X2 VS Freelancer?

Bathrone · Post by **Bathrone** » Wed, 18. Dec 02, 17:22

Hi everyone.

I was looking around for a modern Elite style game to play.

Seems the hot two coming out are Freelancer and X2.

Has anyone looked at comparing the two to see how they face up?

Thanks and cheers

Post by **X-Warrior B AS** » Wed, 18. Dec 02, 17:58

No need to compare, X2 is simply superior.

Bathrone · Post by **Bathrone** » Wed, 18. Dec 02, 18:18

That may well be the case. Im not familiar enough with either to make a comparison, and therefore I asked here. Perhaps you could share some details so I can understand better.

SteveMill · Post by **SteveMill** » Wed, 18. Dec 02, 18:19

Freelancer seems to have a lot going for it over X2 in terms of a whole galaxy to explore but no matter what, it loses to X2 on not having joystick support. Flying with a mouse just isn't right.

Snokid · Post by **Snokid** » Wed, 18. Dec 02, 21:01

yup... without a joystick it's not aproper space sim....**thinks of earth and beyond** they had nice lookin' ships in enb but it wasn't like flying a high-ech space ship more like a car-- a really bad car

Bathrone · Post by **Bathrone** » Wed, 18. Dec 02, 21:29

Sweet, Ive got a HOTAS Cougar and USB CH pro pedals I use for WWII prop plane flight sims so maybe I can program the equipment to work with X2. The HOTAS cougar comes with macro software that I can program the different axes and buttons for.

Q: Wonder if the devs natively support hands on throttle and stick setups? And pedals?

awdougherty · Post by **awdougherty** » Wed, 18. Dec 02, 21:34

I think I'm going to get the details wrong here, but hopefully I can enflame more knowledgable people to answer.

My understanding is this: Freelancer is more story focused where X2 is more trade focused. That's not to say each game doesn't have some elements of both, they just have different intentions.

Freelancer is much more story driven. There will be a direct plot to follow like most CRPGs. The piloting is much simpler and mouse driven (although I heard the option for a joystick might pop in... don't quote me though). You definitely can do trading, but not nearly to the extent of X2. More emphasis on action and a traditional story. Freelancer is supposed to have multiplayer support. My understanding is that you can run a server and play with friends. I don't know if that means having deathmatches or if you can do cooperative or competitive trading.

X2 is essentially a highly detailed trading game with a story more loosely woven into the universe (not to say there's no story, it just isn't the sole purpose of playing). The flight controls are more traditional for flight and space sims. You can fly, own, control, etc. tons of different spaceships of various capabilities. You can also own space stations and create a manufacturing empire. Then you can remotely control the whole operation while you go take down enemies or destroy pirates, or follow the story. There is no multiplayer support.

Now I know that the mouse flying doesn't seem right, but I don't think it's going to bring down Freelancer. In fact, it could make sense. Would we really rely on slow human hand/eye coordination through a "stick" to pilot extremely complicated ships hundreds of years from now? Probably not, but this could affect the fun factor of the game.

An analogy, if you play CRPG's, is Freelancer might be more like NWN where X2 is like Morrowind. Maybe not, but that's a guess.

One more thing, graphics. Tough call here. I used to think Freelancer would own this category but after seeing the latest X2 video... I'm not sure anymore. Freelancer might have higher poly counts per model but it's stuck with Direct X7 lighting. It looks like X2 might take advantage of Direct X8 lighting techniques.

silentWitness · Post by **silentWitness** » Wed, 18. Dec 02, 22:52

Also you can fly capital ships, freighters, passenger vessles, minicarriers... which I belive is not supported in Frelancer (which if I remember is a fighter craft only game)...

Also I doubt you'll be able to capture ships in Freelancer...

Freelancer's 'free' bit is getting less and less as the development period goes on... it's getting closer to Starlancer every day...

If You want Elite... Go for X2...
If you want... thinks for a long time* ...well another space game go for Freelancer...

juniper · Post by **juniper** » Wed, 18. Dec 02, 23:07

SteveMill wrote:Freelancer seems to have a lot going for it over X2 in terms of a whole galaxy to explore but no matter what, it loses to X2 on not having joystick support. Flying with a mouse just isn't right.

This is exactly what i think about Freelancer.

GHarper · Post by **GHarper** » Thu, 19. Dec 02, 00:06

Bathrone wrote:Sweet, Ive got a HOTAS Cougar and USB CH pro pedals I use for WWII prop plane flight sims so maybe I can program the equipment to work with X2. The HOTAS cougar comes with macro software that I can program the different axes and buttons for.

Q: Wonder if the devs natively support hands on throttle and stick setups? And pedals?

woohoo!
finally another Cougar owner here! I'm not a loser anymore!

I am quite confident that X2 will support HOTAS and pedal capability natively if for no better reason than that XBTF and XT already do. That and its built into DirectX nowadays. Although the Cougar, and my prior setup of the TM F22/F16TQS is probably a bit overkill for the X games.

On Freelancer, last I heard was that the outcry over the lack of joystick support lead them to include joystick support as an afterthought. At least thats what I thought I heard. I dont know if its gonna be any good. but I tuned out on freelancer several years ago because of the lack of joystick support then recently heard that it would support it and kinda am starting to pay attention again. Not sure how it stacks up to starlancer though, I'd like to hear more about how its becoming more and more similar...

Kissakias · Post by **Kissakias** » Thu, 19. Dec 02, 00:28

i never compare the freelancer with X-2 or x-Tension

I compare the X-Tension with Privateer (yes the old DOS space sim)
They are more similar.

From what i read till now for the X-2 ofcurse the x-2 has more things to do than privateer ...but from the things that i don't know about x-2 and know for the privateer is for damage to the ships in privateer and we pay money to fix them ... and alos in privateer has missions trap (example: go to kill him and get 10000 cr-and after kill him the man that gave you the mission was gone-no money).
Also for the joystick i think that all the flight in the future will be with joystick or with -mind control-.

silentWitness · Post by **silentWitness** » Thu, 19. Dec 02, 02:21

X2 has a helpful fan base...

[ external image ] [ external image ] [ external image ]

Willing to do anything to help...

[ external image ]

JadeNova · Post by **JadeNova** » Thu, 19. Dec 02, 14:34

I'm sure just about everyone on this forum will play both. But X2 will be a cut above the rest.

Bathrone · Post by **Bathrone** » Fri, 20. Dec 02, 13:10

Thanks everyone. Im sure to buy X2, trying to get my egosoft fix before then though...........Only could find X:BTF in Sydney.........Really want X: Tension will buy it off another Aussie please sell if you have it.

egosoft.com

egosoft.com

X2 VS Freelancer?

X2 VS Freelancer?

a barely adequate comparison