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General FreeSpace => FreeSpace Discussion => Topic started by: Wired on January 15, 2007, 01:17:35 pm

Title: Should I play through FSPort or the original FS1, never played either before.
Post by: Wired on January 15, 2007, 01:17:35 pm
So, I recently became aware of the SCP, and as I had heard many a good thing about the Freespace games I decided to buy them. So I did, but now to the "problem"... should I play the FSPort or the original game. Looking from a graphics standpoint I would rather play through the port, as it's a fair bit easier on the eyes, on the other hand I it would be the first time I play freespace and I don't want to "spoil" the experience.

So I guess I'm asking if the port is very different from the original game or if it's basically the same thing just a good deal prettier?


On another note, damn it's hard playing with a joystick. At this point I very much doubt I could hit a sun, and my arm aches like mad. But I guess practice helps :)

Thanks in advance.
Title: Re: Should I play through FSPort or the original FS1, never played either before
Post by: Turey on January 15, 2007, 01:23:11 pm
:welcome:

it's basically the same thing just a good deal prettier

as you guessed, it's the same thing.

On another note, damn it's hard playing with a joystick. At this point I very much doubt I could hit a sun, and my arm aches like mad. But I guess practice helps :)

I don't use a joystick. Mouse + keyboard.
Title: Re: Should I play through FSPort or the original FS1, never played either before
Post by: redsniper on January 15, 2007, 01:27:33 pm
The Port is very good and, like you say, better graphically, but there's just something about the original that makes it better. I don't know if it's the interface or the sound effects or what, but the original is just so atmospheric. If you can, I'd get that although it might be hard to find.
Title: Re: Should I play through FSPort or the original FS1, never played either before
Post by: Wired on January 15, 2007, 01:29:27 pm

as you guessed, it's the same thing.

I don't use a joystick. Mouse + keyboard.

Well, ok. I guess I'll play the port then

And yeah, mouse and keyboard sure is a lot easier, but I've had this x45 lying around for ages and I'd be damned if I'm not going to get some use for it THIS year at least! :)
Title: Re: Should I play through FSPort or the original FS1, never played either before
Post by: Wired on January 15, 2007, 01:31:20 pm
The Port is very good and, like you say, better graphically, but there's just something about the original that makes it better. I don't know if it's the interface or the sound effects or what, but the original is just so atmospheric. If you can, I'd get that although it might be hard to find.

Agh! why did you have to come in here and complicate matters! :)

Seriously though, I already have the original, bought the white label Freespace 1&2 pack.
Title: Re: Should I play through FSPort or the original FS1, never played either before
Post by: Centrixo on January 15, 2007, 01:35:09 pm
yep fs is become one of the most sought after and rarer games out there, this community should feel so priviledged to have actual working fs disc witch could sell for hundreds in 30 years time ;)
Title: Re: Should I play through FSPort or the original FS1, never played either before
Post by: Wired on January 15, 2007, 01:39:23 pm
well, it's not so very rare over here, the place I bought it from had 20+ copies for $7 a piece :) But I imagine the original games & boxes would go for a fair bit.
Title: Re: Should I play through FSPort or the original FS1, never played either before.
Post by: karajorma on January 15, 2007, 01:46:34 pm
The Port is very good and, like you say, better graphically, but there's just something about the original that makes it better. I don't know if it's the interface or the sound effects or what, but the original is just so atmospheric. If you can, I'd get that although it might be hard to find.

It's called nostalga.

People new to the game won't get it :p
Title: Re: Should I play through FSPort or the original FS1, never played either before
Post by: Turey on January 15, 2007, 01:49:24 pm
It's called nostalga.

People new to the game won't get it :p

QFT

It's the reason I still have FS1 on every machine I put FS2 on, even if I also install port. It's irrational, but it feels right.
Title: Re: Should I play through FSPort or the original FS1, never played either before
Post by: Centrixo on January 15, 2007, 01:49:56 pm
well i did, its called perseverance and determination. so i searched and  got the games off ebay for only a few quid for both fs1 the expansion and fs2, never regretted my desision.
Title: Re: Should I play through FSPort or the original FS1, never played either before.
Post by: Taristin on January 15, 2007, 05:54:37 pm
FS1 definately felt better. FS2 may look more modern now, but it lacks that feeling that FS1 had.
Title: Re: Should I play through FSPort or the original FS1, never played either before.
Post by: redsniper on January 15, 2007, 06:17:04 pm
Seriously though, I already have the original, bought the white label Freespace 1&2 pack.

Then just play the original now and the port some other day. :cool:
Title: Re: Should I play through FSPort or the original FS1, never played either before
Post by: BS403 on January 15, 2007, 10:53:23 pm
Play the original there is just something about single handedly destroying a typhon or a demon with an apollo or destroying the hades with a ulysses.
Title: Re: Should I play through FSPort or the original FS1, never played either before.
Post by: Unknown Target on January 16, 2007, 05:42:59 pm
yep fs is become one of the most sought after and rarer games out there, this community should feel so priviledged to have actual working fs disc witch could sell for hundreds in 30 years time ;)

Er...no :p Do you see tape based machines selling for hundreds nowadays? :)

Anyway, I liked FS1, I think it's because the graphics had a more "squishy" feel to them than FS2, which felt very hard and "solid".
Title: Re: Should I play through FSPort or the original FS1, never played either before.
Post by: Mongoose on January 17, 2007, 12:54:25 am
I played FS1 for a long time before finally getting FS2, and I still say "pah" to all those who claim that the first was superior.  My main memory of FS1 is TEH GREENNESS of that massive 640x480 HUD. :p That being said, I'd still probably recommend playing through the original game, just for the hell of it.
Title: Re: Should I play through FSPort or the original FS1, never played either before
Post by: Wired on January 17, 2007, 03:40:04 am
Oh I'll definatly play through the original at some point, but I'll have a go at the port first. What bothers me most about the original is the nebulas, compared to the port. Quite a difference :)

Title: Re: Should I play through FSPort or the original FS1, never played either before.
Post by: Desert Tyrant on January 25, 2007, 07:09:04 pm
I would say to play the original, cant say I've play the port...... or the whole ****ing FSO for that matter
Title: Re: Should I play through FSPort or the original FS1, never played either before.
Post by: achtung on January 25, 2007, 07:56:53 pm
The port's good, but the original does have a certain "feel" to it that you can't emulate in FSO.
Title: Re: Should I play through FSPort or the original FS1, never played either before
Post by: Uninvited on January 28, 2007, 11:53:53 pm
For some reason I found playing the port much easier then when I played the original. I remember the last mission was tough ****, and that I had to help destroy the reactors on the Lucifer as well as take care of any fighter escort. The mission where you defend the Bastion was really hard back in the day too.

This time around, all the missions that I found hard before were a breeze. I was a far better player back then too. I used to get triple ace by the second red alert mission. I had double ace by the time I capped Lucy.
Title: Re: Should I play through FSPort or the original FS1, never played either before.
Post by: Dysko on January 29, 2007, 06:45:26 am
I found the FSPort easier, too. I remember that when I played the original final mission, I looked at the timer and said: "ZOMG!!!! 2 minutes left and 4 reactors still to destroy!!!!!". With the Port, the Ursas take down the reactors in few minutes, without my help...
Title: Re: Should I play through FSPort or the original FS1, never played either before.
Post by: CP5670 on January 29, 2007, 10:17:04 am
I prefer the original FS1 for the slightly different menu interface and sounds in it. I think that's what most people mean by "feel."

By the way, if you're playing FS1, run it in software mode. It actually looks way better than the D3D mode and modern CPUs can handle it easily.
Title: Re: Should I play through FSPort or the original FS1, never played either before.
Post by: karajorma on January 29, 2007, 10:52:56 am
By the way, if you're playing FS1, run it in software mode. It actually looks way better than the D3D mode and modern CPUs can handle it easily.

Most of that is fixable by simply using the registry hacks surely?
Title: Re: Should I play through FSPort or the original FS1, never played either before
Post by: CP5670 on January 29, 2007, 11:21:14 am
As far as I can tell, D3D in FS1 never supported the high resolution textures or the glowmap effects. The glows worked in Glide, although I'm not sure if it supported the big textures either (until the Voodoo4/5, the 3dfx cards themselves could only work with textures up to 256x256). Software mode supports both and looks far better than D3D IMO, even though you don't get any bilinear filtering.
Title: Re: Should I play through FSPort or the original FS1, never played either before.
Post by: NGTM-1R on January 29, 2007, 11:45:16 am
I've really only noticed one significant difference between them, and that's with the FighterKiller missile. The originals knocked you for a loop when you took a hit.
Title: Re: Should I play through FSPort or the original FS1, never played either before
Post by: neoterran on January 29, 2007, 12:13:12 pm
Oh I'll definatly play through the original at some point, but I'll have a go at the port first. What bothers me most about the original is the nebulas, compared to the port. Quite a difference :)



And the port doesn't even have the super nice lightspeed nebulas either
Title: Re: Should I play through FSPort or the original FS1, never played either before.
Post by: BlackDove on January 29, 2007, 01:20:57 pm
I prefer the original FS1 for the slightly different menu interface and sounds in it. I think that's what most people mean by "feel."

Actually the game itself plays very differently, as in the functions regarding the turning, firing, hitting, etc.

Not sure what's related to it or what changed on the FS2 crossover, but pretty much everything worked in a slightly different way. At any rate that's what I feel when I play it.

I used FS1 as training whenever my FS2 skills dropped. Something about it is harder and requires more precision while it comes more easily in FS2.

At any rate, as I'm not a technical kind of guy, it's hard to explain or check the numbers, but I could say with 50% certainty, that I'm not insane (naturally, there's also a whole half chance that I am insane).

Title: Re: Should I play through FSPort or the original FS1, never played either before
Post by: MarkN on January 30, 2007, 05:42:05 am
Quote
At any rate, as I'm not a technical kind of guy, it's hard to explain or check the numbers, but I could say with 50% certainty, that I'm not insane (naturally, there's also a whole half chance that I am insane).

The usual human test:
Check your pulse.
If there is one, you are insane.
If there isn't you are dead.

The usual Vasudan test:
Do you like Headz.
If yes, you are insane.
If no, you are an NTF undercover operative.(and therfore also insane).