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Freespace 2

Breathtaking action, atmosphere, story, and graphics come together to create a truly compelling combat experience.
Freespace 2 Game Cover
81%Game Brain Score
story, graphics
music, atmosphere
81% User Score Based on 248 reviews
Critic Score 82%Based on 2 reviews

Platforms

PCWindows
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Freespace 2 Game Cover

About

Freespace 2 is a single player and multiplayer simulation game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Volition Inc and was released on June 6, 2014. It received positive reviews from both critics and players.

"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.

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Freespace 2 screenshot
Freespace 2 screenshot
Freespace 2 screenshot
Freespace 2 screenshot
Freespace 2 screenshot
Freespace 2 screenshot
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81%
Audience ScoreBased on 248 reviews
story35 positive mentions
music3 negative mentions
  • Freespace 2 is a classic space combat simulator that has stood the test of time, offering an engaging story and well-designed missions.
  • The modding community is active and has created numerous enhancements and campaigns, allowing for modern graphics and extended gameplay.
  • The game features intuitive controls and a variety of mission types, making it accessible for both new players and veterans of the genre.
  • The Steam version has significant issues running on modern systems, often requiring additional steps and third-party software to function properly.
  • Some players experience frustrating bugs and glitches that can hinder gameplay, such as missions not progressing or crashes.
  • The graphics, while improved through mods, can feel dated compared to contemporary titles, which may deter some players.
  • story
    144 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of Freespace 2 is widely praised for its depth, engaging narrative, and strong connection to its predecessor, Freespace 1. Players appreciate the well-designed missions that incorporate various objectives, from dogfighting to espionage, and the immersive atmosphere created through mission briefings and cutscenes. Additionally, the active modding community enhances the experience with new campaigns and missions, ensuring the story remains vibrant and compelling long after the original game.

    • “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 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, but other than that, it is a good and enjoyable plot.”
    • “The story, once again told to an anonymous pilot recruit through mission briefings and in-game events, picks up some time after the previous game and digs deeper into the lore and origins of the mysterious Shivans, and includes multiple winks to missions from the first game.”
    • “But wanting to know the story is a bit difficult to do.”
  • graphics
    91 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are generally considered dated, reflecting its original release in 1999; however, many players note that they still hold up reasonably well due to the availability of extensive community mods that enhance visuals to modern standards, including support for 4K resolution. The modding community has significantly improved the game's graphics through projects like Freespace Open, allowing for high-resolution updates and custom campaigns, making it accessible and visually appealing for contemporary players. Overall, while the base graphics may not impress by today's standards, the enhancements provided by dedicated fans breathe new life into the game.

    • “Even today, the graphics still hold up surprisingly well, and there are excellent mods available to enhance the visuals all the way up to 4K.”
    • “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.”
    • “With the community mods to improve the graphics, and my brand new joystick (that I bought just for this game), Freespace 2 still holds up to any space combat simulator I've played to date.”
    • “The graphics are dated but it still holds up with great gameplay and storytelling.”
    • “Even if it does work (it did for me), the 1999 graphics are a bit sad.”
    • “The game may not even work properly without updated graphics, which are only available through the Freespace Open source project.”
  • gameplay
    29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is generally praised for its engaging story and solid mechanics, though players note a learning curve with controls, particularly when using a keyboard and mouse. While some technical glitches can hinder progression, the game offers a mix of fast-paced action and diverse mission objectives, maintaining a balance between arcade and simulator styles. Despite its dated graphics, the gameplay remains enjoyable, especially with community mods that enhance the experience.

    • “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.”
    • “Though the base game is graphically dated, the old school dogfighting gameplay and tactical squadron management is still rock solid and stands up well.”
    • “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.”
  • music
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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.”
  • atmosphere
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere in the game is enhanced by mission briefings that evoke a sense of genuine military conflict, where players face unpredictable challenges and the possibility of retreat. The combination of high-octane action, deep storytelling, and impressive scale, particularly with large capital ships and swarms of fighters, creates a compelling and immersive experience that few games have matched. Overall, the game's atmosphere is a blend of breathtaking action, rich narrative, and stunning graphics, contributing to a truly engaging combat environment.

    • “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.”
    • “Breathtaking action, atmosphere, story, and graphics come together to create a truly compelling combat experience.”
    • “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.”
  • replayability
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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”
  • emotional
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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 its compelling narrative.”
    • “Each character's story is beautifully crafted, making you feel deeply connected to their struggles and triumphs.”
    • “The emotional depth of the gameplay truly resonates, leaving a lasting impact long after you've finished playing.”
  • grinding
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviews indicate that while some players appreciate the absence of unnecessary grinding in favor of strong 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.”
  • stability
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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.”
  • monetization
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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.”
  • optimization
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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.

    • “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 captivating that you can remember it 15 years later?”
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82%Critics’ scoreBased on 2 critic reviews
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Frequently Asked Questions

Freespace 2 is a simulation game with science fiction theme.

Freespace 2 is available on PC and Windows.

Freespace 2 was released on June 6, 2014.

Freespace 2 was developed by Volition Inc.

Freespace 2 has received positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its music.

Freespace 2 is a single player game with multiplayer support.

Similar games include Descent: FreeSpace – The Great War, STAR WARS™: TIE Fighter Special Edition, STAR WARS™ - X-Wing Alliance™, STAR WARS™ - X-Wing Special Edition, IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946 and others.