so it is reasaonable to make winnig the lottery nearly impossible.
If you real want the money so badly you can always cheat, using a hex editor. :-)
i want to use mouse to fire. it's faster.
Loved the original Elite and have tried just about every Elite-based PC game since.
Held off buying X2 because was put off by the combat in the original X BTF/ X-Tension [it basically ruined the game for me]. Though I can understand how Elite fans who preferred trading to bounty-hunting would appreciate the X series, a satisfying combat model is essential for me.
Having been disappointed by X BTF/ X-Tension [and played the demo of X2] this review has confirmed my suspicions. Thanks.
well actually i think your review is kinda skewed, the game is exeedingly addictive, and you don't have to wait long to get money for a jump drive, in the second mission just sell the beta HEPT from the transport ship u were lent, kekek then get yourself a M4 and start blasting everything out of the sky, i personally feel it's easier to make money bounty hunting, esp the fighting the M6 classes with an M3
oh well, i guess to each his own, though i strongly recommend the game, WITH A JOYSTICK!!! hehe
Pirate ships hard lol, with well equiped M5 or poorly equiped M4 you can take out there M5, M4, M3 or transports quite easy. if it is slow set the SETA to x10.
for quick cash sell the equipment on the TP you borrow befor you dock back. if you cant do it with mouse and keyboard DO IT WITH A JOYSTICK, i mean one of the problems i found with the game is the combat is way too easy(to those who play with a mouse i salute you). for the begining i started on x-tream you have no upgrades weapons or shields (also no SETA witch makes it slow) do few trade runs a few missions get trade extension and remotly control your TS, upgrade M5 and go to Black hole sun. i upraded from M5 to M4 to M3 in a few hours capturing Xenon ships. also a jumpdrive is given to you in one of your missions.
This review is crap
PLAY THE GAME WITH A JOYSTICK
yes the story may be a bit clunky in places and overall quite short but with a keyboard and a joystic and a bit of practice you can fly through the interface with relitive ease. i think this is easily the best space sim for freeedom of choice and there is an expansion coming out soon in the guise of "X2 the return" which hopefuly should add more in the way of a story and new ships and weapons. at the very least give the game a goas it can get very addictive.
cheers for reading
dpec01
The only "amateurish" thing I can see happening, is somebody trying to review a space simulator without a joystick.
"Abominable interface"? I think not. In fact, the interface has to be one of the best I've used in years!
Once you get to know some of the most important hotkey combinations, you can fly through the menus and options so fast that they never get displayed! I'm quite sure that its the fastest interface known to computerkind.
Sure, getting to know the combinations takes a while - thats because there are so many of them!
Excited when I saw it for a tenner in GAME, eagerly read the instructions, (fairly) impressed by the graphics. Cryed after six hours, WITH THE MENU SYSTEM THAT WAS ATTRACTIVE AS A DEAD DOG...
Elite rocked! sorry all you kids out there who grew up on gameboys and nintendo, It may be my old age, but I played elite on a bbc micro (ask someone in their 30's), the C64, Atari ST and PC on emulation. It was limited, linear, but sooo damn good. Nothing in my opinion has since come close. Okay, okay, it is an old game, but was originally brought out when most people here were still in nappies. Remember that EVERYTHING produced since elite has tried to emulate it with extra whisles and bells. Oh, and the original format it was released on had less processing power than my mobile.
I did have high hopes for it. Graphics looks great, plot looked promising with a nice balance of interactivity. Follow plotline, ignore plotline, you choose. Cool I though... until the menu system reared its ugly head.
Oh, and the joystick lovers out there... mice work! the interface doesnt. dont get all cranky. I feel all dirty now...Im gonna wait for Braben and Bell to kiss and make up, realize they have a next gen bestseller on their hands and re-release Elite as a stormin PC game. I know hell will freeze over before this ever happens, but it will before I return to this poorly thought out menu driven dross. grrrr
Excited when I saw it for a tenner in GAME, eagerly read the instructions, (fairly) impressed by the graphics. Cryed after six hours, WITH THE MENU SYSTEM THAT WAS ATTRACTIVE AS A DEAD DOG...
Elite rocked! sorry all you kids out there who grew up on gameboys and nintendo, It may be my old age, but I played elite on a bbc micro (ask someone in their 30's), the C64, Atari ST and PC on emulation. It was limited, linear, but sooo damn good. Nothing in my opinion has since come close. Okay, okay, it is an old game, but was originally brought out when most people here were still in nappies. Remember that EVERYTHING produced since elite has tried to emulate it with extra whisles and bells. Oh, and the original format it was released on had less processing power than my mobile.
I did have high hopes for it. Graphics looks great, plot looked promising with a nice balance of interactivity. Follow plotline, ignore plotline, you choose. Cool I though... until the menu system reared its ugly head.
Oh, and the joystick lovers out there... mice work! the interface doesnt. dont get all cranky. I feel all dirty now...Im gonna wait for Braben and Bell to kiss and make up, realize they have a next gen bestseller on their hands and re-release Elite as a stormin PC game. I know hell will freeze over before this ever happens, but it will before I return to this poorly thought out menu driven dross. grrrr
'm only 20 an' I played elite on the BBC micro...when floppy disks were actually floppy and 5 1/4 " across. I think I tend to prefer using the keyboard for elite-type games (you know, trade/combat/explore/mission combinations), and this applies to x2 also. Have not actually touched mouse or joystick yet, nor have I needed to!
I agree that the pirate ships are hard in an m5 even with 2 gamma IREs, though a stash of missiles do sort them out rather quickly, although the pirate mandeleys(?) are a 5 second job with said GIREs. Havn't managed to capture any ships...yet, but am trying. The Khaak ships in their mono-vessel form are easy enough and take about a 3 second burst of twin GIREs to remove.
Getting cash takes a while if you forgot to sell the TP equipment (points at self), and foolishly sold the argon mercury for a quick wad of cash (looks guiltily at floor).
Tends to be a little bit jittery in the cut-scenes and more graphically demanding systems with my PC, but good rest of time.
All in all though, a rather pleasant game with interesting depth and good playability. Well worth the £6 I paid for it on ebay.
p.s. Glad I found a forum without any really nasty conversations on. Keep up the good work folks.
just to ask has anyone won a lottery ticket thing that you get at station menus and if so what did you do??
I've read all the comments and i would like to say that X2 is an awsome and really addictive game more so than Neverwinter nights and its one of the best story lines too coz when u finish the story line u can still play the game without restarting like most games i play and that its best with a joystick a mouse and keyboard is just annoying. The game has so many diffent things that u can do like a trader fighter transorter(not that i would do that my self)but the only thing wrong is that there are just too many things to do and so many different ships to own(i say own coz i dont think u can buy kaark, pirate or xenon ships)
this forems really kind too never met one so nice P.S hello to all that are in here
BLLE BLLE PPPPP THIS GAME SUCKA ASS