16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Jumpgate:The Reconstruction Initiative., September 21, 2001
This review is from: Jumpgate (CD-ROM)
Making its debut on Sep 25 2001 this multiplayer online game is the best Sci-Fi game of any type I have yet seen. I was one of the many and privilaged beta testers who were able to see first hand the fantastic aspects of this game. I put in nearly 100 hours of playing time over the last four weeks, not counting the report writing, and I am still thrilled with the game. I can not say this about ANY other game I have played in recent years.
You have the choice of three factions; Materialistic Solrain: Warlike Octavious: Religouslike Quantar: to choose from. They each have their strengths and weaknesses. Their are an infinint, or nearly so, number of ways you can play your character and their are jobs you can do to gain money and experience points. In 'Missions' are Cargo transfers, Scouting missions, Mining missions, Jobs that help to increase the power of your own faction, and on and on. This is where you will gain most of your credits and experience points, At least at the beginning.
In the 'Market' your ship can be made better with engines, power plants, radar, shields, guns, so on with the monies you make. Your experience points raise you to new military levels allowing you to get better and better hardware for your ship. There are at this time three space stations for each faction and a few other stations of non-alinged peoples to fly to as well as over a hundred different jumpoints consisting of millions and millions of cubit meters of territory to explore and exploit. AND, more planed for the future. A bigger universe with more in it. This is going to be an evolving game. We decide how it elvolves through our collective actions.
You can be practically any type of person you want. Explorer, Trader, Miner, even a pirate or kill anything that moves in which case you have to be very careful or you'll end up with a big price on your head and every one else will be looking to collect. Also, if you do your evil deeds in TRI controlled space you will suffer penalties that will reduce your Exp. level and thus your ship level drasticaly. Their are areas in the map where you neerdowells and carry out your nefarious acts in safty from TRI justice but not those of us who will come to hunt you.
Also, there is an alien race known as the Conflux. Kill them if you can. Right now their are 10 levels of them; C1-C10 the higher number being more dangerous. If you are not good in combat and have low shield and weapons ratings, RUN. The Conflex are good for credits and experience points but only if you kill one. Pratice in the stations' simulator, everything that they have. Over, and over, and over. Docking, Killing Conflex, flying around asteroids (in space, what ever direction your are going your ship will want to continue in that direction). Don't go out in this game until you become good in the simulator. When you die there, their is no record; no problem. If you die in the game, and it's easy to die, your remains are revitalized and you get your ship replaced and credits for most of its equipment but your deaths go on a permanent record and your insurance rating goes down. That's money lost in equipment replacement credits on your next death. In the simulator you can also try any ship of your factions design and all the equipment that is currently available in the game. Try them out and see what the various guns, engines, power units. ect. can do. So far as I could tell, the equipment of all factions worked in my factions ship.
Under 'Missions' don't take jobs you can't do. If you fail the job it goes against you. Many jobs require ship modifications that are unavailable to you at your current rank. In some missions you have a choice of mission levels 1, 2, 3, so on. Take one to high to accomplish you die trying? Failed mission and death marked against you. Keep your missions in harmony with your abilities.
You will need a 3D video card and a joy stick as playing with a mouse just won't cut it. Automatic updates at log-on with the Jumpgate Server are included in the price.
Make a decision soon as only 30,000 copies are being released for the first wave of Jumpgate TRI pilots.
This game is a must for all Sci-Fi fans. I have not seen its equal anywhere. See you there Pilot.
Rimous of the Octavius faction.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Where no Game Has Gone Before, November 15, 2001
This review is from: Jumpgate (CD-ROM)
This game isn't for everyone.
If you are looking for nonstop shootemup action that you just react to and dont have to Think about...look elsewhere.
If you are interested in a "Space Sim" - then you may want to come a little closer and give Jumpgate a try. 30$ is cheaper than 90% of new games on the market. You get to play for a month free before the 10$ Pay-to-Play fee starts.
Dont let the 10$ put you off! I was concerned about the fee, but it does have its good parts. The servers havent been offline the whole time I have been playing. The bandwidth is very good, hardly any lag problems for me. The average jerky personality doesnt like to Pay-to-Play, so they just aren't there =D YAY
I read a review somewhere that said it took some poor Schmuck 2 weeks to upgrade his ship. This person must not have actually tried...took me all of 4 evenings. About 12 hours of game time.
This review also said the aliens will kill you in 1 shot. Simply not true. Reveiwer must not have very good aim, or maybe needs glasses. I did some practice vs. the aliens in "simulator" mode, where you cant *actually* die, and became good at killing them before trying it for real.
Oh, yes, and the flight model...to simplify matters, designers incorporated a "drag" effect, so you slow down if you are at 0 throttle. Yes you have braking thrusters, but they aren't meant to bring you to a quick stop from full speed. The CORRECT way to slow yourself in preparation for docking, is to flip 180 degrees, and use your Forward thrusters to stop quickly. After the first couple dockings, most everyone can figure out that no-brainer.
The graphics put me off a little at first, but the ship models dont look all that bad really. Besides, would you rather have graphics or gameplay?
Best game I have played in a long time. I look forward to going home and playing it tonight. My wife hates it, so I guess thats the best reccomendation...
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Prepare to lose sight of reality...., September 24, 2001
This review is from: Jumpgate (CD-ROM)
...as you immerse your self in this realistic alternate universe. Extremely addicting! You better have lots of free days available for the battles that will rage ahead. From flying recon patrol for TRI in order to get more info on the <data classified>, to covering your wingleader's six while on escort duty guarding against raiders and pirates, I guarantee that you will never have a more exciting and rewarding space simulation experience than in this game. After beta testing for two versions, I still come back for more. The slogan "Welcome to your next life..." is not a far-fetched promise, it's a warning!
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