Space Sim First Look: Galaxy on Fire 2 (March 16, 2011)

ChrisReid

Super Soaker Collector / Administrator
George Doss reminded us that we haven't yet mentioned Galaxy on Fire 2 for iOS. It's a recent follow-up to the extremely popular original and is the current go-to space sim for mobile devices. Comparisons to Elite and Privateer abound. The game is full of ship customization options, a rich commodity trading economy and a huge universe to explore. Textures snap up in high resolution on the iPhone 4 or iPad, and a single $9.99 purchase enables the game for both. A "lite" version is also available to try for free. Galaxy on Fire is available in the App Store.






GAMEPLAY

Featuring a living galaxy with over 20 inhabited solar systems and 100 space stations, Galaxy on Fire 2 allows you to travel using hyperspace and wormholes to visit the far reaches of this fully 3D, war-torn galaxy.

Follow the rich and engrossing storyline for over 10-hours of action-packed gameplay, or head off at any time on an interplanetary journey of your own design; mining asteroids, trading ore and supplies, taking on mercenary missions, working as a pirate and manufacturing new weapons and equipment.

Buy and customize more than 30 different types of space ship to aid you in a variety of heart-pounding missions, including escorting convoys under pirate attack, capturing intergalactic criminals, rescuing alien VIPs, transporting valuable goods between systems, commanding mercenaries on dangerous tactical assignment, and recovering alien technology from distant parts of the galaxy.


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Original update published on March 16, 2011
 
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pc version?

for those of us who don't have the ($400 or so) iPhone, is there a version that pc's can play? (would be great on my notebook).

Sounds like my kind of game. Would love to see images of all the ships (both playable and non-playable).

So many of the iPhone sci-fi games are so great sounding, and while there are more than enough PC games like this, many of them are over-inflated DVD-requiring, high-end-PC-needing, $50+ dollar annoyances.

Last DVD game I picked up (on sale for some $15 cause it had been out for a year or so) was too hard to play, jerky on my system (even when all the options/extras were set to minimal/off), and had a game-breaking bug after the 6th mission that crashed the game (which had no patches to get past that crashing-cut-scene).
 
Thanks!

Thanks for puttin' up my news guys! I agree the game is definitely worth the money. Sucks though that it's only for the iphone. The original had a java version too but not this new one as far as I can tell.
 
If you want new, the cheapest device that will play it is an iPod Touch - $200 or so, rather than $150+contract fees or $600 no contract.

Or one can search Craigslist for cheaper older iPod Touches and iPhones that can run it...
 
I picked up the first one of these when it was free one day a while back... it's really really cool but I just can't bring myself to spend any time with it. Would that it were in my universe...
 
Same here! It's been sitting untouched on my games page for a long time, and it really does look neat.
 
My only qualm about the first one is the lack of depth. The storyline is very front-ended and linear. You can't do anything else (except trade with certain places) until the storyline has concluded. Once you do then there isn't anything to work toward except exploring 100% of the universe and getting the best ship and weapons.

There is a big expansion of locations to explore, but there isn't anything really unique about any of the places, just repeats of templates (Terran, Vossk, outlaw (which looks Terran), or a neutral species (that is looks either Terran or Vossk)).

Even so, while the game is repetitive, the gameplay is fun and it is overall good for a diversion while waiting somewhere (perfect for the iPhone).

Still, it does incorporate some aspects rarely seen in games today. Trading goods with variable pricing depending the technological level of a planet or space station. Faction reputation system that allows you to work for both sides, but working for one side more over the other results in the consequence that you have to bribe your way into planets or stations owned by the other side. Also more involved space sims on mobile devices. The ability to upgrade and customize your ship.

That this was all in the first game bodes for this sequel, which no doubt advances and expands many of these features and hopefully with a longer story arc. I'll definitely be looking to get the sequel soon.
 
Galaxy on Fire 2 Story

From playing the demo, and looking at the files (the demo contains the complete script), Galaxy on Fire 2 has the same story problems the first game did. At least this one lets you start doing side missions part way through the story.

It seems a shame - the story is functional, and the roaming is functional, but it seems like completely different teams wrote each half.

After playing Freelancer, DarkStar One, and Galaxy on Fire 1 and 2, I don't see how roaming gameplay can ever be compatible with a single dramatic storyline. This is doubly so if you have any sort of factional reputation. Please, game designers - convince me to do your story missions because the characters are engaging. Don't force me through your story because you locked off most of the galaxy and upgrades until I jump through your hoops.
 
After playing Freelancer, DarkStar One, and Galaxy on Fire 1 and 2, I don't see how roaming gameplay can ever be compatible with a single dramatic storyline. This is doubly so if you have any sort of factional reputation. Please, game designers - convince me to do your story missions because the characters are engaging. Don't force me through your story because you locked off most of the galaxy and upgrades until I jump through your hoops.

Have you played Privateer 1 & 2? The other games seem to have just taken the easy route. It takes more effort to incrementally make your more outlying sectors more dangerous, but it doesn't even seem that hard. It's amazing how "linear" the free-form part of a game like Freelancer is compared to how open and challenging Privateer is, without being crudely stacked against you.
 
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