X3: Reunion

 PC
Metascore
71

Mixed or average reviews - based on 32 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 32
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 32
  3. Negative: 4 out of 32
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  1. Gamer 2.0
    72
    If you’ve played the previous games in the series, X3 is certainly a no-brain purchase, as it trumps previous installments in every way.
  2. GameSpot
    72
    X3 features more of the open-ended space exploration and trading of the earlier games, and it has a gorgeous graphics engine; just don't expect a riveting story.
  3. Eurogamer
    70
    Bolder souls, as interested in commerce as they are in combat, can buy with much greater confidence.
  5. PC Format
    68
    All the freedom in the universe and nothing much to do with it. Prepare for a slog. [Christmas 2005, p.88]
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  6. GameShark
    58
    Probably the single thing I dislike the most about X3: Reunion is that I’m ultimately left with exactly the same impression I was with X2, in that it adds a bunch of cool stuff and helps expand the universe further, but still is a concept badly in need of higher production values (though I will credit the game with having excellent music) and extreme amounts of refinement.
  7. RewiredMind
    50
    A testimony to computer gaming brilliance crippled by a premature release.

Awards & Rankings

97
#97 Best PC Game of 2005
13
#13 Most Discussed PC Game of 2005
27
#27 Most Shared PC Game of 2005

User Reviews

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User Score
6.8

Mixed or average reviews- based on 310 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 196 out of 310
  2. Mixed: 25 out of 310
  3. Negative: 89 out of 310
  1. marc5477
    Dec 31, 2014
    8
    An incredible game burried under a horrific launch where the game was unplayable out of box. Yes, the game really did not play at all... forAn incredible game burried under a horrific launch where the game was unplayable out of box. Yes, the game really did not play at all... for anyone, out of box. The game needed almost a full month before it was stable enough to be called playable and by then the reviewers had already skewered this game in the reviews and rightly so. Even I am deducting 1 point from this, otherwise stellar game, due to the poor condition it was in at release. It was unacceptable.

    On to the game in its current condition.

    The Good:

    - Huge Open World
    - Excellent Economic Simulation for a Video Game
    - There are tons of ships... so many I cant keep count
    - Ships have different designs and usages
    - You can fly all the ships!
    - Tons of awesome mods! Many are professional quality.

    - You can play how you want to play. Kill an alien race that annoys you. Build an economic empire with factories, freighters and trade routes. Invade enemy sectors. Be a pirate. Capture ships. There is tons to do.

    The Bad:

    - Blatant copy of X2 with very few to no meaningful upgrades except to graphics
    - Quests are too few and very repetitive
    - The main plot remains buggy to this day
    - Plot remains poor with little to no attention given to it
    - AI is not good in combat and needs serious modding help
    - Learning curve is steep and tutorials are non-existent.    … Full Review »
  2. Vitez
    Jan 30, 2010
    10
    The best and most addicting game ever. I've been playing it since the release, and didn't get bored of it. Those who gave it low The best and most addicting game ever. I've been playing it since the release, and didn't get bored of it. Those who gave it low scores simply don't realise that this isn't a game where you push "Start" and suddenly you're the "supreme ruler of the universe who is best in everything". This is not an FPS where opponents die after one shot but you survive everything. X3 takes time to get into, thanks to the huge universe, the variety, the freedom etc etc. Storytelling is a "bit" clumsy, but you don't have to follow it. I have high expectations for games and X3 jumped over it and flew straight to the stars. This is not Elite or Privateer, nor EVE; this is X. Comparing it to other titles is useless, and comparing it to EVE is stupidity at its highest..Egosoft was always friendly eversince I registered there 5 years ago, and always helped me (unlike other developers who say "I'll get on in ASAP" and never respond. So, if you don't want a GOOD, but the BEST space game, then I recommend Reunion.… Full Review »
  3. PeteNA
    Nov 15, 2009
    7
    For overall clarity of understanding the game rates a bit low. It's not that it's impossible, nor is it even complicated. Rating a For overall clarity of understanding the game rates a bit low. It's not that it's impossible, nor is it even complicated. Rating a game based on how complicated it is is just silly. If you can't understand it, it doesn't mean someone else can't. Chess is complicated for many people. That doesn't make it a bad game. No, what I mean by "clarity of understanding" is simply how well the game explains it's complications. For instance it's a bit tricky to navigate your way through certain menu options. At times it's a bit like shopping at Lowe's hardware. Certain items simply are not the aisles you would expect them to be in. The same seems true at times with X3: Reunion. I spotted a review from a user giving this game a zero (0) rating simply because the controls "could not be reconfigured to invert the mouse X axis." I'm sure Glen looked for that option, and probably didn't find it, but it does in fact exist in the game. The problem is the way the menus are broken down it's not under the heading most gamers would look for. For game play itself, the actual flow of the game and the abilities of the player to immerse themselves in the universe of X3, I'd say the game is impeccable. During play there is a sense of really being there. And when reality becomes suspended I personally feel "if only it could really happen!" Now that is suspension of disbelief! Another downfall of this game, and it can be a major one, is the tricky messaging system. Some messages that one would feel are key are left out of the message log. Now, most players will complain about this, and even I find it annoying as I have been spoiled by games like "Fallout 3" and "Oblivion" as well as others that keep very detailed "quest logs" The thing is us old school gamers should know better! We should be keeping notes on important quest details! (I'm 42 myself and I've been gaming since ZORK was a baby!) In fact I think the designers did this intentionally. No, not to make some of us moan and whine. I think they did it to make us THINK. You remember when gaming took thinking if you're older than 25. If you're younger than 25, I apologize, but yes at one point we actually did have to think to play computer games. We had to take notes by hand on paper with pens in order to remember what important things NPCs had said, or what details we had read in some note or on a sign. Other than the fact that this game has some glitchiness with the quest system at times (for instance your quest targets simply not being there when you get there and n o explanation then or later as t to why!) it really is worth the money you pay to play it. Speaking of which, I see a review by a man claiming to have pirated this software to try it. You know, I'm probably not the only member of law enforcement who reads these boards. Fortunately for you I'm just a local patrolman. Finally, in parting, let me say this: Reviewing a game you haven't even done more than play an hour of is not really a fair rating. Please keep in mind that when you read individual's reviews. Many of the people who rated this game on this page simply got frustrated within a few minutes or hours because they couldn't understand the game. That is not reviewing. That is ranting. And while some of those rants may help people, at least try to be fair. Granted, it may save gamers with low tolerance for thinking from buying this game.… Full Review »
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