by Microsoft
Platform:
Windows NT / 98 / 2000 / Me / 95
(24)Buy new:
22 used & new from $1.00
(Visit the Best Sellers in Arcade list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)
StarLancer recruits space fighter pilots into the 45th Volunteers, a ragtag group of U.S.-led Western Alliance freedom fighters tossed into the war against Russia's Eastern Coalition. It's the cold war in space.
This is the first game by Digital Anvil, the company formed by legendary game designers Chris and Erin Roberts of Wing Commander, Privateer, and Strike Commander fame. It's no surprise that StarLancer's gameplay follows standards set by its classic predecessor and obvious inspiration, Wing Commander. Players are briefed on the tactical situation of the upcoming mission, then choose a fighter and ordnance. Only a few playable ships are offered at the outset; mission performance determines how quickly you earn access to more powerful fighters.
StarLancer's ships are well balanced: some are fast and lightly armored, while others carry powerful weaponry but can't keep up with an agile foe. But while the ships are cool, they lack the customizing features found in FreeSpace 2 and Tachyon: The Fringe. You're able to equip particular missiles and add additional afterburner fuel, but you can't customize gun weaponry or add upgrades or special features.
StarLancer's mission design is certainly its best feature. Mission goals often change on the fly, and frequent pilot chatter immerses players into the game's war atmosphere. Decisions made during missions can drastically alter later missions. For instance, if you fail to eliminate an enemy battleship early in the game you'll face a tough fight in a later mission when the enemy reinforces its front lines with that same battleship.
Though offering nothing really new to the space combat genre, StarLancer's crisp 3-D engine, frenetic combat action, and complex missions make enlisting worthwhile. --Doug Radcliffe
Pros:
- Keeps you on your toes by switching objectives midmission
- Missions feature multiple paths to victory and failure
- Stellar multiplayer support with deathmatch, team, and cooperative play
- Excellent musical score
- Inability to fully customize ships
- Visually pleasing, but it doesn't exceed standards set by FreeSpace 2
Lethal spacecraft and weaponry!Product Information StarLancer combines the action offirst-person space combat with the drama and intrigue of aclassic air combat movie. Countries from around the worldincluding the United States China Russia and Great Britain haveformed strategic alliances and now battle for control of EarthMars and other planets across the solar system. As part of anewly formed ragtag aviation unit the 45th Volunteers Squadronplayers must prove themselves and earn the respect of their peers.This dramatic story based on the dynamic history of the 20th century warfareincludes over 25 minutes of Holly-quality computer generated cinematics and 40custom composed music tracks. Pilot 12 different fighters and dogfightwith enemy fighters that each have their own "artificial intelligence"profile for more realistic space combat. Join the fight for thefuture. Enlist.Product Features Stunning 3-D graphics and effects. StarLancer will provide a level of graphic details and effects not currently found in space combat games with particle effects dramatic source lighting and realistic ship destruction. More than 80 types of spacecraft are rendered in extraordinary 3-D detail throughout the game. Dynamic mission structure. StarLancer missions are designed to challenge players create a wide variety of gameplay and enhance the story lines. Players fly in over 25 gripping missions that range from escorting marine boarding ships to free POWs to leading an assault on space stations built right into an asteroid field. Immersive story line. StarLancer features a dramatic story based on the dynamic history of 20th century warfare. To enhance the story StarLancer includes over 25 minutes of Hollywood-quality full-motion computer-generated cinematics over 250 unique pilot
No comments:
Post a Comment