Space combat with extreme Volition
The finite appeal of space combat simulation is unfortunate, because Volition's Descent: Freespace and its sequel are absolutely stellar (excuse the pun). The alien invasion narrative has seeped into video games in many permutations to be sure, but it is never more effective here, where the player feels constantly on the back foot - outclassed, outnumbered, cast into the loneliness of deep space. The plot is conveyed with conviction by excellent voice acting and a mixture of devices - amazing (for 1998) CGI cutscenes, detailed mission briefings and in-flight chatter. Objectives change unexpectedly, hidden threats emerge at the tip of a hat, and one can't kick the feeling that in spite of the mayhem one is causing with laser and torpedo, one is still losing the war - must lose the war.
The story is complimented by a fantastic, extensible game engine. The sound design is magnificent - nailing engine sound is key in space combat simulation, and here it is second to none (except perhaps Freespace 2, its sequel). The ambient sounds and music are atmospheric, punctuated by the deep crack of explosions and the rhythmic pulse of gunfire. On the graphical side, there is much to enjoy; time has been kinder to the genre than FPS, for example. Lens flare is still cool, and the glare of a nearby star never gets old. The scale is quite impressive for its day, with hulking craft like the Lucifer dwarfing the various spacecraft the player pilots during the game. What's more, Freespace and Freespace 2, having gone open source, are subject to community updates and graphical revisions which increase the game's potential beauty.
Best of all, Freespace still plays well in spite of its age. There is a subtlety and smoothness to the interstellar physics engine, and the tedium of micro-management is greatly streamlined. The game is very difficult - but the mechanics of movement are never an obstacle.
In short, Descent: Freespace is a strong and serious approach to space combat which deserves to be played!