This game just *blown* your mind!!
First, i have to say this is my first experience with X series, and i only know about X3 TC while browsing RTS section after get bored with Empire Total War, after first few hours playing i was like "WTF is this crap, it suck, its user non-friendly, im wasting my time", next day i try again, still the same, i started to think about un-install it then i try playing it again after a while with more patience and finally get a grasp of it.
Now, everytime i start the game i find out something new, and it *blown* my mind for the 2nd time, this game just too darn massive, it worth all the frustration i had before.
As starter, you can play as one of many characters which let you play through plot-line, each character have different starting point and difficulty OR you can just play an custom game that have no plot (like me). But what-ever start you chose you all start with just one silly light fighter and work your way to the top.
Here, in this immerse universe you can do whatever you want: a mercenary that do anything for credits (game currency), a trader that travel through sectors and sectors, a pirate, a smuggler, build your trading empire or you can make your own fleet and think about universe domination, to sum it up, you can befriend anyone (except Xenon and Khaar.. they are just too badass and will alway shoot you on sight), kill anyone you dont like or wage war with everyone (better not, unless you have one hell of formidable fleet)
With first ships you have access to, it may take time and frustration when travel through sector especially when u get ambushed by pirates, yaki and khaar and have to do everything again since your last save (yeah, i know its stupid when you can only save game when docking at stations) but once you can buy and equip your ships with jump-drive, thing just become too lax. Personally, i prefer moving through sector with my frigate, take missions on the way, its really fun. And, theres alway SETA drive that boost your game speed by 2,4,6,8 or 10 times, depend on what you prefer.
The graphic is awesome, the scenery of space, spaceships docking at station or carriers, the grand scale of battle with missiles and laser and beam shooting around, spaceships and stations blown up.. its just grand! And the feeling when you command your fleet, its just overwhelming, the AI may not that great, but you can command all of your ships through command console, not too neat but still acceptable.
Now after more than 50 hours of playing, i still find out many new things in eXtended universe. This game just too massive, and blown your mind a way with both tiredness and awesomeness. It clearly not for impatience and muscle-over-brain people