[Darkenmal]

From GOG.

I also have a few questions, and if anyone could answer them that would be great!

1. So what can I expect from this game?

2. Is there any multiplayer up for this game? Can I play online?

3. Is there any way to spice the graphics up? Like in Duke Nukem 3D?

Thanks to whoever answers my questions.

[Scourge of Ages]

1. Expect awesomeness. It's a space flight/combat simulator. See: http://www.hard-light.net/wiki/index.php/Getting_started for answers to everything!
2. Yes there is, but you'll have to find somebody to play against.
3. Yes! I'm glad you asked! Do everything here: http://www.fsoinstaller.com/
EDIT: More specifically, here: http://www.fsoinstaller.com/downloads.html

[Droid803]

Do check this board if you're interested in multiplayer.
Or talk to people on IRC to arrange games.

[General Battuta]

The MediaVPs will bring the graphics up to near-modern standards.

[Qent]

Additionally, expect a rich repository of fan-made campaigns. Blue Planet is one of the best there is, both in the quality of the storyline and of gameplay, and it's now fully voice-acted. I recommend playing the main FS2 campaign first, though.

[Blue Lion]

People spent sleepless nights and long weekends working on making this game better. When you put it that way, they sound like fools, but it's still good stuff regardless! 

[Mongoose]

You're in for a nice treat.  Many people have put untold hours into modding and improving FS2, which should tell you how highly most of us regard the game.

[Gortef]

Let me also congratulate you on choosing to get this excellent game we all love so much.

[-Norbert-]

If you want to know how much the graphics improved thanks the the SCP and FSU teams take a look here: http://www.hard-light.net/wiki/index.php/GTF_Ulysses
The top picture is from the original, unmodified FreeSpace 2.
If you scroll down to the bottom you'll see the Ulysses in all it's SCP/FSU glory!
Bumpmapping, translucent cockpits with pilot inside, blinking lights on the wings, enviromental mapping (background mirroring from shiny surfaces), animated textures.... you name it the game got it now.
Not to mention a lot of bugfixes and added features (especially for the mission editor FRED).
The only thing I know of that the game doesn't have (yet) is ships casting shadows and ships mirroring on surfaces along with the background.

And as others mentioned before lots of good mods. Some of my favourits (in no particular order) are Blue Planet, Uncharted Terretory, Derelict, Silent Threat: Reborn and the Terran-Vasudan war demo.
Also there is the FS Port which brings the FreeSpace 1 campaign into FreeSpace 2. You might even want to play that before the actual FS2 campaign (followed by Silent Threat:R) to get the full story in the right order without having to read up on it in the Techroom.
There would also be the Drums of War trilogy and Raiderwars, but those are for The Babylon Project, not FreeSpace 2 SCP.

You might also take a look here http://www.hard-light.net/wiki/index.php/Sample_Lighting_Settings to get the game to look even better. Just pick the one you like most and then copy/paste the settings in the orange lines into the "Custom flags" line under the "Features" tab in the Launcher.

[Darkenmal]

Thanks guys.

[Galemp]

I recommend playing the main FS2 campaign first, though.

And I recommend playing FreeSpace Port first, followed by Silent Threat: Reborn.

[Topgun]

I recommend playing the main FS2 campaign first, though.

And I recommend playing FreeSpace Port first, followed by Silent Threat: Reborn.

this. play the games the way they are meant to be played, in the right order.

[Klaustrophobia]

i recommend playing through everything on retail first. 

[Blue Lion]

Two or three times

[Galemp]

For two or three years... THEN get FSO. That way you can truly appreciate it.

/or not

[Brian Rubin]

From GOG.

I also have a few questions, and if anyone could answer them that would be great!

1. So what can I expect from this game?

2. Is there any multiplayer up for this game? Can I play online?

3. Is there any way to spice the graphics up? Like in Duke Nukem 3D?

Thanks to whoever answers my questions.

Welcome to one of the best PC gaming experiences ever. Now, to answer your questions:

1. The pinnacle of space combat simulations on the PC surrounded by a gripping and well-written story that's one of the best of its kind.
2. Yes, but as others have set, you need to find people to play against. The office servers have been gone for ages.
3. Yes, use the previously linked FSO installer. For a nearly 11 year old game, it still looks amazing thanks to the talented people in this community and their hard work.

[Qent]

Well I recommend playing Silent Threat before Silent Threat: Reborn. It's grueling, but it really pays off in appreciating ST:R. No I'm not kidding.

[Kolgena]

Only because you realize how ****ty the first one was. That's like saying you should chew on some four month old moldy bread before eating freshly baked garlic toast, because it will make the latter "better".

[Qent]

It is not like that. ST:R contained references to the original that you wouldn't get if you'd never played it. If you just want to compare a bad campaign to a good one, you could play SGWP2 and BP:AoA:DC back-to-back.

[Klaustrophobia]

Only because you realize how ****ty the first one was. That's like saying you should chew on some four month old moldy bread before eating freshly baked garlic toast, because it will make the latter "better".

i realized how ****ty it was after playing it the first time, long before FSO even existed.  i played it again, trying to see if i just missed some stuff or didn't understand something right, but no.  it was just ****ty.