X: Beyond the Frontier
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| X: Beyond The Frontier | |
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| Developer(s) | Egosoft |
| Publisher(s) | THQ SouthPeak Interactive (EUR) |
| Engine | X Engine |
| Version | 1.96 |
| Platform(s) | Windows |
| Release date | July 1, 1999 |
| Genre(s) | Space trading and combat simulator |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: Teen (T) |
| Media | CD-ROM |
| Input methods | Keyboard, Mouse, Joystick |
X: Beyond the Frontier (1999) is a video game created by Egosoft for Windows. The first of the X series, it is a space trading and combat simulator game, mostly set in the fictional X Universe. Upon release, it was frequently compared to the older Elite. [1] [2]
An expansion, X-Tension, was released in 2000. Two full sequels have since followed: X²: The Threat in 2003 and X³: Reunion in 2005.
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[edit] Background
Set in the year 2912, the player takes the role of Kyle Brennan, an Earth test pilot for the X-Shuttle, better known as the X-Perimental Shuttle, which has the ability to jump from one part of space to another via a wormhole without the use of a jumpgate.
During the test jump, something goes wrong and Brennan ends up in an unknown part of space. He soon encounters an alien race, the Teladi, a highly capitalist, profit-focused culture. Finding Kyle helpless in their space, they repair his ship and loan him some money. They may also give hints on trading in the X Universe, the Argon, as well as information about the various other alien races in the X-Universe. The X Universe is a network of sectors linked by jumpgates. With his jumpdrive destroyed, and no idea how to get back to Earth, Brennan finds himself stranded within this gate network, alone, and indebted to an alien race.
The player is free to choose how to continue the game from here, and if/when to pursue the main plot.
[edit] Main Plot
Through trade and exploration, Brennan eventually meets the Argon, a race who appear human. However, it quickly becomes clear that mainstream Argon have no knowledge of Earth, and most dismiss Brennan as a crank when he claims to be from Earth. Brennan is subsequently led to a religious order known as the Goner (pronounced: go-na), an organisation dedicated to preserving information about Earth. He works with them to uncover the hidden history of the Argon - that they are descended from humans who were separated from Earth centuries ago in a war with rogue machines known as the Terraformers. After convincing the Argon that Earth is genuine, Brennan works with them - specifically, with Ban Danna, Head of the Argon Secret service - to prevent the Terraformers, now known as the Xenon, from developing a super-weapon.
Depending on his status with the various X-Universe races, Brennan finally forms an alliance, with which to attack the Xenon forces and destroy their super-weapon, thus completing the main plot.
[edit] Gameplay
There are fifty-four different star systems in the X Universe, and within each one there are a number of installations. There is at least one space station in each system, along with various factories, shipyards and Solar Power Plants. Trading with them can earn the player profit, as well as allowing the player to upgrade the X-Shuttle with things such as weapons, shields and cargo space.
It is possible to trade within a single system, cruising between the various installations, but greater profits can be found by exploring further systems by means of jump gates. Eventually the player can actually buy factories for even greater profit potential.[3]
Although each system has at least one planet, it is not possible to land on them, with the factories, space stations, etc, situated far from the planets and stars themselves.
X: BTF was praised for its open-ended gameplay and the large amount of systems to explore.[2] The economy in the X Universe is dynamic, with the price of goods varying with supply and demand. For example, selling a large amount of one particular product to a single place will result in the price they are willing to pay for further consignments dropping in proportion to their demand.[4] [1] The atmospheric musical score of the game was also praised,[citation needed] as was the varied dialogue it is possible to have with many different aliens. Conversely, several reviews complain that the voice acting, while atmospheric, is unclear and can make it difficult to follow the plot. [1] [5] X: BTF was also praised highly for its "spectacular background graphics"[1], such as "gorgeous colored lighting effects and the highly detailed rotating planets"[2].
However, X: BTF received some criticism for giving the player very little equipment to start off with. The X Craft has no weapons, for example. These can be purchased, but only after the player has acquired credits to buy them. In the meantime, the player is helpless if attacked. The ship is also slow, and flying between installations takes a long time. A time-accelerator device can reduce transit time, but this also needs to be found and purchased, resulting in X having a potentially frustrating "snail's pace [for] the first 10-20 minutes"[2]. However, "[a]fter as little as an hour of gameplay, with some shrewd trading... you should be able to outfit your X ship with a pair of lasers ... and the time-accelerating 'singularity time distortion engine.'" [2] The combat system was lightly criticised as "being more of a goal to be overcome than a challenge to be relished", especially given the "suicidal as hell"[1], "kamikaze"[2] nature of enemy pilots, that appear to constantly wish to ram the player. Another complaint was X: BTF's "skimpy manual",[2] which left the player to work out most things for themselves. However, others felt that "the documentation was extremely well done"[5] and that "the game actually uses your complete ignorance of what's going on around you to add a sense of adventure and mystery to the tale."[1]
[edit] X-Tension
X-Tension (2000) was released as an expansion to X:BTF however, many gamers and reviewers consider it more a "sequel" than an "add-on".[6][7] It follows on after the story in X: BTF with "the evil Xenon vanquished" and the player "still stranded light years from home."[6] The player once again takes control of Kyle Brennan, who now has "time to kill" as his X-perimental ship is reverse-engineered.[6] The player is given a ship, some credits, and left to make their own way in the X Universe.
[edit] Gameplay
There is no over-arching plot in X-Tension, it is an open-ended, sandbox game, filled with "microquests"[8]. The player is free to choose whether they "want to be a trader with an unarmed Argon Lifter... or a bounty-hunter ... armed to the teeth with plasma throwers."[7]; free to choose "where [they] want to go, what to trade in and who to pick on"[6]. Egosoft's Managing Director, Bernd Lehahn, described X-Tension as "[a] space game that allows you to live freely in a virtual universe and do whatever you want to do. At least that's our goal."[8]
[edit] X-Tended
For X-Tension the graphics were improved, adding new effects and scenery, and removing "visible seams which blighted many of these backdrops in the original game."[7]. The musical score was also extended, and the X Universe was expanded to a total of ninety systems.
In addition, X-Tension addressed many criticisms of the original game. The player's craft is pre-equipped with some upgrades, weapons and a time-accelerator,[9] so that players can defend themselves from the start. The player can now leave their ship and space walk in a space suit,[6] they can purchase new ships from shipyards, and it is even possible to capture enemy ships - all of which can now be flown by the player.[8][7]
The in-game interface was expanded to include new features, including an automatic navigation system that allows the player "to easily access information about any sectors" visited, and that includes "a full map of the galaxy showing everywhere you have been."[7] When combined with some upgrades and equipment, this system allows the player to monitor the X-Universe's economy, traffic and prices remotely, "an incredibly useful new feature which makes trading far less hit and miss than it was in the original game."[7] The interface also allows the player to control many of their assets - factories and ship tasks - remotely. The player no-longer needs to land at a factory to adjust it, nor even to be in same region of space.[8][7]
One criticism shared by both games was the combat system which, while improved in X-Tension, could still be summed up as "unremarkable."[7] Notably, Egosoft's Managing Director, Bernd Lehahn, mentioned appealing to "the 'Wing Commander audience'" as a high priority in the design of 2005 sequel X3: Reunion; he defined this as "people who... expect a story and cool fighting missions" but who may be won over to "the freeform gameplay and the advantages that a realistic economy adds to such a game."[10]
[edit] X-Gold
X: Beyond the Frontier and X-Tension were released in together as X Gold (2000).
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f IGN Review of X: Beyond the Frontier.
- ^ a b c d e f g GameSpot Review of X: Beyond the Frontier.
- ^ X-Tension Official Manual, p. 52.
- ^ X-Tension Official Manual, p. 48, 49.
- ^ a b Future Games Network review.
- ^ a b c d e PC Zone's reviews X-tension.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Eurogamer's Review of X-tension.
- ^ a b c d IGN interview with X-Tension's Lead Designer Bernd Lehahn.
- ^ X-Tension Official Manual, p. 21.
- ^ PC Zone interview with Egosoft's Managing Director, Bernd Lehahn.
