X2 - Could this be the true successor to Elite?

[Summo]

Some of you will already be following X2's progress, but I've not seen it mentioned on this forum, so here's a thread.

A few of us talked about how disappointed we were with Freelancer and EVE. They both sounded like fantastic new games that might finally, after nearly 20 years, capture that sense of freedom that Elite managed to.

Obviously, we were let down. Freelancer's inclusion of a naff plot and heavy leanings towards being an 'action' game, coupled with EVE's lack of an in-cockpit view and excess tedium made me cry.

Anyway... I've just been reading a preview of X2 on Eurogamer and I have to say, my old Elite gland is throbbing again. Maybe this time it'll be okay. Maybe this time it'll feel right. Maybe I can just fly my ship quietly (from inside it, omg!) with no cutscenes interupting me and without having to mine asteroids for 17 years. And then shoot some people and nick their stuff.

Maybe.

The North American version of this game has gone gold, though bizarrely it's not due to be released in Europe for quite some time. GAME give the release date as 6 February 2004. They talk about extra time needed for the localisation of the game in each country (presumably just languages) so I'm guessing we could happily pre-order a copy from a US company.

*wait*

edit: A rolling demo can be downloaded here.

 

[Jonaldo]

I'll have to have a looksee at that.

Loved Elite and Frontier and as you say EvE was a bit disappointing, I just felt like I was flying about alone with no sense of anything to do and the missions given by agents didn't offer any kind of side-entertainment.

Closest thing I found to Elite was Hardwar years ago but ultimately it never really got close and despite rumours of a sequel, it never emerged (to my knowledge). That was just based on one planet though and the overall story was fairly short in the end, although you didn't have any time limit or linear pattern in which to play so you could roam about forever if you wanted.

 

[ECA]

Dont forget X-Online ( the X mmorpg ) is in dev as well.

 

[Chameleon]

Originally posted by Summo
And then shoot some people and nick their stuff.

Yah!!! Oh the memories. I really hope this game is half as good as elite was. It's about time we got a decent space trading/killin game after all this time.

 

[.Cask]

Hmm couldn't tell a whole lot from that rolling demo other than gameplay looking pretty slow paced compared to freelancer and it's gonna run like a dog with a huge fleet of ships on screen. Quite impressed by the scene where you're looking out of the space station window seeing things going on. Have been looking forward to a space game doing that for ages.

Didn't mention a multiplayer mode though I've been getting sick of MMO games lately. But still a 2 or 4-player option would be nice. Not that I have any friends to play with or anything

 

[Testin da Cable]

*wood*


I shall dl the demo after gym tonight!

 

[Rubric]

Anyone know of any news on Braben working on Elite 4. Its all gone a bit quiet.

 

[GDW]

Captain Jameson went AWOL I think

 

[Yaka]

if yer cant wait for this then get the orignal which is one of the most under rated spac sims ever.

 

[whipped]

One thing that struck me about the rolling demo was the music score. Very good, very Blade Runner. If only for the music I am looking forward to the release of this one.