Sound: What can I say about sound that hasn't already been said about Starbucks Coffee? No, they're not trying to take over the world, I meant it's sweet and smooth. Nothing in the game sounds like crap (or smells like it for that matter). Seriously now, the game hit it right on the money there's not a sound in this game that is in any way bad. From the flak gun explosions to the whoosh of a Shivan fighter flying past you the sound is perfect. The musical score and voice actors are top notch (I beleive one of the voice actors was in Independence Day, and no, it's not Will Smith). If I had something bad to say about the sound you would've heard it already. The sound is great, turn it up.
Overall Sound: 10
Graphics: Going into this game in the year 2004 isn't as bad as it sounds. The graphics in the game are better than some that came out a year later, hell, today there are games that look worse than a 1999 game. The graphics just don't get old in my opinion, it's what keeps me coming back. If this game didn't have the graphics it had, I wouldn't have replayed it all the way through more than 2 or 3 years after its release. Every explosion, every laser blast, it is just so carefully crafted I have confidence that if you went into this game today with an open mind you wouldn't be disappointed--graphically.
Overall Graphics: 10
Value: The value of this game is unprecidented. The depth of this game is so huge you may never see a game like it ever again. Its so big you may never see the whole game after you've played it. The campaign is long and every mission is finely crafted; you'll even get a chance to fly a few special ops missions. You'll also get awarded lots of medals and promotions through the game. Freespace 2 also has a decent multiplayer mode thrown in for good measure. The only reason you may not heed my advice about playing this game is the fact that if you don't have a joystick you probably won't enjoy the game as much as you would if you did have one. If you can find a copy of Freespace 2 by all means pick it up as quickly as possible before someone else snatches this gem from you. The bottom line is Freespace 2 is the space-sim to end all space-sims and it is truly a good ending indeed.
Overall Value: 10
The Good: Never-ending addictive gameplay, big guns, capital ship battles
The Bad: You need a joystick
The Ugly: It leaves you wanting another sequel, but it's just not happening
Overall Score: 10.0 (Perfect)
