Independence War 2: Edge of Chaos

About

"Independence War 2: Edge of Chaos" is a space-sim game set in the Badlands cluster, 100 years after the first Independence War. You play as a vengeful protagonist seeking justice for your father's death by the hands of corrupt Corporations. With an innovative user-friendly interface and the revolutionary Flux™ Graphics Engine, players can command advanced interstellar hardware in both single-player and online multiplayer modes with up to 8 people for various scenarios.

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Play Modes

Independence War 2: Edge of Chaos screenshot

72%

Audience ScoreBased on 68 reviews

story10 positive mentions

stability2 negative mentions

The game features a sophisticated flight system and engaging Newtonian physics, providing a unique and immersive space combat experience.
Despite its age, the game still offers a captivating storyline and a vast open-world environment, allowing for extensive exploration and gameplay.
Community mods and patches have improved the game significantly, making it more enjoyable and playable on modern systems.

The Steam version has significant issues, including a lack of single-player functionality without additional patches and the requirement for a physical or virtual CD to play.
Many players experience bugs and crashes, particularly in later missions, which can hinder progression and enjoyment.
The controls can be frustrating, requiring extensive keybinding adjustments and often necessitating the use of a joystick for optimal gameplay.

story
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
61%
9%
The story of "Edge of Chaos" is praised for its captivating narrative and immersive gameplay, effectively blending elements of space opera, action, and RPG. Players appreciate the engaging missions and the freedom to explore, although some have noted that mission difficulty can be inconsistent and that certain plot points may be confusing without guidance. Overall, the game is recommended for its strong storytelling and the depth it adds to the space simulation experience.
- “What really sets Edge of Chaos apart, however, is the captivating storyline.”
- “Overall, Edge of Chaos is an outstanding game that I highly recommend to anyone looking for a space simulation with a gripping story and exceptional gameplay mechanics.”
- “The story itself is quite nice: you are trapped in an ever-escalating war between marauders, corporations, and independents of the cluster.”
- “Where is the story mode?”
- “Some missions will be vague and confusing.”
- “The missions are easy at the beginning, but after a while you will get lost without instructions.”
graphics
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The graphics of the game are generally considered outdated by modern standards, yet they still hold up reasonably well, particularly in terms of functionality and simplicity. While some users noted issues like graphic glitches and stuttering during intense scenes, the overall consensus is that the visuals serve their purpose without overshadowing the gameplay, which remains the main draw for many players.
- “The graphics hold up very well; they are simple but do what they are supposed to do.”
- “Excellent game, graphics are still pretty good.”
- “Classic space sim that was way ahead of its time in terms of graphics & gameplay.”
- “The graphics are outdated by today's standards, but it's still decent and a great classic.”
- “Unfortunately, I witnessed some graphic glitches and stuttering if there are many ships on the screen.”
- “Sure, apart from the still terrific pre-rendered cutscenes, the graphics are a bit outdated and most people these days don't own a joystick, but the gameplay, story, voice acting, and music all make up for it.”
gameplay
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
22%
33%
The gameplay of "Edge of Chaos" is highly praised for its engaging mechanics, expansive features, and the incorporation of Newtonian physics, making it a standout space simulation experience. Despite some outdated graphics, players find the gameplay rewarding and immersive, with a compelling story and ship upgrades enhancing the overall experience. While it may present a learning curve, mastering the gameplay is seen as a fulfilling endeavor.
- “Overall, Edge of Chaos is an outstanding game that I highly recommend to anyone looking for a space simulation with a gripping story and exceptional gameplay mechanics.”
- “With expansive gameplay, upgradable ships, cool space piracy, and Newtonian space combat, it's a recipe for success.”
- “While I-War 2 may be difficult to master at first, once you do, the gameplay is very rewarding to say the least.”
- “If high-shine graphics come secondary to gameplay for you, then I highly recommend this game; don't get me wrong, this game has failings, but the gameplay still holds its own even after all these years.”
- “Sure, apart from the still terrific pre-rendered cutscenes, the graphics are a bit outdated and most people these days don't own a joystick, but the gameplay, story, voice acting, and music all make up for it.”
- “Classic space sim that was way ahead of its time in terms of graphics and gameplay.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The music in the game is highly praised for its atmospheric quality and nostalgic appeal, contributing significantly to the overall experience alongside the engaging gameplay and story. Composed by Christopher Mann, the soundtrack enhances the game's immersive qualities, making it a standout feature despite some outdated graphics.
- “Blast from the past, so much atmosphere and it's still quite pretty visually, especially with the music.”
- “Sure, apart from the still terrific pre-rendered cutscenes, the graphics are a bit outdated and most people these days don't own a joystick, but the gameplay, story, voice acting, and music all make up for it.”
- “If you want a realistic simulator with awesome music from Christopher Mann and a cool story, I highly recommend this game!”
- “The music feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “While the visuals are decent, the soundtrack is forgettable and doesn't enhance the experience.”
- “The music doesn't match the game's tone, often feeling out of place and detracting from the overall atmosphere.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
100%
Players have noted that while adjusting settings like disabling fullscreen optimizations and running the program as an administrator can help, the game still experiences graphic glitches and stuttering, particularly when many ships are present on screen.
- “Make sure to check 'Disable fullscreen optimizations' and also 'Run this program as an administrator' for better performance.”
- “The optimization settings really enhance the gameplay experience, allowing for smoother performance and fewer glitches.”
- “I found that tweaking the optimization options significantly improved my frame rates and overall game stability.”
- “Unfortunately, I witness some graphic glitches and stuttering if there are many ships on the screen.”
- “Check 'Disable fullscreen optimizations' and also 'Run this program as an administrator'.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is marred by graphic glitches and stuttering, particularly when multiple ships are present, indicating performance issues. Additionally, players note a lack of depth in gameplay elements, such as combat and ship customization, which detracts from the overall experience.
- “Unfortunately, I witnessed some graphic glitches and stuttering if there are many ships on the screen.”
- “Repetitive combat, only one ship for a very long time, laughable ship customization, no need to buy ammo, scripted, buggy... it's not an open space sim, it's a heavily scripted action-adventure game.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players feel deeply engaged with the game's well-crafted characters, experiencing a strong emotional connection to their journeys filled with unexpected twists and turns.
- “The game is full of twists and turns, and the characters are so well-written that I found myself emotionally invested in their struggles and triumphs.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
The atmosphere is highly praised for its nostalgic charm, combining visually appealing graphics with an engaging soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
- “A blast from the past, with so much atmosphere; it's still visually stunning and complemented by the music.”
- “The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into the world and making every moment feel significant.”
- “The combination of visuals and sound creates a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere that lingers long after playing.”
- “The atmosphere feels lifeless and uninspired, making it hard to get immersed in the game.”
- “Despite the beautiful visuals, the atmosphere lacks depth and fails to evoke any real emotion.”
- “The game tries to create a spooky atmosphere, but it ends up feeling more cliché than chilling.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users note that the gameplay often devolves into repetitive grinding, which can detract from the overall experience.
- “It also tends to devolve into grinding.”