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BERLIN: Space games have been there since the beginning of video game history. Today, these five offer galactic explorers a broad mix of genres with lots of fast-paced action adventures, tricky trade simulations and dramatic survival battles on alien planets. In 'Everspace 2' there are spaceship duels but also search missions for equipment parts.
— Photo: Rockfish Games/dpa Everspace 2 After some five years in development, the Rockfish gaming studio released Everspace 2 for a fast-paced adventure in space. In it, the action cleverly plays with the gamer’s quest for spectacular spaceship battles and the hunt for new equipment, similar to those in hit role-playing games like Diablo . Track down a pirate, unearth an enemy base and infiltrate the enemy’s space base.
Apart from the pure spectacle of the action, Everspace 2 is on a captivating mission to a huge world just waiting to be explored. Gamers can play for at least 90 hours, Rockfish says. The comic-like story takes up about a third of the time.
Rockfish has come up with many exciting side-line missions and several opportunities for buying and upgrading new spaceships to keep gamers busy. The development of Everspace 2 illustrates the advantages of a so-called Early Access test phase. A slimmed-down version of the game was available on the online distribution platform, Steam, for about two years.
It was constantly expanded and improved until the current, almost perfectly mature space adventure was released. The studio is planning more content updates. Worth playing because: Spectacular effects, fast-paced space battles and a multifaceted mission design make Everspace 2 one of the best space games of the past year.
( Everspace 2 , Rockfish Games for Windows. Console versions to follow. USK not reviewed.
) 'X4 Foundations' is the most comprehensive part of the 'X' series to date and a challenging space simulation to play. — Photo: Egosoft/dpa X4-Foundations After brief teething problems, the space simulation X4 - Foundations has morphed into the most extensive and best part of the X series, which has been jetting through the video game world for around 20 years. Developed by the Egosoft studio, this game is a sophisticated mix of space action and economic simulation with plenty of attention to detail that really rivals others in terms of scope and complexity.
The X series is akin to a jack of all trades in this genre. Space battles are balanced with a clever economic simulation in which players can rise from small pirate hunters to magnates. Gamers use their own space bases and trade fleets.
Fans of sophisticated space simulations can really immerse themselves in this huge game world. The problem is that X4 - Foundations is really time-consuming. The controls and gameplay are complex.
But once you get the hang of it, players can expect one of the greatest space adventures in the world of computer games. Regular updates such as the recently released Kingdom's End constantly add new content. Worth playing because: Legendary and mature.
Fans of sophisticated space simulations can discover an almost unrivalled space opera. ( X4 - Foundations , Egosoft for Windows, Linux. USK from 12 years.
) X-Wing aerial space combat awaits you in 'Star Wars Squadrons' – a dream come true for fans of the film series. — Photo: Lucasfilm Electronic Arts/dpa Star Wars Squadrons Who doesn't recall all those legendary Star Wars moments when Luke Skywalker and his comrades took on Death Star and enemy star cruisers in X-Wings? Now, gamers can get behind the controls themselves in Star Wars Squadrons (Motive Studios) and wage hair-raising battles in space, alone or with other pilots. Players can even switch to the dark side of the force.
After hit games like X-Wing , Star Wars fans have waited around 30 years to play a new game from the comfort of their personal cockpit at home. The action-packed Star Wars Squadrons is all about putting the enemy in the crosshairs, outwitting them with daring manoeuvres or pursuing them across a space base at breakneck speed. Motive Studios sends the pulse of every "Star Wars" fan racing.
The story is secondary, but that barely matters. The feeling of flying and the unique "Star Wars" scenario are decisive. Worth playing because: The dreams of every "Star Wars" fan come true behind the control stick of a legendary X-Wing or a Tie-Fighter.
Exciting and spectacular. ( Star Wars Squadrons , Motive Studios, Electronic Arts for Windows, PS4, Xbox One. USK from 12 years.
) In 'No Man's Sky' you can also explore the extraterrestrial flora and fauna – the aim of the game is to reach the centre of the galaxy and overcome all kinds of dangers along the way. — Photo: Hello Games/dpa No Man's Sky Launched and lauded before its release in 2016, No Man's Sky set out to please every gamer with promises of adventures in space, trading simulations, action-adventure and survival drama. The disillusionment was tremendous when the promises turned out to be nothing but hot air.
Meanwhile, the game has become one of the most exciting space adventures ever thanks to many additions. The game was even the top seller on Steam for awhile last year. No Man's Sky sees players become daring space pilots or colonisers of distant planets.
They can loot other spaceships and gather raw materials or concentrate on exploring the alien fauna and flora with rocket packs and aboard land vehicles. Raw materials for building a small base as shelter from the climate are all over the place. But gamers beware: reckless adventurers must watch out for the dangers of these alien worlds.
There are no classic quests, but a main goal of reaching the centre of the galaxy. How you get there depends on you, and the journey can take around 40 hours. Those who want to discover more of this universe should expect the journey from planet to planet to take twice as long.
The randomly generated game world consists of 255 galaxies and numerous planet types. Sometimes, the pilots even meet aliens with whom they can trade. To put it briefly, more adventure in space is hard to find.
Worth playing because: At long last, this ambitious space adventure is where it always wanted to be. A grand spectacle that will keep players on the edge of their seats for quite some time. ( No Man's Sky , Hello Games, Sony for Windows, PS4/5, Xbox One/Series, Nintendo Switch.
USK from 6 years.) 'Elite Dangerous' is an open-world game with missions that are reminiscent of those in first-person shooters. — Photo: Frontier/dpa Elite Dangerous Elite Dangerous (Frontier Developments) is among the most legendary video game series and is now celebrating its comeback.
In the 1980s, the original Elite was one of the biggest time consumers on the computer game scene. Players could travel through space, trade or attack enemy spaceships. Elite Dangerous picks up exactly where the original left off and stages a mix of action and trade simulation making for a spectacular space opera with all the right graphics and a vast game world.
Elite Dangerous is an open-world game in which you can explore a huge universe of 400 billion star systems alone or as competing factions. The gameplay has remained the same as the original and centres on trading, fighting, buying and equipping ships. One of the latest content updates now allows players to land on planets and complete missions like in a first-person shooter.
Despite the sci-fi scenario, Elite Dangerous relies on a realistic space flight mechanic that takes some getting used to. Once you have overcome this hurdle, an extensive space adventure opens up. Supplies are available.
Players can explore planets and thanks to up-to-date content, constantly watch out for new ships, weapons and equipment. Unfortunately, that applies only to PC players as the console version is no longer being developed. Worth playing because: Old, but good.
Elite Dangerous shows that it can easily win any battle in the galaxy thanks to a huge game world and invincible gameplay. – dpa ( Elite Dangerous , Frontier Developments for Windows. USK from 12 years.
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