Privateer 2: The Darkening

Wing Commander Privateer 2 was created in the wake of Wing Commander III as the cinematic video step up for the Privateer subseries. Erin Roberts developed the game with a more modest budget in the UK. The main character, Ser Lev Arris, was played by Clive Owen. He was supported by Christopher Walken, David Warner, Jürgen Prochnow, Mathilda May and John Hurt. The game took place about 120 years after Wing Commander IV in an isolated pocket of space known as the Tri-System. Planet Anhur was been home to humans for some two thousand years, and the locals independently developed faster-than-light drives from the Confederation. The futuristic setting lets players utilize advanced jump gates, short-range time travel devices and massive cargo haulers. In addition to the traditional build-up phase and story portions of the game, Privateer 2 peppers the experience with random cinematic mini plot missions. Certain upgrades are only available once these subplots have been completed, and entire character arcs are explored with recorded video cutscenes separate from the main story.

You regain consciousness, and the unfamiliar faces around you inform you that you've lost your ship in an accident. You're new to this cutthroat world of Tri-System privateers, and now your only order of business is survival. You've got just enough credits to afford a new ship, but it's going to need upgrades if you expect to live for long. The sector is full of people willing to do business, but who can be trusted? Legal or not, it's time to trade, travel and battle your way through a place where high risk means high yield and those with the brass reap the rewards.

Screenshots

Where to buy

The easiest way to enjoy the game on a modern computer and operating system, is to buy it as a digital download from Good Old Games.

Playing the game

Don't know how to land your ship? Stuck on a particularly difficult mission? The following items may be of help:

Included game documentation

"Crius Hospital Rehabilitation Guide" and "Guide to Space Travel"

In-universe manuals from the UK edition. more...

"Your Guide to the Universe"

In-universe manual from the US edition. more...

Reference Card

Lists all keyboard, mouse and joystick commands in the game. more...

Tri-System Map

A schematic map of the Tri-System universe. The European Privateer 2 didn't come with this map originally, but the EA Classics reissue did. more...

Fan creations

Patches, enhancements and tools

  • Enhancement patch: Fixes crashes and game speed, deinterlaces video, updates DOS version to Windows, and much more.
  • Savegame editor: Edit money balance, player ship, loadout and cargo, and much more.
  • Spacesuit mode: Play as a laser-welding spaceman, with a single laser and jetpack.

Creative work

Sleuthing

Noteworthy articles

In memoriam

Cast & crew interviews

Previews

Reviews

Behind the scenes

Detailed release information

Windows 95 PC Original

  • Published by Electronic Arts
  • Released 1996-12-06
  • The original release. A fan-made patch adds video de-interlacing and fixes numerous bugs.

Series Background

PC Games

Expansion Packs

Bundles & Re-releases

Console Exclusives

Mass Media

Novels

Game Guides: Official

Game Guides: Unofficial

Unrealized Novels

Multi-Game Guides

Unrealized Game Guides

Rumors & Errors