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Freelancer

EMAIL PRINT pc

8.5 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 39 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 27 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Microsoft

Developer: Digital Anvil

Genre(s): Action, Space Simulation

Players: 16

ESRB Rating: T (Teen)

Release Date: March 4, 2003

Summary

A society taking its first timid steps into 48 sprawling galactic systems cannot hope to dam every human spring of greed and bloodlust. Make your own way, Freelancer. Ply the trade lanes for profit or raid them for plunder; slake your own thirst for vengeance on the world or take up arms to enforce the law. Take your wealth as a hired gun if you choose. No single truth rules the limitless possibility of space. [Microsoft]

Also On Metacritic

GAMES: StarLancer

Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central GameSpot Guide IGN Insider Guide

Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

Cincinnati Enquirer

The word epic describes Freelancer, Microsoft Game Studios' latest title, thanks to its strong narrative and virtually limitless game play opportunities.

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Gamezilla!

With a smooth control system, well designed game structure, and first-rate graphics, obvious time and effort was put into this game that will keep you occupied for some time.

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Game Over Online

Freelancer’s approach and style is one of the best examples, par excellence, of the formula Chris Roberts left behind: flashy visuals, first-rate Hollywood talent fleshing out the story, and a compelling world seemingly created from scratch.

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Game Informer

Freelancer will serve to delight and enrapture. The online portion alone is worth the purchase, but I'd be shocked if you didn't spend at least 50 to 60 hours on the single-player campaign. [May 2003, p.92]

Game Chronicles

Freelancer isn’t just a game – it’s a way of life.

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IGN

The sum of its parts come together to craft a whole that's so wonderfully and lovingly polished that fans of games in general owe it to themselves to pick up a copy.

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netjak

One of those rare games that is complete in every aspect. The content and the technique is nearly perfect, and it molds flawlessly into a genuinely entertaining experience.

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GameNow

A cool, easy-to-play space sim that lets you do whatever you want. [May 2003, p.44]

Games Radar UK (Pre-2006)

Mindbogglingly huge and engaging, this is one of the great space games of all time... A classic. [PC Gamer UK]

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GamePro

The ambient music and low hum of your engine perfectly invoke the feeling of being out on your own in space, while radio chatter around the various planets and bases only enhance the realism.

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Computer Gaming World

What makes Freelancer a compelling game is the sense of a living universe, vast areas begging for exploration, and the ability to hook up with friends online and start being either total bastards or glorious do-gooders together. [May 2003, p.86]

Cheat Code Central

What's great about Freelancer is that it's relatively easy to learn how to play and relatively easy to play, yet still provides enough of a challenge to give hardcores a real workout.

PC Format

It might not be universally perfect, but it’s certainly the king of infinite space.

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PC Gameworld

It is not the revolution in the space combat genre that many were hoping for, but it certainly is the next evolution.

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Electric Playground

The gameplay is truly a remarkable achievement... Aesthetically pleasing, lots to do, lots of options, lots of ships and weapons to buy, and a great story. Sounds good to me.

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Computer Games Magazine

An accessible, action-packed outer space role-playing game with plenty of personality and a marvelous online component. [May 2003, p.74]

Armchair Empire

The game is fun, action-packed and polished to a fine sheen. Additionally, the cool multi-player element and the sheer number of missions give the game plenty of replay value.

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Gamers' Temple

You're left wishing that the planets were a bit more interesting after you touch down on them, though. The RPG elements are not fleshed out too well, though, so don't expect "Morrowind" in space.

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AtomicGamer

The mixture of both story-based and open-ended gameplay comes off with a decent effect, and while the interface could have used work in some areas, it is great in others. Throw all this in together with a fun multiplayer mode, and we have a very good - but not exactly classic - game.

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Computer Games Online RO

If we consider they worked for this game for about 4 years, a massively multiplayer add-on being cancelled 2 years ago, its presence on just one CD doesn't really justify the absence of a true nonlinear gameplay, the imbalance between the economical and military aspects, the lack of some options which are considered now a standard of the genre, the low difficulty of the game due to the poor quality of the AI and the short period of time after which both modes don't offer any more challenges.

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Game Revolution

You'll be impressed by the graphics. They don't seem as jaw-dropping as they did three years ago, but they have held up nicely and allow for an astonishing number of different ships and other space objects onscreen at the same time, which makes for some very hectic battles.

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GameSpy

The combat is electric and there's so much to explore and discover that it'll take quite a while before most players discover that the universe isn't as deep as it could have been.

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Entertainment Weekly

Too simple for veteran space jocks, Freelancer will give rookies a slick ride into the great vacuum. [7 Mar 2003, p.79]

GameZone

The musical score and effects are well done, but problems were encountered in clipped narrative. The options menu did not contain any way to turn on or off the effects.

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GameSpot

While it's not the revolutionary title it initially promised to be, it delivers the exact combination of addictive and accessible gameplay that the genre has needed for a long time.

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FiringSquad

It looks great and it’s thoroughly immersive, as long as you stay in your ship.

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ActionTrip

What was expected as a monumental paradigm shift in the genre of space flight games ended up as a fairly routine (albeit fun) arcade-style flyer that uses the mouse instead of the joystick, and with a pretty fun multiplayer mode.

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PC Gamer

Suffers from a severe lack of character development in almost every nook and cranny of its design. But it offers an interesting main story, bottomless value for the dollar in terms of sheer open-ended exploration, and a very cool co-op mode. [May 2003, p.96]

Eurogamer

The game does suffer from a lack of innovation as it progresses, but the basics of the gameplay are solid and the sheer polish of the title - not to mention the interesting plotline - are enough to keep you going for many, many hours.

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Adrenaline Vault

It’s certainly worth playing through twice — a concept that seems to have been forgotten these days, even as the quest for the gaming equivalent of the everlasting-gobstopper has been joined.

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Pregaming

Despite being unending in theory, you’re not going to be pumping nights upon nights into it.

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TotalGames.net

The sheer scale of the game is breathtaking, and there is an undeniable feeling of freedom in roaming the stars at your pleasure between missions.

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GMR Magazine

Hardcore fanatics may grouse about its simplistic flight model, mouse control, and repetitive missions, but for everyone else, it'll provide endless hours of exploration, random violence, and, most important, fun. [May 2003, p.69]

All Game Guide

Above all else, Freelancer is a fun, enjoyable experience that both veteran and novice players can quickly get into -- even those who have never mastered the art of dogfighting in space with a joystick.

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Yahoo! Games

Hardcore space simmers are likely to be disappointed with its lack of depth and unusual controls, but where they see shallowness and unrealism, others will see easy learning curves and familiarity.

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PC Arena

Though I loved the graphics, the vastness of space, the controls /interface and most of all, the diversity in the different systems, I didn’t care for the non-dynamic nature of the missions and lack of scripting for the characters that you run into.

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G4 TV

The universe is large, but there's not much to do in it. There are infinite numbers of missions to complete, but once you've played a handful, you've played them all.

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GameCritics

The control scheme deserves high praise, as does the evocative portrait of outer space. What doesn't deserve praise is its cloying use of randomly generated content, lack of creative mission design, and generally awkward narrative ambiance.

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Edge Magazine

Remarkably compelling. But there's only so much joy to be found in repetition, particularly when dogfighting interludes are so mannered. Ultimately, it's difficult to recall what all the fuss was ever about. [May 2003, p.100]

What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 8.5 (out of 10) based on 27 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Thomas P. gave it a9:
Here we are, five years later, and I still remember this game well, partially due to the fact that this game has been one of my favorites this whole time if not my favorite. The depth of the story and quality of the game was unrivaled for years and still is. Ladies and gentlemen, you can't find another game like this, and you probably won't, ever. That being said, when you beat the game you get the excitement of exploring the galaxy and uncovering the mysteries of the outer factions, but sadly, after the hours and hours of entertaining play are over and you've done all that is able to be done, the game does get repetitive, praise the Lord there is a big modding community out there so the fun never stops! Microsoft really needed to make a sequel to one of the greatest games of all time. Did I mention the amazing voice talent? Watch the credits and be amazed.

Eonfge C. gave it an8:
Really, really sweat game. throughout the entire game there is action and a lot to do. only downside is, that when you finished the campaign, it quickly becomes repetitive.

Desert Fox gave it a10:
My favorite PC game of all time. Incredible single player story and atmosphere, and an unbelievably deep multiplayer experience.

Stephen M. gave it a10:
Amazing game, great control interface, amazing systems, great diversity. True doing missions gets old but thats once you get an elite ship you dont need to do missions then you can just explore the incredible game.

AView AM gave it a10:
I have this thing about random mission generators. I'm addicted to them. Like Daggerfall. I still play Daggerfall and it's what? 10 years old? Needless to say, Freelancer is on my permaplay list, along with Dfall, EU2, Civ3, and the entire BF series

Joey K. gave it a10:
Fantastic game. One of my all time favorites, because I can always come back to it. It has an engagin storyline for a great single player, and then there's the same universe, without the story, online for anyone to play, and it is fantastic to join up with freinds to play. Compat is fun, there is nice progression and variety of ships and weapons. The missions you can pick up for cash can be repetitive, but they're still fun, and they're not the only way to pick fights or make money. The galaxy is huge, and there is a lot of space to explore. It's really fascinating and great how you can go anywhere and know that you'll find something unique. There could be more detail, but to ask anything beyond the massive amount of space and locations provided is ridiculous. There is so much to do. And just flying around planets really gives you the feeling of existing in a world where interstellar travel is routine, and the dull repetitive communicatons you here turn out to be more realistic than repetitive. This is really a fantastic, expansive, immersive game. Pick it up.

Alex gave it a9:
The best game available for PC. it may be a couple years old, but it still kicks ass harder than a monkey on crack.

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Freelancer

Game Info

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