FreeSpace 2

 PC
User Score
8.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 159 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 139 out of 159
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 159
  3. Negative: 13 out of 159
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  1. iceonfire1
    Dec 15, 2011
    10
    Absolutely excellent game. It has an elegantly simple (but very compelling) plot, and excellent graphics. Although it involves enough controls to blur the line between 'simulator' and 'game,' this is actually a highlight--the control scheme is well-designed and unobtrusive. Ever 2-3 years I try it out again and find that I instinctively remember how to play and shortly thereafter why IAbsolutely excellent game. It has an elegantly simple (but very compelling) plot, and excellent graphics. Although it involves enough controls to blur the line between 'simulator' and 'game,' this is actually a highlight--the control scheme is well-designed and unobtrusive. Ever 2-3 years I try it out again and find that I instinctively remember how to play and shortly thereafter why I liked it so much.

    Even better, the original Freespace 2 has been vastly improved since it's release (see the Freespace Source Code Project). My only regret while playing this was that I could never find anyone on the multiplayer servers, despite rumors of crazy tournament-based fun, etc.    … Expand
  2. ZackO.
    Jun 27, 2003
    10
    My favorite PC game ever. even better then the original.
  3. Rael
    Jan 8, 2011
    9
    FS2 is just one of the best space simulators you'll ever see, and with the new graphics system made by Hard-Light Productions you'll experience a flawless AI, epic sound, great storyline and much more: all in a perfect "ooh! shiny!" graphics, and there is even an online mode!
    To point some flaws, if you are into online communities, HLP won't be your average community: just missing a bunch    FS2 is just one of the best space simulators you'll ever see, and with the new graphics system made by Hard-Light Productions you'll experience a flawless AI, epic sound, great storyline and much more: all in a perfect "ooh! shiny!" graphics, and there is even an online mode!
    To point some flaws, if you are into online communities, HLP won't be your average community: just missing a bunch of days can leave you way behind the discussion. Some guys told me that once there was a "squadwar" games, and you can see someone talking about that feauture on the other reviews below. This is only partially true: there is a multiplayer schedule, but the servers are almost deserted even during scheduled games, but when there is something up, fun is guaranteed!!    … Expand
  4. FD_BlackJack
    May 9, 2006
    10
    The game was great ... the squadwar competition was fantastic and the mission editor was fabulous .. but the best of all was all the great pilots and personalities you could fly, chat and compete with.
  5. AlexS
    Jul 12, 2008
    10
    This game has been around for a decade, and still keeps me playing it. The game is extremely enjoyable, both the main campaign, and the numerous player-made campaigns, that are still being developed today. This game deserves more light, so that it can be picked up, and made even better.
  6. AndyV.
    Feb 27, 2009
    10
    Simply Magenificent. This game was amazing. Great graphics for its time, great Voice Acting. (espeicially after Freespace 1) This is truly the greatest space sim ever. I had to play this game over and over and over before I even got close to being tired of it. Great Spinoff of Descent.
  7. JohnD.
    Mar 20, 2003
    9
    Beautiful Graphics! Absolutely Stunning, without sacrificing any gameplay quality. The main menu also has pleasing cinematics, and after the breifing, you are thrown right into the mission, without having to wait for anything to load.
  8. FrankSinatra
    Sep 25, 2003
    8
    An extremely engaging game. In order to play it well you nust learn half a keyboard of controls. This appeals to some people, but if you're in the mood for some good mindless carnage (left click to shoot + movement controls) then consider a different game.
  9. ShaneP.
    Apr 9, 2004
    10
    Greatest space sim iv'e ever played.
  10. Dejakritz
    Jan 28, 2012
    10
    Epic, and yet one of the saddest games in history. We will never see a Freespace 3 and the world is a dimmer place for it! I will never learn why the Shivans want to kill us, or how far Lt. Snipes career will go now.
  11. FFStudios
    Jul 27, 2012
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Do you remember space sims? Back in the days when the PC ruled the gaming market and games would be laughed out of the game if they didn't have at least 30 key functions? No? Then you should buy Freespace 2, an action space sim released thirteen years ago. Despite the release date, the game has aged quite well, probably since there's very little to render on the screen: the massive explosions and hectic sound effects still hold up quite well. As for the game itself, you are a pilot in the GTVA and must help the alliance crush a seemingly routine rebellion; but as the game progresses, you soon learn that there is a darker side to this rebellion business than a simple xenophobic ideology. The missions are well-designed and the action is balanced by periods of silence & chaotic dogfights. The combat is immediately satisfying, with enemies who react fairly intelligently to your actions, even if they have a tendency to bump nose-first into gigantic warships. The warships themselves are much more significant than the first Freespace, and will now attempt to brutally kill both you and other warships in a magnificent display of colour and action rarely seen in 90's games. So if you're in the mood for a good classic with varied mission design and a compelling, if character-less, narrative, get Freespace 2.… Expand
  12. MaroBaro
    Jan 1, 2014
    10
    it computer games one of the rarest things is when everything come together flawlessly. you know those incredible games with incredible gameplay but bad graphics, or the ones with incredible graphics but bad story, etc. etc. well, in freespace 2 everything just came together and you don't have to make a single sacrifice to enjoy it. flawless victory!
  13. cousinit99
    Jul 5, 2013
    10
    The best space shooter ever. It's absolutely incredible today, and it was released almost 15 years ago now. Volition?? Hellooo? I want my Freespace 3, 4, and 5, RIGHT NOW..
  14. Galvanized
    Jun 15, 2014
    10
    Never played a game with as much atmosphere and and this coming from a space based shooter!
    PLEASE play this with a force feedback joystick. Wrestling the juddering controls amid waves of flak or fighting the Flailing Joystick after a collision just made this game that much more engrossing :)
  15. scythe_pl
    Jul 9, 2014
    10
    Definitively the best space-sim ever made. While it creates it's own universe instead of basing on Star Wars or Babylon 5, there is similar depth in the space of FreeSpace. The plot is linear (with a few exceptions), but extremely immersive. The game is fairly easy on normal difficulty, but "hard" and above can be really challenging.

    An open source port of FreeSpace (FreeSpace Open)    Definitively the best space-sim ever made. While it creates it's own universe instead of basing on Star Wars or Babylon 5, there is similar depth in the space of FreeSpace. The plot is linear (with a few exceptions), but extremely immersive. The game is fairly easy on normal difficulty, but "hard" and above can be really challenging.

    An open source port of FreeSpace (FreeSpace Open) enhances the graphics, fixes some bugs, even adds some new features. What's even more important are the free community made campaigns - some of which are just as good as the original one.    … Expand
  16. FajarSany
    Oct 7, 2015
    9
    The best game I've ever played. Which makes it the best until now is the story and gameplay; the graphics, of course already too obsolete for today. Ship design is also cool. I remember when every large ship fought each other with their beam cannon; when meeting with Sathanas for the first time; and when happy after destroying first Sathanas, there are still other Sathanas, and they are inThe best game I've ever played. Which makes it the best until now is the story and gameplay; the graphics, of course already too obsolete for today. Ship design is also cool. I remember when every large ship fought each other with their beam cannon; when meeting with Sathanas for the first time; and when happy after destroying first Sathanas, there are still other Sathanas, and they are in the process of destroying a star!… Expand
  17. iiee
    Oct 25, 2010
    10
    Greatest combat space sim ever made fullstop. Probably my favourite PC game ever and one of the last of dead breed of games the combat space sim. If you ever enjoyed Tie fighter/X-wing/rogue squadron then get yourself a joystick and grab this game and freespace source code project (the community upgrade) and prepare to fall in love.
  18. Bucciamarcia
    Dec 14, 2011
    10
    It's a shame this game didn't get the attention it deserves, because it's a real masterpiece. I very rarely give a perfect score, but Freespace 2 deserves it. The graphics, although old, are still more spectacular than most games I've seen in the past few years. The sound effects and the soundtrack could not have been done better, the gameplay is amazing and the plot and storytelling areIt's a shame this game didn't get the attention it deserves, because it's a real masterpiece. I very rarely give a perfect score, but Freespace 2 deserves it. The graphics, although old, are still more spectacular than most games I've seen in the past few years. The sound effects and the soundtrack could not have been done better, the gameplay is amazing and the plot and storytelling are among the best I've seen. If you like space simulators, you need to buy this game.… Expand
  19. Delta_Assault
    Sep 22, 2011
    10
    A commercial product lovingly crafted with care and detail. A scifi story epic in scope and layered with mysteries. An instant classic with legions of diehard fans in a niche genre. Boy, they don't make em like this anymore. All these sentences describe Volition's much beloved FreeSpace 2. Not to be confused with the partitioning utility software, FS2 is a scifi space simulation whichA commercial product lovingly crafted with care and detail. A scifi story epic in scope and layered with mysteries. An instant classic with legions of diehard fans in a niche genre. Boy, they don't make em like this anymore. All these sentences describe Volition's much beloved FreeSpace 2. Not to be confused with the partitioning utility software, FS2 is a scifi space simulation which deals with an alien threat to humanity out among the stars. Sound cliched? Yes, it is. But combine the best aspects of space sims (Wing Commander/TIE Fighter) and polish it until it gleams with radiant storytelling and space environments, and you've got this treasured masterpiece. The first FreeSpace got everything pretty much right, but Volition outdid themselves on their second outing. Introducing dense nebulas to their already painterly regular space environs, the cosmic ether is a wonderful place to fight in. The pace of the game is leisurely at the beginning, but quickly ramps up to a deadly tempo as you fight to save humans and their Vasudan allies from the return of the Shivans, the antagonists of the first game. And boy, they return with a vengeance. Don't get comfortable now that mankind's built a huge new capital ship named the GTVA Colossus, the Shivans can more than match it. The twists and turns in the narrative are never anything less then captivating, and the entire game does everything to make you feel as if you're part of an epic struggle between spacefaring civilizations. In the end, questions will linger, which unfortunately must remain unanswered as it doesn't look like we'll ever get a Freespace 3 due to poor sales of FS2. One of the greatest injustices in gaming history.… Expand
  20. Syder_Keyrome
    Aug 31, 2018
    10
    THE BEST SPACESIM game EVER. I kid you not. Back in 1999 it's visuals, sound and what's more important - gameplay and dark atmosphere were unparalleled. Since then I've beaten the game perhaps a 100+ times and it delivers fun every time. Sure now I play it using the FSO mods and updated visuals and even my kid was shocked how a 20 year old game can be awesome to play and enjoy!
  21. Verdale
    Jan 6, 2012
    10
    I still play this game, along with the original, at least once a year or two. Every time I play it, I still have genuine fun, which is more than I can say even new games these days. A true masterpiece in category, this game lives up the original and then some. Haven't played it? Play it.
  22. Ferenzo
    Oct 14, 2013
    10
    What an amazing space combat simulation! It wasn't a great innovative game back then, but it took all the things of the genre to the edge! Game-play, story(-telling), graphics, controls, (and big battleships ^^). All flawless in my opinion and up till now never reached by any other space combat sim. This great shining star gives you all, whats fighting in space would feel like, to bad,What an amazing space combat simulation! It wasn't a great innovative game back then, but it took all the things of the genre to the edge! Game-play, story(-telling), graphics, controls, (and big battleships ^^). All flawless in my opinion and up till now never reached by any other space combat sim. This great shining star gives you all, whats fighting in space would feel like, to bad, this genre was near to dead back at its release. Nowadays the kids don't know, what a joystick is, time has changed.
    Enough said, i'm going to reinstall and play it again     … Expand
  23. quetzal1
    Oct 3, 2020
    10
    Two decades later and still no one has made a better space combat flight sim. Certainly there are notable attempts, but this game has stood the test of time.

Awards & Rankings

6
#6 Best PC Game of 1999
7
#7 Most Discussed PC Game of 1999
6
#6 Most Shared PC Game of 1999

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
91

Universal acclaim - based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 16
  3. Negative: 0 out of 16
  1. GameSpot
    94
    One of the best space sims ever made and is a solid candidate for game of the year.
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  2. Hot Games
    90
    Multiplayer of course shines, and there's never been a better excuse to splash out for that cable modem than the multi-tiered dogfights possible in FreeSpace 2. The best of its kind yet.
    Read full review
  3. IGN
    89
    Still very derivative of the games that came before it. What's different this time around is that Volition has added to the genre instead of just cloning it.
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