[Mr CharlieCharlie]

Understood mate...just finding my feet

[Sombre]

I have lurked in the FS community since FS2 launched pretty much. I was lured to actually start posting having reinstalled FSO for the third time (each time I install it, play lots of FS then my PC tends to break) just so I could play Derelict one more time.

I like flying the Loki because it makes no sense.

I hope to live long enough to one day see Blackwater Ops released. Mad I know, but with advances in medical science,....

[Rodo]

Welcome Sombre!

I like flying the Loki because it makes no sense.

Loki is definitely the way to go, good for ya!

[Legate Damar]

Greetings Terrans, I am Legate Damar of the Cardassian Union. I have arrived to discuss simulated space warfare with you.

[jr2]

Can't trust them bloody Cardies.  [/O'Brien]

[Jeff Vader]

There are FOUR lights.

[UU BDHR]

Aye,

I'm UU
former Ursa pilot,  squadcook and guineapig dominator, a Drunk.
Years ago I was flying with CC, Fub, X, Morb, Bava and many others brothers trying to spank the Ducks, FF, Tepa, Techi....

Well, after settling down on earth for many years I'm back for my old love.
So I reinstalled my kitchen and guess what...
 FSII open looks beautiful!

Thank you for my wonderful brandnew oven!

[X3N0-Life-Form]

[MM_HanYeSeul]

I guess I'll post hehe...
So I guess I started playing Freespace2 online around 2001, probably when SquadWar was at its peak and also at a time where I needed to do much growing up

Squad wise I was primarily involved with BMS and DSA, and I had a lil stint with SSC as well. Back then I was primarily known as Tycho Celchu ^^

I played Starcraft Brood War heavily after FS2 but no game for me comes close fun wise as FS2...

[okorva]

I am confused.

I recently founded X-Wing: Alliance again and after the destruction of Death Star I wanted more. I remembered I had bought both Freespace games in White Label pack. I have finished both games once, about ten years ago so I don't recall much of them. But let's give them a new try.

So. Where to go first? Should I play the Great War first or should I play it after Freespace 2 if I feel like playing more? All I am intrested at the moment is the single player and the original storyline.

I learned from XWA that there is bunch of updates for graphics made by fans and after few minutes of browsing the net I found this site. But I am not sure what to do, this place is a mess. Could someone show me the direction where to go for updated graphics? For games made in late 90s, I think update is needed.

[General Battuta]

I am confused.

I recently founded X-Wing: Alliance again and after the destruction of Death Star I wanted more. I remembered I had bought both Freespace games in White Label pack. I have finished both games once, about ten years ago so I don't recall much of them. But let's give them a new try.

So. Where to go first? Should I play the Great War first or should I play it after Freespace 2 if I feel like playing more? All I am intrested at the moment is the single player and the original storyline.

I learned from XWA that there is bunch of updates for graphics made by fans and after few minutes of browsing the net I found this site. But I am not sure what to do, this place is a mess. Could someone show me the direction where to go for updated graphics? For games made in late 90s, I think update is needed.

Right here in this very forum is what you want: http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php?topic=78710.0

I'd suggest starting with FreeSpace 2, then playing FreeSpace 1. FreeSpace 2's final cutscene seems not to play correctly for some people, so when you finish the game feel free to look it up on YouTube (but don't do it yet, it's a huge spoiler!)

If you follow those instructions, you will have the 3.6.12 MediaVPs available; select them as a mod in the launcher and run the game to use the update graphics.

[KyadCK]

I am confused.

I recently founded X-Wing: Alliance again and after the destruction of Death Star I wanted more. I remembered I had bought both Freespace games in White Label pack. I have finished both games once, about ten years ago so I don't recall much of them. But let's give them a new try.

So. Where to go first? Should I play the Great War first or should I play it after Freespace 2 if I feel like playing more? All I am intrested at the moment is the single player and the original storyline.

I learned from XWA that there is bunch of updates for graphics made by fans and after few minutes of browsing the net I found this site. But I am not sure what to do, this place is a mess. Could someone show me the direction where to go for updated graphics? For games made in late 90s, I think update is needed.

Right here in this very forum is what you want: http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php?topic=78710.0

I'd suggest starting with FreeSpace 2, then playing FreeSpace 1. FreeSpace 2's final cutscene seems not to play correctly for some people, so when you finish the game feel free to look it up on YouTube (but don't do it yet, it's a huge spoiler!)

If you follow those instructions, you will have the 3.6.12 MediaVPs available; select them as a mod in the launcher and run the game to use the update graphics.

But playing FS1 gives the entire backstory to FS2... 

Otherwise you're jumping in knowing almost nothing about the bad guys or even half the references.

[General Battuta]

I played FreeSpace 2 first and didn't have any trouble. It does a fine job of presenting everything you need to know, and I think it's a more impressive game for new players.

[KyadCK]

I played FreeSpace 2 first and didn't have any trouble. It does a fine job of presenting everything you need to know, and I think it's a more impressive game for new players.

It's just not the same. If you played FS2 first and had no problems, then cool, but it makes a difference.  Especialy in how the Shivans effect you personaly when you play the sequal. 

[General Battuta]

I think that's a valid perspective, especially if you played FreeSpace 1 back when it released and moved on to FreeSpace 2, but FS1 doesn't contain much of what I think is interesting about the series, either in terms of gameplay or story.

I spend a lot of time tracking the reactions of new FS or FSO players over on SomethingAwful, and the trend in their reactions is that FreeSpace 1 has a lot more dead time and aimless missions. Coupled with its generally smaller scale I worry about losing players before they get to what I see as the good stuff.

[bigchunk1]

I'm sorry if I derail the thread, but really, playing freespace1 first is the way to go. You will have a much greater appreciation for the difference in scale between the great war and freespace2. You will also have a greater appreciation for the differences in technology, which is something they play up frequently in freespace2 as you transfer from squad to squad.

Ignoring freespace1 won't break the freespace2 experience for you, and if you only want to play ONE campaign you probably want to just play freespace2 and move on... but really if you want my recommendation freespace1's not a bad campaign at all and it does a good job sinking you into the freespace universe. Give yourself a good chunk of freetime to get started and play in the dark.

@battuta: I am a bias perspective since I played freespace1 when It shipped 10+ years ago, but I don't think that means everyone coming into FSO will overlook its charm.

[General Battuta]

All I can say is that if someone told me this was one of the greatest games of all time I'd laugh in their face the moment I got to the first briefing in FS1. But my preferences are not everyone's preferences!

[X3N0-Life-Form]

I have to agree with Battuta: playing FS isn't necessary to understand FS2, and FS2 is so much more fun than FS1. Quite frankly, I'm not even sure I would have finished Freespace, pretty graphics or not, if I had not played FS2 first.

[Snail]

I still like FS1 more than FS2 on a personal level (nostalgia, atmosphere) but I do think FS2 would be much more of a draw for newer players.

[Androgeos Exeunt]

Well, the FS2 trailer hit all the good notes, and it left an extremely good first impression of the game (for me). That's why I ended up here.

FS1, on the other hand, had its own charm. The music, I felt, was somewhat better, and the portrayal of the Shivans was better too, in my opinion (Pandora's Box, I'm looking at you).

...

Of course, playing FSPort isn't exactly the same as playing FS1, but it's close.