Descent: FreeSpace – The Great War | Game Brain

Descent: FreeSpace – The Great War Game Cover

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"Descent: FreeSpace – The Great War" is a space combat simulation game set in the mid 24th century. Players take on the role of a pilot fighting in a war between two interstellar races, the Terrans and the Shivans. The game features intense space combat, a variety of customizable ships, and a compelling storyline with multiple endings.

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Descent: FreeSpace – The Great War screenshot

77%

Audience ScoreBased on 328 reviews

story82 positive mentions

music3 negative mentions

Freespace is considered one of the best space combat sims of its time, with a compelling story and engaging gameplay that still resonates with players today.
The game features intense dogfighting mechanics, a variety of ships and weapons, and a strong community that continues to support it with mods and enhancements.
Despite its age, Freespace offers a nostalgic experience with memorable missions and a well-crafted atmosphere that many players cherish.

The game struggles to run on modern systems, particularly Windows 10/11, often requiring extensive troubleshooting and patches to function properly.
Graphics and controls feel dated, which can detract from the experience for new players unfamiliar with older game mechanics.
Some missions can be repetitive, and the AI can be inconsistent, leading to frustrating gameplay moments.

story
250 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
63%
4%
The game's story is widely praised for its compelling narrative and engaging twists, effectively immersing players in a sci-fi universe filled with intense space combat and well-crafted mission briefings. While some reviews note that the plot can feel clichéd or loosely connected, many players appreciate the depth and emotional stakes of the storyline, which is enhanced by a variety of mission types and character development. Overall, the storytelling is considered a standout feature, making it a memorable experience for fans of the genre.
- “The story takes some twists and turns, and never fails to make you feel like you are overcoming incredible odds.”
- “The game tells a truly gripping story of a desperate fight for survival.”
- “The story and dialogue are immensely well done and do well to put you in the shoes of a terrain pilot.”
- “Of course, it shares all the great engine, mechanics and battle basics but otherwise just seems like a random assortment of additional missions, loosely connected to some background of a covert operations branch of the GTI.”
- “- missing background story”
- “Story and premise is about as sci-fi cliché as they come.”
graphics
96 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
65%
4%
The graphics of the game are widely regarded as dated, reflecting the technology of the late 1990s, with many users noting that they do not hold up to modern standards. However, the game was praised for its impressive visuals at the time of release, and various mods have significantly enhanced the graphics for contemporary play. Despite the outdated visuals, players often emphasize that the engaging gameplay and compelling story more than compensate for the graphical shortcomings.
- “The graphics were game-changing, as was the capability of the engine to process massive battles with many fighters, bombers, and capital ships.”
- “When Descent: Freespace - The Great War was released in 1997, it was lauded for a thrilling storyline, amazing graphics, and incredible gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is tight and complex, missions are varied and progress in difficulty smoothly; graphics were amazing in the day (and still are with the Freespace open-source project and FSPort), and the campaign is well-written and paced.”
- “Only major downside is that the graphics didn't age well, but then again, this was in the '90s so for then it was great.”
- “The graphics have aged a lot: it isn't retro-style, it's actual pixelated low-resolution interface and texture.”
- “The game's graphics aged horribly, but the rest hasn't: sound, music, control, action, everything remained as excellent today as it was back then.”
gameplay
56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
48%
5%
The gameplay of this classic space fighter simulation, originally released in 1998, remains highly regarded for its nearly perfect mechanics, engaging story, and varied missions that progress smoothly in difficulty. While the graphics may feel dated, the combat mechanics and controls are praised for their depth and complexity, making it a must-play for fans of the genre. Overall, the game successfully combines arcade-style flight with simulator controls, delivering a thrilling and immersive experience that has influenced many subsequent titles.
- “Yes, you heard right, this game is very old (originally released 1998), yet its gameplay and mechanics have set the standard for and influenced probably all space fighter simulations released after it.”
- “Rock solid gameplay and great story mean that the core has aged well even if the visuals are clearly dated.”
- “The gameplay is tight and complex, missions are varied and progress in difficulty smoothly, graphics were amazing in the day (and still are with the Freespace open-source project and FSPort), and the campaign is well-written and paced.”
- “At the current state, my head and eyes hurt as hell and I get this will to vomit after 15 minutes of gameplay.”
- “It functions with the insane totally uncontrolled yet navigable combat feeling that you find in Planetside, a fully original flight mechanic and a story told more through atmosphere than words.”
- “1) Gameplay flight mechanics and controls: flight is simplified to mimic atmosphere flight mechanics (arcade style) but the controls are simulator style.”
atmosphere
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
39%
17%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its captivating blend of stunning graphics, immersive sound design, and engaging cinematics that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the unique flight mechanics and the way the narrative unfolds through atmospheric elements rather than dialogue, creating a rich and compelling environment. The combination of well-crafted music and a strong storyline further contributes to the game's exceptional atmosphere.
- “What we have here is a pure space action with awesome dogfights, captivating scenario, easy to master interface, and a fantastic atmosphere!”
- “It functions with the insane totally uncontrolled yet navigable combat feeling that you find in Planetside, a fully original flight mechanic, and a story told more through atmosphere than words.”
- “It functions with the insane totally uncontrolled yet navigable combat feeling that you find in Planetside, a fully original flight mechanic and a story told more through atmosphere than words.”
- “Another of Freespace's strong points is its atmosphere, formed mostly from the music and dialogue.”
- “This will all take 3 seconds and the atmosphere will have already taken you in.”
music
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
67%
25%
The music in the game is described as spacey and atmospheric, effectively enhancing the overall experience despite being somewhat repetitive. While the graphics have not aged well, the sound and music remain excellent, contributing significantly to the game's nostalgic appeal and immersive atmosphere.
- “The music reminds me of these times.”
- “The music is rather repetitive, too.”
- “The game's graphics aged horribly, but the rest hasn't: sound, music, control, action, everything remained as excellent today as it was back then.”
- “Another of Freespace's strong points is its atmosphere, formed mostly from the music and dialogue.”
stability
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
83%
The stability of the game is mixed, with some users reporting smooth performance on modern hardware when using the fs2open engine, while others experience significant issues such as freezing, glitches, and bugs in missions. Many players note that troubleshooting and tweaking are often necessary to achieve a playable state, leading to frustration and dissatisfaction, particularly with the expansion content. Overall, the game may require considerable effort to stabilize for an optimal experience.
- “The graphics from back then were impressive, and with the FS2Open engine, it runs great on modern hardware in proper resolution (no Voodoo 3DFX emulator needed!). The sound is tolerable.”
- “You need open freespace and 2 hours worth of fixing/troubleshooting for that.”
- “Changes resolution to 800x600 then the process freezes without opening.”
- “Won't let me play, always glitches out and I have to reboot my computer just to fix the resolution... I want my money back!”
optimization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
Overall, users express mixed feelings about optimization; while some games, like Freespace, are still enjoyable despite lacking modern optimization for newer PCs, others highlight excellent graphics and controls without performance issues. The sentiment suggests that while some titles may require better updates for contemporary systems, they remain playable and engaging.
- “Can you remember the last game you played where the graphics were amazing (now using SCP project mod), you had no issues or complaints with the controls or game performance, and the story was so amazing that you can remember it 15 years later?”
- “Although I wish that the Steam release of Freespace had better optimization for newer PCs, it is still very playable.”
- “Control is spot-on, although optimized for mouse-less keyboard.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users consistently rate the game's replayability highly, with an average score of 4.5, indicating strong incentives to revisit the game due to its engaging content and varied experiences.
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is noted to be nostalgic and engaging, with players expressing fondness for the original versions. However, the repeated mention suggests a lack of variety in humor, as the same sentiment is echoed multiple times.