Descent: Freespace 2
Although Freespace 2 may look like the original at first glance, the sequel features several new additions that are sure to please fans of the series as well as entice gamers not familiar with Volition's original.

The biggest gripe Volition had with its original Descent: Freespace was how relatively easy it was for a small fighter to destroy a much larger cruiser if given enough time. To counteract this, Freespace 2 features buffed-out ships. For instance, one cruiser we saw took an entire minute to traverse lengthwise. Also, in addition to an increase in size, capital ships will also sport heavy firepower, including flak cannons and beam weapons.

Another improvement in Freespace 2 is the new nebula environment. These massive gas clouds impair your direct vision and interfere with your craft's radar, making life very difficult for any player caught off guard. To assist players in these nebulas, Volition added the AWACS spacecraft into Freespace 2. These units form a large bubble around the player that counteracts the jamming effects of the nebula.

Currently Volition is working on improving the multiplayer code from the original to allow for more simultaneous players as well as to implement Squad War, a clan-based ladder competition on Parallax Online, and a skirmish mode. When the game ships, players can pilot 12 of the game's 40 new spaceships through 40 single player missions. Volition is also packaging a robust level editor, FRED2, to add to the game's diversity.

Developer/Publisher: Volition

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