[TopAce]

Which feature do you think is the best in both FS games?
For me, it's FRED. It's easy to use and knows a lot of things. Those who saw X-wing Alliance's Skirmish mission generator sooner than they started using FRED, they will find that this little programme knows everything that can be done with a mission designer programme.

I am not posting a poll, because everybody loves different things in the game. It would make no sense.

In-game feature: Probably the nebula background, not the Full Nebula 'fog', but the background you can see in deep-space missions.

[Mongoose]

Definitely the physical gameplay itself.  You really get the sense of being out in deep space, pulling off crazy maneuvers as you try to take down your target.  When you fly up next to one of those massive capital ships, you truly get an awe-inspiring sense of scale.  The ships have the perfect mix of realism and arcade-style gameplay.  The reticle and targeting system, while displaying immense amounts of information, are brilliantly laid out and aren't cluttered or confusing in the least.  Above all else, the storyline is among the best I've seen in any sci-fi, and the Shivans are by far the greatest villains ever.  What's even better is that you not only learn about the story through cutscenes and briefings, you get to physically live it through the missions.  The Freespace series still ranks as my favorite singleplayer action game.

[Fergus]

I love the defensive fire from the capital ships.  No other space sim can really quite convey the terror that you get when a NTC Aolous jumps in next to you, all those flaks, AAA's and blob guns.  It all adds up to a seething firestorm that requires real skill to avoid, not the pitiful turrets you see in X-wing where you simply need to keep on your toes.  Bombing is fantastic, preying that you can keep those Helios' locked while you burn in towards the Sathanas, flak everywhere.  Anyway, I just love the gameplay more than anything else, and yes, FRED is king.

[TopAce]

I can see you are not as laconic as I am.
Thanks for the replies, but I am still waiting for more!

[Jal-18]

I have to agree, the big ship's defensive fire really is what makes dogfighting in this game so damn fun.  Sure, taking on 8 Mara's all at once, while the last remaing 6 hercs of a NTF fleet are shooting at your tail is exciting, but when you have an orion, a demon, liliths, demoises, and a moloch all firing everything they've got at each other, (and you) THAT's when you get the crazy high that says "Okay, there's absolutely NO way I can get out of this one - NUTS!"

[redsniper]

1. It's easy to make mods and campaigns which has kept it alive this long.
2. SCP!!!!1

[Getter Robo G]

Here here!  I also agree that FS1&2's ability for mod friendliness is the best feature of all and it's greatest strength!

Close second is the SCP! (Long live SCP!)

[NGTM-1R]

Certainly FRED has kept it going, but FRED isn't actually a part of the game itself.

I think it's easily summed up: Beams.

[Singh]

The beamz of death!!!111!1!11

Seriously...the sheer fun that comes with being in a beam-filled dogfight with them firing everywhere, some even grazing you and the general thought and feeling of "HOLY FRICKING **** IM GONNA RUN INTO THAT BIG GREEN BEAM! AARRGH!!" is what did it in for me.


Oh, and Fred too!

[Jal-18]

Although it's so incredibly annoying to be flying along at the end of a mission only to get speared by a big friendly beam...although I guess that's one of the things that makes this such a fun game. (Damn gunners!)

[Hellbender]

Avoid the beams and you won't get hurt...

For me, it's not any one thing, it's the total experience. There is not any one aspect that stands out, just a nice completeness about the total package that keeps the game fun to play.

[TopAce]

Do none of you enjoy DOGFIGHTS?
I just love when I can humilate an Erinyes with a Loki.

[bluelotus]

I always loved dogfights around enemy capship. You must avoid the defensive fire, and at the same time you must kill your enemy before you get killed. And the best thing for me: When you miss the fighter you'll hit the capship. I don't know why but i love these thing

[TopAce]

You're the man of coincidences then.

And oh, are my eyes working properly? Another compatriot from the Heart of Europe?

[Andreas]

Dogfights, promotions, medals and FRED.  I am a simple man.

[bluelotus]

Originally posted by TopAce
You're the man of coincidences then.

And oh, are my eyes working properly? Another compatriot from the Heart of Europe?

Yup, Hungarian pow@  Éljenek a magyarok!

[Nuke]

as i just mentioned in the thread about the colossus, atmoshtere and story. the story is believable and imersive, and the atmoshpere of the game makes it all seem more real. the nebulas, lightning everywhere, the large scale battles, guns blazing. the beam cannons give you chills and you feel feer when flak starts blowing up around you. the battlefields always active and you know that you could die at any moment when your caught between two capships. the sound effects in this game are the best ive heard in any space sim (any game for that matter), music is good as well, even for a metalhead like me. it sounds like the musicians actually had to earn there money, when they could have just synthed the whole thing. the story and the gameplay are really well meshed together making the game even more imersive. really theres nothing you can compair freespace to.

[Axem]

FRED's a given. Allows you to be a storyteller and include just about whatever you want.

But I really love the weapons, flak is my favourite one. Its seeing the explosions everywhere that bring a sense of how fierce the fighting is. And seeing those beams go off are always a thrill to watch.

[NGTM-1R]

Originally posted by TopAce
Do none of you enjoy DOGFIGHTS?
I just love when I can humilate an Erinyes with a Loki.

If I wanted dogfights, I could play Wing Commander, or Starlancer, or...you get the idea. Dogfighting isn't unique.

[phatosealpha]

Capships that don't make you wonder 'why on earth would someone build a big expensive ship if a single fighter can blow it straight to hell?'.  Flak and beams add up to "No, you are not going to take out that Aelous by yourself".