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Freelancer Preview
Space
Most of the game will be spent flying around in space, and this is where most of the detail is. The first thing that should be noted is that the mouse, not the joystick, controls your ship. I was a bit sceptical at first - what kind of flight sim doesn't use the joystick? It took a few minutes to get used to, but once you do, it's definitely worth it. It gives the dog fighting an arcade feel to it, as well as making them much more frenetic than usual.
There a few things to take into account when flying in space. Buying Shield Batteries and Nanobots allow you to recharge your shields, and repair a damaged hull. You can usually tell how damaged a ship including yours) by looking at them. Hitting an enemy in the wing will cause it to break off, but be warned, you might succumb to the same fate. The main effect of this is the loss of wing mounted weapons, so you need to take this into account when choosing a ship to buy. You can also change your view - from first to third person, as well as deciding either how you wish to steer. Clicking the left mouse button allows you to 'drag' your ship in the direction you wish to go. The other way is to enter Flight mode and your ship follows your mouse automatically. Normal acceleration is controlled by the 'W' key, with 'S' slowing you down and 'A' and 'D' allowing you to strafe - which comes in handy when dodging incoming fire.
There are a few ways you can travel from place to place. The first is your basic thrusters. This is the slowest of all your travel types, however, it's the most manoeuvrable. Your afterburners give you a limited burst of speed, which is great for getting out of tight situations. Also, all ships come equipped with Cruise engines. These take a second or two to fire up, and you cannot fire while they are in use, but it is the fastest unaided way to travel. There are also Trade gates that allow very fast travel between populated parts of a star system. The finally way to travel is through jump gates. These are the only way to get between different star systems - and they usually require clearance codes.
Flying through space is breathtaking to say the least. The detail that has been applied to every sector is very high - from stunning backdrops to dust clouds to asteroid fields. Everything looks great and is placed where you would expect them to be. Flying though asteroid fields requires fairly accurate flying, and the fact that most of the dog fights take place in side them adds to the excitement. The use of lights and detailed textures makes flying fun and exciting rather than a chore.
A waypoint system is used to direct you where to go. This can either be set for you when you start a mission, or you can place them - either manually or letting the game plot the shortest route. Target each waypoint to and follow them to where you want to go. The best part is that they are dynamic. If you loose your way slightly, or goa different way, the next way point will automatically let you know the best way to go.
Once you have finished a dogfight, there will usually be bits of loot floating around in space. Activating your tractor beam will collect the pieces left and place them into your cargo hold (assuming you have room). The items vary depending on the ships you have just attacked, although you can pick up anything from ice to weapons. You can then go back to a space station and sell them for a profit.
Life or something like it.
By far the best aspect of Freelancer is the fact that the world doesn't revolve around your character. Trying to dock with a spaceport that is in use means that you have to wait until it's free before you are allowed to proceed. The 'police' not only scan you for contraband, but they scan others for illegal items. This can sometimes lead to dogfights that you can either join or avoid. Lane Hackers can stop you trips through the Trade Lanes short and attack - sometimes there are freighters and their escorts to protect. You can also ask other ships what their destinations are, and if they don't want to kill you, they will respond. Pirates can also demand items from your cargo space - failure to drop them leads to a fight. It's the details like this that make it feel like the world is a living place.
The main story quests are required to unlock most of the surrounding systems. This limits your freedom somewhat, since the story has an affect on how the differing factions respond to you. Finishing the main story doesn't stop you from playing, so this is where you will have most of the freedom. If you want to become a trader, you can invest in a freighter, buy items low and sell them high. If you want to become a bounty hunter, visit the bar and do the jobs offered by that particular group or become a pirate by attacking others and looting the remains. You can even become a scavenger and visit the many scrap metal sites. Shooting some of the small bits of debris can reveal bits of iron you can sell.
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