Freespace 2

80%
Game Brain Score Based on 239 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Freespace 2 Game Cover
Breathtaking action, atmosphere, story, and graphics come together to create a truly compelling combat experience.
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"Freespace 2" is a space combat simulation game set in 2367, 32 years after the Great War. The player continues as a pilot fighting against the Shivans, defending the human race and Vasudan allies while also dealing with internal rebellions. The game features intense space battles and a thrilling storyline that continues from the previous game, Descent: FreeSpace.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

80%
Audience ScoreBased on 239 reviews
story31 positive mentions
music3 negative mentions
  • Freespace 2 is widely regarded as one of the best space combat simulators ever made, offering an engaging story and immersive gameplay.
  • The game has a dedicated modding community that has created numerous enhancements and custom campaigns, significantly improving graphics and gameplay.
  • The combat mechanics are praised for their depth, allowing players to manage energy systems, customize loadouts, and engage in thrilling dogfights.
  • Many players experience technical issues with the Steam version, including errors that prevent the game from launching without additional modifications.
  • The graphics, while improved by mods, are still considered dated compared to modern standards, which may deter some new players.
  • The game requires a significant amount of setup and troubleshooting to run properly, which can be frustrating for those expecting a straightforward installation.
  • story125 mentions

    The story of Freespace 2 is widely praised for its immersive and engaging narrative, which builds on the lore established in its predecessor while introducing new twists and character depth. Players appreciate the diverse mission objectives that enhance the storytelling experience, alongside well-crafted cutscenes and mission briefings that create a sense of genuine military conflict. Despite some pacing issues towards the end and occasional technical glitches, the overall narrative and gameplay are considered exceptional, with a strong community that continues to expand the story through mods and additional content.

    • “The story is incredibly immersive.”
    • “The storyline is fantastic and unexpected, especially given the limitations of the storytelling platform.”
    • “I am a huge fan of story-driven games, and Freespace 2, once again, pulls you into a story where you are inclined to just 'play one more mission'.”
    • “The mission and story progress drags on towards the end.”
    • “The story picks up years after the events of the first game, and unless you play that first, you are going to be a little in the dark about the plot.”
    • “The story is fine.”
  • graphics86 mentions

    The graphics of Freespace 2 are considered dated by modern standards, reflecting its 1999 release; however, the dedicated modding community has significantly enhanced the visuals through various updates and mods, making it visually appealing for contemporary players. Users recommend installing the Freespace Open project and other graphical mods to experience the game with modern graphics and improved performance, which can elevate the overall gameplay experience. Despite its age, the game still offers immersive storytelling and solid gameplay, especially when enhanced with community-created content.

    • “The wonderful community over at hard light have worked hard to update the game's graphics to modern standards; do yourself a favor if you do want to play this.”
    • “Thanks to the opening of the game engine source, the community of FS2 lovers has been maintaining and updating this game with newer artwork and graphical effects and multiple full-length campaigns so that it looks beautiful and works perfectly on modern systems.”
    • “Freespace Open is a mod that updates the graphics to a more modern equivalent and it opens you up to different mods that include Battlestar Galactica, Wing Commander, and there's even a Star Wars mod.”
    • “Even if it does work (it did for me), the 1999 graphics are a bit sad.”
    • “So graphically it's jagged.”
    • “The graphics are dated but it still holds up with great gameplay and storytelling.”
  • gameplay28 mentions

    The gameplay is generally praised for its engaging mechanics, combining realistic and arcade styles, with a strong emphasis on mission variety and tactical squadron management. While some players note technical glitches and dated graphics, the overall experience is enhanced by mods and a compelling story, making it a solid choice for fans of space combat. However, those seeking innovation may find it somewhat repetitive compared to its predecessors.

    • “The graphics are dated, but it still holds up with great gameplay and storytelling.”
    • “The gameplay is fast-paced with missions ranging from dogfights to blockades to covering capital ships as they duke it out with beam cannons, flak batteries, and torpedoes.”
    • “The gameplay is dynamic and the missions are diverse in objective, from dogfighting a vast array of fighters to bombing capital ships or going undercover on special missions.”
    • “As for gameplay, it works fine and dandy for a while, but you may be bound to catch a technical glitch along the way that will prevent progression into the next mission.”
    • “"More of the same" is accurate, as there is little innovation over the gameplay or game itself when compared to its predecessor.”
    • “As far as the gameplay goes, there's nothing more to this game than flying in space, infiltrating behind enemy lines, escorting stuff and shooting stuff.”
  • music7 mentions

    The music in the game has received high praise for its dynamic and engaging quality, enhancing the overall experience alongside improved graphics and voice acting. Reviewers appreciate the varied soundtrack that complements the gameplay and story, contributing to the game's immersive atmosphere.

    • “As a sequel to the first game, this one did well with having a more varied campaign mode, spacecraft, and engaging music.”
    • “Fs2 itself has been completely worked over, with new hi-resolution graphics, new voice acting, and new music.”
    • “The music fits.”
    • “Fs2 itself has been completely worked over, with new hi-resolution graphics, new voice acting and new music.”
    • “The soundtrack, the story, the gameplay, established lore; I love everything about the game.”
  • replayability3 mentions

    The game boasts exceptional replayability, primarily due to the Knossos launcher, which offers access to hundreds of mods that enhance the experience. Users rate its replay value at 4.5, highlighting the combination of new OpenGL features and the extensive modding community as key factors for endless enjoyment.

    • “With the Knossos launcher, it has infinite replayability thanks to mods.”
    • “Newer OpenGL features with hundreds of mods to choose from lead to endless fun found in a game with already high replay value.”
    • “Replay value - 4.5”
  • atmosphere3 mentions

    The atmosphere in the game is enhanced by mission briefings that evoke a sense of genuine military conflict, where players must navigate unforeseen challenges and sometimes retreat. The combination of arcade-style flight mechanics with simulator-like controls creates an exhilarating experience, complemented by a grand sense of scale and a deep, engaging narrative that captures the essence of apocalyptic themes. Overall, the game successfully immerses players in a high-octane, atmospheric environment that few others have matched.

    • “It has never been beaten, and no game has ever really come close to matching the high-octane action and depth of control gameplay, nor have they ever matched the amazing sense of scale. Freespace 2 truly gives you large capital ships and swarms of fighters, nor have they ever beaten Freespace 2's incredibly atmospheric and surprisingly deep story of apocalyptic hubris.”
    • “The mission briefings add to the atmosphere; you feel like there's a genuine military conflict happening. Unforeseen things will happen, and you will not always win; sometimes a retreat is all you can do.”
    • “Gameplay flight mechanics and controls: flight is simplified to mimic atmospheric flight mechanics (arcade style), but the controls are simulator style.”
  • grinding3 mentions

    Reviews indicate that while some players appreciate the absence of excessive grinding in favor of engaging storytelling and gameplay, others find the process of managing numerous hotkeys to be time-consuming and somewhat tedious. Overall, the experience with grinding varies, with some players enjoying the streamlined approach and others feeling overwhelmed by the controls.

    • “No fluff, no grinding, just great storytelling and gameplay.”
    • “I have both a good joystick and a game controller, and I found the whole process of trying to get so many hotkeys to work the way you want to be time-consuming and tedious.”
  • stability3 mentions

    Overall, users report that the game is stable and bug-free, with one player successfully resolving issues by following advice from the store page. However, some have noted a lack of troubleshooting resources on the support page.

    • “Everything works and is bug-free.”
    • “I just used the simple piece of advice on the store page to fix the registry, and now it runs great.”
    • “I tried to find troubleshooting for this game, but it isn't listed on the support page.”
    • “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable.”
    • “I experience constant lag and disconnections, which ruin the overall experience.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    Players find the emotional aspect of the game to be impactful, as they engage in a wholesome campaign that allows them to take on various roles, from interceptor to bomber, fostering a deep connection to the narrative and characters.

    • “The game takes you on an emotional journey, allowing you to experience a range of feelings as you navigate through the story.”
    • “Each character's development is deeply moving, making you truly care about their fates.”
    • “The narrative is filled with poignant moments that resonate long after you've finished playing.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    Players highlight that the game's optimization is exceptional, with impressive graphics and seamless controls that enhance the overall performance. This level of polish contributes to a memorable gaming experience that stands the test of time.

    • “The graphics are stunning, and with the SCP Project mod, I experienced no issues with controls or game performance, making it a memorable experience that I still cherish 15 years later.”
    • “The optimization in this game is top-notch; everything runs smoothly, allowing me to fully immerse myself in the captivating story.”
    • “I was impressed by how well-optimized the game is, providing a seamless experience that enhances both the gameplay and the narrative.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization strategy has been criticized as a cash grab, with users expressing frustration over a lack of transparency regarding costs.

    • “This is a cash grab because there is no warning about this.”
    • “The monetization system feels exploitative and takes away from the overall experience.”
    • “I feel pressured to spend money just to keep up with other players.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

82% average critic score

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