"Freelancer is a wonderful mix of shooter, simulation, RPG-lite, and adventure...the
way they are combined and the overall presentation allows this title to actually
become more than the sum of its parts. Freelancer isn’t just a game – it’s a way
of life."
- Game Chronicles' Editor's Choice Award
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"...the story line keeps you constantly occupied with new developments and new battles...The
action makes this game what it is. And the action just keeps coming-fight after
fight after fight, and just when you think your ship can’t take another hit-another
battalion of enemy ships uncloaks. The game will keep you busy for hours (OCP cannot
be held responsible for any marital problems caused through game addiction)."
- OcPrices Review (Gold Award)
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"Freelancer does nothing less than bring the genre out of a rut borne of config.sys
file tweaking and joystick calibration, streamlining it into an acccessible, action-packed
outer space role-playing game with plenty of personality and a marvelous online
component."
- Computer Games Review (4.5/5: Editor's Choice Award - May 2003 Issue) |
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"I was late with this review because I couldn’t stop playing...Freelancer will change
your mind about how exciting an open-ended game can be, and it will distort your
perception of the genre in so many wonderful ways that you’ll ponder why you ever
bothered to play any other...some of the most addictive and arcadey-yet-refined
gameplay I’ve seen in a long time...immense replayability, the persistent online
elements, an expansive universe (I never, ever found a wall) and gorgeous graphics...best
space-based game since X-Wing...most complete PC game of any genre that I’ve played
in a couple of years."
- DailyGame Review (9/10: Editor's Choice Award)
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"...an incredibly immersive game...some of the nicest cinematic in-engine cut-scenes
I've seen in a while. All this in a very stable package (this reviewer is still
looking for a single bug, crash or weird anomaly with an un-patched version 1.0).
Freelancer allows you to drop in its galaxy and have a few quick adventures that
will be rewarding on many levels. Whether you simply want to explore the universe
in a sturdy but light combat ship, help police the free sectors with a rugged heavy
fighter ship, or even haul valuable (and profitable) cargo from one end of the galaxy
to another in your bulky freighter, you'll find something to like here."
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RPGDot Review (90%: Platinum Award)
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"...the single player game is hell of a lot of fun, the game looks good, plays well,
and it’s well designed, offering a freedom to explore thanks to the levelling/mission
system...Freelancer is one of the best space titles around at the moment and well
worth a look."
- LoadedInc Review (9/10: Hot Property Award)
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"Freelancer is indeed
a living and breathing universe, all vessels can be followed to their respective
home bases...Freighters come and go...police stop you...all this is going off in
the background, most of it unbeknown to you; this brings a new level of atmosphere
yet seen in other games of this ilk. Digital Anvil should be respected for breathing
new life into this genre; nothing even close to this has been released in years."
- Icrontic.com Review (93%: Editor's Choice Award)
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"Freelancer was very much worth the wait. It’s a game that’ll have you engrossed
in your PC maybe until the next Freelancer comes out. The trading aspect adds a
whole new dimension to space games and gives the game a lifespan simply out of this
world as you waste days trading materials and completing tricky missions to appease
your current contractors...it’ll change your outlook on games."
- VideoGamesLife Review (91/100)
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"The mixture of freeform adventuring and story elements really is so very endearing.
You can take as much or as little time as you like over it, and whichever way you
choose to play, be it as Trader, Mercenary or Pirate, I guarantee you'll be exchanging
war stories with fellow freelancers both online or down the pub. I put this right
up there with all those other games changing our expectations of what to expect
in the future. GTA3, Deus Ex and now Freelancer. It seems the future lies in freedom
- I advise you to cash in on yours now."
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DeadAlfs UK Review (9/10)
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"Although Freelancer isn't totally opened-ended with regards to the storyline and
missions it does go along way to getting there. A lot of effort has been put into
the story and missions and this will show as you find yourself spending hours of
your weekend playing Freelancer - don’t say I didn't warn you! Even if you do finish
the central plot there is a lot of fun to be had by setting up a server with your
mates and team up online to take on those rogue elements...Freelancer will grab
your attention like a 300-pound sumo wrestler asking for your lunch."
- GameBiz Review (96%)
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"Would I recommend it? Yes, wholeheartedly. If you're a space combat fan and have
been pining for something decent since X-Wing Alliance, then this could be just
the ticket. I'll certainly be playing it for a long time to come."
- Boomtown Review (9/10)
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"With Freelancer, the possibilities are endless. You can do whatever you want, when
you want, where you want. I highly recommend this game for anyone looking for a
good time that has an open mind...this game is a must have."
- Gaming Horizon Review (8.9/10)
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"Freelancer is one of those rare games that is complete in every aspect. The content
and the technique is nearly perfect, and it molds flawlessly into a genuinely entertaining
experience...Freelancer is worth every penny."
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Netjak Review (9.2/10)
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"The game itself is incredibly open ended. Part Diablo, part Grand Theft Auto III,
and part Privateer, Freelancer borrows gameplay elements from many sources and combines
them to create a game that adds up to more than the sum of its parts."
- Stratos Group Review (4.5/5)
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"Freelancer is one of the best games that I’ve ever played. If you’re a fan of space
combat Sims, I suggest you buy Freelancer as it’s definitely worth the money."
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Khabal Review (9/10)
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"Overall, definitely a game to check out; the flexibility and freedom will appeal
to many, as well as the ability to still go back to a set storyline whenever you
wish. The game's multiplayer augments the game, and is also well worth jumping in
to. The game runs well performance wise, even during graphically intensive times,
and lower end machines (800-1gig ish) will find only minor blips when trying to
run the game. A well thought out and absorbing game, with a storyline and background
that will keep you happy for many tens of gaming hours, for space buffs and space
haters alike."
- InGaming
Review (85%)
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"There's just so much here. Freelancer is going to make a name for itself...it's
a classic."
- GamesRadar Review (90%)
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Digital Anvil developers talk about surprises in development, the relatively puny
scope of other games, and personal satisfaction.
- Action
Vault Q&A #4
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"FL is the top space sim in my book and I look forwards to perhaps buddying up with
some of you on a server out there...Freelancer is so close to perfection it is frightening...buy
it and you will not be dissapointed. "
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gamesextreme Review (90%)
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"It's definitely worth the price...as one of the best overall pieces of work in
the space genre in some time, the innovative game system and excellent story, graphics,
and sound effects make Freelancer worthy of your hard drive space."
- Riva 3D
Review (90/100)
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"Sometimes, when I'm playing Freelancer, I want to just stop, sit back, turn up
the sound and admire the view. This is one gorgeous game...Aesthetically pleasing,
lots to do, lots of options, lots of ships and weapons to buy, and a great story.
Sounds good to me."
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electric playground Review (9/10)
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"...the overall execution of the game is nearly flawless and the long wait has been
well worth it in my opinion. The gameplay is easily the highlight of the game with
the sheer size of the not only the single-player campaign but everything encompassed
within it is impressive to say the least. The graphics too don’t disappoint and
I rate them nearly as high as the gameplay...superb controls...I can wholeheartedly
recommend this game to anyone who enjoys a good fighting game or is looking for
a stellar gaming experience."
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gamersclick Review (86%)
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"If you are craving immersive battles and the atmosphere we can only dream of seeing
this is a must buy game. The solo gameplay is ever immerging and changing while
the online gameplay takes it up another notch to further immerse you into the role
of a Freelancer."
- gamingNEXT Review (88/100)
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11 Digital Anvil developers discuss their favorite locations in the game.
- ActionVault Q&A
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"Bottom Line: I had a rip-roaring time with Freelancer. There are so many things
to do, the continual accomplishing of 'just one more mission' constantly cut into
my sleep time...Even for a passing fan of the genre, Freelancer should not be missed."
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Just-RPG Review (A-)
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"FreeLancer is simply fun. Exploring the universe, wandering from star system to
star system, and docking on various ships, asteroids, and planets to do business
makes for a rich, engaging experience. Combat is challenging without being overwhelming—except
for missions and story scenes where the opposition is supposed to be impossible
to defeat. Hidden starbases, systems, and resources give the game good replayability,
particularly when you consider that exotic cargoes and equipment are frequently
only available in remote locations. Overall, the game provides good variety and
delivers a polished, well balanced gaming experience."
- Neoseeker Review
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"The best thing about Freelancer is that you don’t have to be a fan of flight sims
to enjoy it. It is easy to get into and yet is addictive. Before you know it, you
would have already spent hours earning that extra few bucks to buy a bigger nastier
ship to show off to the world. At that point, you know it is too late to turn back."
- GameAxis Review (8.5/10)
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Digital Anvil designers, artists, and programmers talk about their favorite ships
from the game.
- Action Vault Q&A
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"A solid single player story driven game, with subtle but addictive RPG elements
for character advancement, and a massive online environment that will keep you busy
for life are elements that make this game worth while...Give Freelancer a shot...it
won’t disappoint."
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MyGamer Review
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"Aside from the scripted single player campaign, there are about a million tiny
things that help create a living, breathing world in Freelancer...the actual graphics
are breathtaking and stellar...Digital Anvil firmly establishes Freelancer as the
de facto title to beat in this genre."
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Game Over Review (95%)
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"...there is no doubting Freelancer should be in your PC game collection. Digital
Anvil have created a very enjoyable and addictive game in Freelancer, but maybe
pre-release hype did get the better of it, however it is exciting to think what
they can do with it in future versions. Go get it, enjoy it, and keep your eyes
peeled for the future, because this is one series you do not want to miss out on...Damn
addictive."
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3DAvenue Review (86/100)
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"...graphically this game is simply superb...Digital Anvil has really added a lot
of mysterious touches to this game. For instance you can be attacked on the way
to a mission or coming back from a mission, or in a warp gate...It is as if Digital
Anvil took a page out of a suspenseful 1st/3rd person shooter and put it in space
with some really cool combat...This is a title that you should get and get fast!"
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Next Level Gaming Review (93/100)
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"Buy this game! It’s got the right mix of polish, fun, value, and broad appeal to
make it an all around winner...For any fans of space sims, this isn’t one you’ll
want to pass up. With a smooth control system, well designed game structure, and
first-rate graphics, obvious time and effort was put into this game that will keep
you occupied for some time."
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GameZilla Review (4.5/5 "Buy")
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"Taken purely as a straight-ahead action game, Freelancer is terrific and well worth
the cost of purchase. The combat is electric and there's so much to explore and
discover...For sheer fun, the game is hard to beat, and it will have a home on my
hard drive for some time to come."
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GameSpy Review (83/100 "Very Good")
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"Dying for some starship dogfighting? Looking for a more sci-fi Morrowind? It’s
your lucky day. Freelancer is here, and it’s good. It’s very, very good...Among
the most gorgeous games out there, Freelancer delivers fine visuals and fast-paced
action without any obvious slowdown on competent systems...Radio chatter, sound
effects, and ambient music nail down the sci-fi feel of the Freelancer universe...Insanely,
wonderfully, creatively fun...the universe is vast and there’s always something
fun to do."
- GamePro Review (4.5/5)
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Freelancer Lead Designer Jorg Neumann discusses the enormous universe (and enormous
effort undertaken in creating it), the open-ended gameplay, the satisfaction of
finishing, and more.
- CVG Q&A
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"...was Freelancer truly worth the wait? Is it the solid, entertaining title
it’s been hyped up to be for years on end? And is the mouse control scheme really
that great? In answer to all of these questions, I can confidently fire off a resounding
yes. Freelancer is a very large, very detailed, very addictive game (almost dangerously
so) that won’t stop gripping the player until he reaches the end, and might even
keep him going beyond that. Between the open-ended nature of the single-player campaign
and the possibilities lurking behind multiplayer, god only knows what Freelancer
has in store for us in the future. Pick it up, now!"
- Gamehelper Review (8.8/10)
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"...the system requirements are very modest for a game that looks this good...It
features a solid single-player campaign, simple but addictive RPG elements, and
an open-ended gaming world that's enjoyable to explore by yourself or with friends...Freelancer's
streamlined controls and simplified gameplay make it easier for you to immediately
begin freely exploring an expansive star system and looting and destroying enemy
factions."
- GameSpot Review (8.3/10 "Great")
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Freelancer designers, developers, producers and other staff discuss the gameplay
advancements made in Freelancer.
- Action Vault Q&A
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"Freelancer is a great space action title that can appeal to both the hardcore sim-types
as well as some casual gamers. The mixture of both story-based and open-ended gameplay
comes off with a decent effect...Throw all this in together with a fun multiplayer
mode."
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Telefragged Review (86%)
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"Freelancer excels in...graphics and special effects. And it is definitely a challenging
game to play. The game has intrigue, solid action and evolving difficulty. For those
who enjoy space combat/flight sims, this is an enjoyable ride."
-
GameZone Review (8.3/10)
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"Well what else can I say? Freelancer has delivered on all fronts, and in some ways
has exceeded it expectations. The story is very intense, the graphics are something
that truly can only be experienced while played, and the gameplay while not original,
is more refined than any similar type of game on the market. The bar in simulation
games has been raised yet again with the release of Freelancer, and I don't think
that any space simulation will be able to touch it this year. When it's all said
and done, Freelancer should not be missed, and certainly not forgotten when the
Game of the Year ballots arrive later this year."
- Game Club Central Review (9/10)
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"Freelancer is the space combat game by which all future contenders will be measured.
The genre has a new champion, and his name is Edison Trent. See you, Space Cowboy."
-
Game Rankings Review (93/100) |
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Digital Anvil developers Jorg Neumann and Adam Foshko discuss the massive breadth
of the Freelancer universe, missions, professions, combat, the dynamic universe,
ships, and more.
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The Wargamer Interview
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"...in motion, for hours on end, the sum of its parts come together to craft a whole
that's so wonderfully and lovingly polished that fans of games in general owe it
to themselves to pick up a copy...Joy comes from every corner of Freelancer...Every
component plays off of every other. You are Trent. You are the Freelancer. Complex
actions can be dealt with easily thanks to an outstanding interface. A real sense
of accomplishment can be felt thanks to a forgiving style of play. An eerie Zen-like
calming and soothing sensation can be appreciated when approaching a friendly planet
or just flying. Excitement, intrigue and scale are all here...Is it great and still
worth the time and money? Abso-freaking-lutely."
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PC.IGN Review (9.2/10)
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Freelancer Producer Phil Wattenberger discusses epic scope, ship choices, storyline,
mission structure, exploration, multiplayer, and more.
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Homelan Fed Interview
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"The much maligned mouse control is natural and ultimately the right decision. The
single player story is one of the best I've come across in years. The multiplayer
possibilities, particularly as solid dedicated servers come online, are nearly endless.
The production value is extremely high without alienating a large number of users,
and the culmination of six years work is a detailed and unqualified success."
- Gamers with Jobs Review (91/100)
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"The big hook about Freelancer? Open Ended Gaming. Say it. It rolls off the tongue...
I do know that any game, whether it meets a certain vision or not, must be fun to
stay on my hard drive. And this one isn't going anywhere for a good, long while."
-
Action Trip Review
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Freelancer music composer Martin Galway discusses innovation, technical execution,
interactivity, and more, with sound files included as illustrations.
- GameSpy Dev Diary
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"The concept of Freelancer is really what I found enjoyable. Not only does it have
a solid story behind it (which you can choose to partake in when you want), but
it is very open ended at the same time. As far as I'm concerned, it doesn't get
much better than that...Overall, from what I have seen, Freelancer is going to be
a great game and could very well be one of the must-haves of 2003."
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Game Tab Preview
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"The dynamic mission structure borrows from the strengths of the single-player game,
so there should be plenty of replay potential. On the technical side, the network
code seems to deal pretty well with moderate pings."
- GameSpot's multiplayer Preview
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"Suffice it to say, I've had an excellent time with this latest beta version of
Freelancer...Freelancer looks to be the next big thing in the faltering space sim
genre. While some might still have problems with its unorthodox (yet very elegant)
control scheme, I feel that most folks will adjust to this and embrace Freelancer
for what it is, an expansive, beautiful, and detailed science fiction adventure."
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The Wargamer Preview
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"...control method, called mouse flight, works far better for combat as the ship
just follows your cursor wherever you put it, no clicking required. Ideally suited
to fast paced battles with multiple ships (5 vs. 1 isn't really fair) it makes it
very easy to overcontrol in the beginning but you get used to it quickly and the
game does ease you into it...Given the choice, I'd probably be playing it now instead
of writing this preview! Freelancer looks set to fulfill everything that was promised
way back in '98...we should have a cracking space shooter with RPG overtones. And
that's praise indeed."
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Boomtown Preview
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Freelancer Producer Phil Wattenberger talks about Freelancer's development cycle,
the sprawling universe, UI, characters, and more.
- GameSpy Q&A
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"The storyline is huge, the universe you play in is huge, and virtually everything
about Freelancer screams of grandeur...you’re looking at the first PC game of the
year candidate."
- VGM Fusion Preview |
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"An epic open-ended space simulator that's likely to consume your life...The open-ended
game design really pulls you in, if you’re willing to put in the time; Digital Anvil
looked to have cracked the balance between linear story-telling and open-ended game
design perfectly, allowing players to craft their own way through the adventure
whilst keeping in touch with the running storyline."
- Total Video Games Preview
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"Eagerly anticipating its release...Freelancer is a game not to be missed; with
its open-ended gameplay, high-powered space action, superb graphics, it will definitely
be a hit with gamers."
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Khabal Preview
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"Digital Anvil is poised to unleash an innovative title into the space combat genre.
Thankfully, Freelancer is a rare title (in a genre that sees few new titles), in
that it aims to give the player as much control as possible while keeping him or
her entertained. The product's uniqueness will challenge gamers to make their mark
in a whole new world...Freelancer will give its players the chance to veer off in
their own direction should they desire, or follow a more regimented, linear main
storyline."
- CanadianGamer.ca Preview
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"The fighting mercantile experience is back in full-force with Freelancer. It remains
to be seen just how large the gameworld will be, but I'm around 20 hours into the
beta - not counting reloads and previous plays - and I've yet to explore every planet.
It's so refreshing to see an unknown object, target it, and set the ship to cruise
control or the convenient 'go to' option to cruise to it, and having the ship conveniently
automatically navigate obstacles. Exploring all the sights is as easy as can be,
thanks to every option being a menu or hotkey away - streamlining is always a plus.
I have high hopes for this one; Digital Anvil seems to be on track to deliver an
amazing title that should do well with those wishing for another Freespace, Privateer,
or any other over-the-top space sim title. Freelancer is definitely one to look
out for in 2003."
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Entertainment Depot Preview
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"Freelancer on its own merits is shaping up to be a game that will truly take up
the Wind Commander-Privateer mantle with its open-ended gameplay, high powered space
action, immersive graphics and a new way to look at space sim multiplayer. Players
will be able ply the space ways soon when Freelancer finally docks at your local
retail game software store in March."
-
HomeLan Fed Preview
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"Freelancer’s game engine is no slouch as it ran very smoothly on the test rig without
any noticeable problems for more than ten hours, it loaded very quickly and places
the gamer right into the action. Amazingly, the game handled large numbers of ships
and other objects such as mines and missiles superbly - especially during combat
in debris or asteroid fields. I even tried free flying from one end of a system
to another just to see how the game engine scales objects – which did it without
a hitch or even a slowdown in graphics."
-
Game Axis Preview
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"The action in Freelancer is pretty intense...requiring quick reactions and nerves
of steel...To improve your standing in the world and improve your assets, players
complete the missions and are rewarded with cash, and only when you have reached
a sufficient ‘worth’ level and have enough cash, are the tastier ships and weapons
made available which was a good enough incentive to keep me glued to the game just
to see what was available as I progressed...if DA get things just right before release
this could be one space game to watch out for."
- LoadedInc Preview
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"...it certainly has the power to go the distance, and with Elite 4 looking like
an increasingly distant prospect, the long, long wait for Digital Anvil's magnum
opus may just have been worth it after all."
- CVG Preview
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"Let me waste little time in saying this; If Digital Anvil can work out the small
bugs in the beta they’ve currently released to the press (and there is nothing to
suggest they won’t), then you’re looking at my first nominee for game of the year
on the PC...I’ve been glued to the screen, and playing this game for roughly 8 hrs,
and barely scratched the surface of its story...this game is an insane amount of
fun. It’s one of those games that keeps you glued to the screen, DESPITE the fact
you know you’ve got to be somewhere else."
- VGM Fusion Preview
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"Years and years of development translate to one big, fat, lively universe...Action,
action, action. Conventional RPG elements come from exploration, upgrading ship
and weapons, earning money, and so forth. In this way the game is analogous to Diablo:
straightforward and focused entirely on the exploration of the environment with
intentions of earning more and building up a character. Only here that character
can be reputable or notorious...I'm quickly becoming addicted...Freelancer looks
intent on offering up all that people like me continually seek in a single, refined,
simplistic, accessible, intuitive, large, and ironically linear package."
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PC.IGN Preview
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"Originally, the idea was to make a compelling space action title with easy accessibility,
a shallow learning curve, a sweeping story, support for various play styles and
great visuals. Based on what I saw and learned last week, FreeLancer may yet prove
to be worth the wait."
- ActionVault Preview
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Lancer's Reactor interviews Digital Anvil Lead Designer Jorg Neuman and Lead Project
Manager Phil Wattenbarger at the recent Freelancer Fanstock event.
- Lancer's Reactor Interview
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"Even though space combat still plays a major role in its gameplay, Freelancer is
heavily laced with traditional role-playing game elements of exploration, experience,
character interaction, and character development."
- Gamespot Preview
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"One of the most exciting aspects of Freelancer has been the possibility of creating
persistent player-run servers...In the end, we're left with the impression that
Freelancer is definitely worth the wait."
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PC.IGN Preview
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"It’s very difficult to fully put down the awesomeness of this game design in words."
- Stratos Group Preview
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"You can fly anywhere in the game to explore debris fields, asteroid fields, nebula
zones, mine fields and other anomalies. Connecting the major trading centers within
a sector are so-called 'trade lanes.' Pirates, or yourself if you are pirating,
can poke holes in these trade lanes and force ships to fall out of the stream into
your ambush."
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GameSpy Preview
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"More than two years ago, CGW put Freelancer on the cover and declared it one of
the five games that will change gaming. We still believe it—and, more important,
so does Digital Anvil."
- Gamers.com
Preview
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"...there are a few games that you come across, an elite few, where after just a
few minutes play you know you are playing a future classic. Freelancer is one of
them."
- Computer & Video Games Preview
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"Whatever you want to classify it, Freelancer still looks destined to offer exciting
gameplay, significant longevity and that always treasured "wow" factor on a technical
level."
- Games Domain Preview
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"Graphically, Freelancer is unrivalled and, as it's set in what DA calls its 'WYSIWYG
game space', you can really go anywhere. See a nebula in the distance? Hit your
accelerators and you'll fly through it. Want to know what flying through an ice
shard field is like? Spend the time and investigate."
- UGO Preview
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Press and Awards
