With all the craze lately about the Wii, the Playstation 3, and other gaming systems that rhyme, I thought it would be a service to the gaming community to remind you that PC gaming has been providing consistent quality games since before developers had even mastered developing games for the Playstation 1. There are a lot of smaller firms in the PC gaming industry, and they deserve some attention - one sleeper hit this season is "Space Rangers 2," a hybrid space strategy/RPG by Elemental Games that has something for everyone.
"Space Rangers 2: Rise of the Dominators" is one of the best in a long line of non-linear space exploration games where you can develop your character any way you want and play on either side of the law. The main plot has to do with a mysterious invasion of cyborgs, the Dominators, whose arrival follows on the heels of a decisive battle chronicled in the original Space Rangers. Controlled by three sentient command centers, the Dominators' origins and purpose are unknown. The Space Rangers, an elite force of independent space pilots founded to defend space, are drafted to help in the battle.
However, there's so much to do that the main plot, which is advanced by defeating Dominators throughout the galaxy, defending systems from their encroachment and helping to uncover the secrets of their technology, is almost entirely optional. The game starts slowly, but with promise, as you select your pilot's race, skills and the layout of your first ship. Money is tight and you must travel from planet to planet taking basic jobs, which often involves ferrying cargo around. Not very glorious, right?
But after a little while, you start to realize some things. First of all, the game is fully cohesive - other pilots travel throughout space with their own agendas, remember past interactions and grow in strength as time goes on. Planetary economies shift, and governments change. The Dominators continue their attack, with the military situation changing from week to week. Speaking of which, woe be it to you if you stumble into a system controlled by the Dominators early on - but joining an attack against them when there's already a huge fleet fighting them can give you a huge advantage, since just surviving a battle against them leads to glory and respect throughout the universe!
Second, your range of options makes for hours and hours of gameplay. Though you won't get away with upgrading your ship and making a name for yourself without a little trading at the beginning, you can soon become a military pilot, pirate, diplomat, technician or even a mogul, investing in business opportunities or exploring uncharted planets for fame and money. Your progress is tracked by a ranger ranking that compares you to all the computer-controlled rangers, and as you win battles and take up missions, you win awards that boost your ship's capacity and your reputation.
Graphically, "Space Rangers 2" is more impressive than many of the other games of its kind. Though detail takes a back seat to game play, the planets look good, and the star fields effects between landings at least provide something shiny to look at. The alien characters are fun to look at, though you'll find that every government agent for each race looks the same. The soundtrack, which favors techno and rock, sometimes seems a little bit odd in the darkness of space, but I've found myself tapping my toes and somewhat distracted from the fact that sometimes, when you're moving from place to place, all you can do is wait.
Even though you can accomplish a lot in "SR2," the RPG elements could've been more pronounced. Occasionally - such as if you are captured by the authorities for piracy - the game shifts to a textual, RPG interface that plays like a Choose Your Own Adventure. The idea is good, but the execution is a little weak. Also, there could have been more variety in the space battles; you'll find your enemies fleeing very often, and if they manage to land on any inhabited planet, they come back fully rearmed and ready to turn the tides. Ground combat was interesting, though the graphics could be better, and it takes a little too long to get into for my tastes.
Elemental Games is establishing itself as the king of the space sim genre, and this game shows why. It has what a game needs for real staying power: endless replay value, a wide variety of strategy and tasks, a vast, persistent universe to explore and fundamentals that do what they need to do and do it well, but don't get in the way of the action. Though there are a few bugs, hopefully they will soon be patched and "Space Rangers" will get the attention it deserves. PC game of the year all the way!
The Bottom Line: "Space Rangers 2" for the PC: 10/10
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