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User Rating: 9 | X3: Terran Conflict PC
By herodotus2006 | Review Date:
This stand-alone package, claimed not to be an expansion to "X3:Reunion" is the conclusion to the X universe story, apparently (tho really it is). Though heralded as more "noob" friendly, don't be fooled. The first couple of missions hold you by the hand, then the learning curve bends back on itself in difficulty. That's when you'll wish you'd read the 120 page manual instead of being enticed by the "Start New Game" button (the one none of us can ignore).
Now sporting a much friendlier interface and fully controllable with mouse and keyboard, the "game" comes a little closer to Freelancer in style but the similarities really end. This is an economic trading beast of a game, not unlike "EVE Online", and requires the investiture of many hours by the gamer. Those who do will find a rich and beautiful star system to play in, with a host of new features (like making up ship wings) and loads of new spacecraft including magnificent capital ships.
If space trading games/simulators are your thing, then this will rock your world. If however the X series has left you cold, this one will not change your mind.
Being a big Freelancer fan, and enticed by bouts of EVE, I find the more I put into this rich universe the more there is to be discovered. Heeding the work of the "eXtended universe" modding team, Egosoft went so far as to hire them on the design team to ensure fan interest.
If you want a simple action/trading game, try "Freelancer" or "Dark Star One". Freelancer is flashy, fun and engaging...for a while. Then it becomes repetitious, aimless (as with PrivateerI) and ultimately boring. Freelancer fans won't want to hear this, but that's how I felt after hours of play. The "X: universe on the other hand is a deep, mind-confusing sandbox of a beast, demanding a heavy workout on both the mind and your CPU. Take a couple of hours to learn the basics of "flying" and trading, then several more hours in how to actually "play", and you might find yourself as deeply engrossed this simulator as I've become. This is a "game" for when you have a few hours to pass, having to use your neurons and not your reflexes and is therefore hard on the casual gamer. But if you're up to the challenge, this might just float your boat.
Just remember, you will need to read the manual, and this beast of a sim requires a pretty beasty rig. Its' very cpu/gpu-intensive.
Now I must grab my mouse and slide rule and take on those Pirates with my calculus guns again. CPA's....CHARGE!!!

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