This is the perfect example of a quality game. Here is a complete review for the game since it lacks one from gamespot.
After firing up the game for the first time I was very impressed with the graphics, this game was made in november 2002 and its still graphically appealing. The sun rotates and shoots out flares, asteroids cause great explosions when they crash into planets or objects, particle effects are well done and everything is just so nice in space. The characters are very well modelled and properly animated, which really makes you feel like you're interacting with real aliens.The game's interface is also nice and simple which is also a great bonus. Audio is also nice with pleasant music and suitable sound effects. But the game really shines in the gameplay department.
The game starts by telling you that for a short while there used to be peace and prosperity amongst a coalition of 5 races, including humans, throughout the galaxy. Alot of exploration, trade and prosperity happened and for a while things were just great. With the increased amounts of trade there were alot of pirates but their numbers were kept in check by the military. Until a 6th race was discovered, a mothership called the Makhpella accompanied by several ships called the klissans, these new beings were a form of intelligent machines that sought out and destroyed all sentient life. Their superiority technologically allowed them to outmatch the 5 races combined and lay their military forces in ruins. Nobody knows why these klissans are so hostile and things seemed very hopeless for the combined military forces. Not only that, but with the decreased powers of the military, pirates have run amok throughout the galaxy pillaging and looting ships. Faced with this impending doom, the coalition decides that perhaps the best approach to save the galaxy is to use single autonomous units which would fare much better against the klissans than a combined battlefleet of ships.
As a result the Space Rangers are formed, these new units are not military and thus do not abide by the usual rules, they are not funded by their governments and can only rely on their skills to finance and power themselves to fight the klissans. Rangers have a multitude of areas to pursue, they can go trading, pirate hunting, combating the klissans or even turn to pirates themselves. They are rewarded for good deeds and can be punished for bad ones as well and usually overshadow each other's accomplishments. They are allowed to build up their own ships in whichever way they see fit, purchase their own equipment and customise their ships according to the path they are following.
Your task as a space ranger is to gradually build up yourself in whichever means you want, while combating pirates & klissans, as well as clearing up more systems from klissan control (which is not easy !). You are also tasked with returning the remains of destroyed klissan ships to ranger stations which earns you skill points, you can also sell salvaged klissan equipment at scientific labs to advance a galactic research project aimed at contacting the Makhpella. With the greater goal of stopping the war by destroying the makhpella or any other means. There are also other rangers which are trying to achieve the same goal so its a competition amongst rangers.
The game's universe is extremely immersive, the sheer size of it will probably mean you'll have to go through a handful of restarts before you truly understand what you're doing and feel comfortable playing the game. The game blends well between all the elements of diplomacy, space simulation, role-play and strategy to achieve a very unique game. The randomness of the galaxy and the unique and dynamic mix of the universe means it offers a great amount of replayability not commonly available in many games.
In conclusion, this is a great game that should definitely belong in any gamer's collection, be it a fan of space sims or RPG's. It is a great example of what a game could turn out like if the developers really cared about what they were doing.
I'd also recommend you check out its sequel, space rangers 2, which has a universe literally twice as immersive, I can't imagine how they managed to pull that off but its increasingly apparent that the people at Elemental Games really know what they're doing.