Matrix Games Forums

In no way am I bashing Starshatter. I love the game and it gives me a great space opera fix that I haven't had in years (i.e. Tie Fighter).

I recently got into Harpoon3 and was just wishing that it could represent engagements in space. Has there been a game like this made? I'm not looking for flashy graphics either... that's not the priority, the indepth of the strategy is much more important...

Rules of Engagement is the closest I can think about. It's old game with over 10 years of age. There is playable demo somewhere and I don't think anyone getting mad if you download full version from some abandonware site. There are other similar games which can be even 20+ years old. You can check out ROE and some other similar games from Underdogs (good descriptions there):
http://www.the-underdogs.org

From more recent games I can name Starfleet Command serie. Starfleet Command is practically computer version of the Starfleet Battles board game. Both games are made off from Star Trek and familiar Constitution-class and Galaxy-class starships are available in the games. Most notable difference to board game is Starfleet Command being real time. What I have seen around Internet, Starfleet Command 2: Orion Pirates is most recommended. There are available dynamic multiplayer campaigns over Internet for Starfleet Command 2-3. Too bad me and my first game of the serie are left out. Would someone play that with me? Avoid Starfleet Command Neutral Zone, it is stripped version of the Starfleet Command.

Unfortunately while I love the Trek movies, I just never got into too many of the games... I might check out Orion Pirates if I can find it super cheap somewhere...

Thanks for the info... when I get some free time I'll check em out...

There are demos available. Search and you find.

[edit]
By the way, license games regarding Star Trek and Star Wars are interesting becouse there are good games and bad games. Starfleet Command serie is the best end of all Star Trek games. Detailed reviews with screenshots are available in The Adrenaline Avault

Yupp, that's right SFC is definitely a cool game, but it is also a quite difficult one to master.
The only thing that bugged me about Orion Pirates is that it seemed like a full price update of SFC Empires at War, but then that is no problem if you haven't got that one, or if you like SFC enough....

ORIGINAL: Mr. D

Yupp, that's right SFC is definitely a cool game, but it is also a quite difficult one to master.
The only thing that bugged me about Orion Pirates is that it seemed like a full price update of SFC Empires at War, but then that is no problem if you haven't got that one, or if you like SFC enough....

Orion Pirates was virtually EAW (Empires at War) If you had a chance to dig thru the strings files the bulk of the new weaponary was already scripted and in place back in EAW. Not to mention all of the ship crew options where still in place but removed via strings file. Yeah for the most part it was the same game ...

And the statement is true ..if you can not manage your energy spending very well ...it would come back to haunt you quick.

ORIGINAL: Mr. D

Yupp, that's right SFC is definitely a cool game, but it is also a quite difficult one to master.

D'oh! I thought Harpoon would be harder [&:]

I haven't played it though... yet. I guess Diabolico can tell which one is more complex/harder.

My suggestion would be: find a demo somewhere and try it out, no matter whether it is SFC1, 2 or 2.5 (Orion Pirates) when you get a feeling for the ships and all their...MANY variants it gets a lot easier than you might expect when you read through the manual.

From SFC training:

Captain Sulu

Read the fine manual

Right, Sulu....er CAPTAIN Sulu gives you some advice how tho fly around in your ship, that's real cool to hear Mr. Takei ingame

I find RoE and Harpoon harder than SFC.
SFC is cool but not less intuitive to play as SS.
Other, MP is quite buggy on SFC but I got a few games going with Matty, but not without some disconnections.

=S=

ORIGINAL: Diabolico

Other, MP is quite buggy on SFC but I got a few games going with Matty, but not without some disconnections.

Few? I can remember only one where Klingon Starbase blasted all of our ships except one. Did you want play again with battleship? Let's play then [:D]
...
on next week

hmm.. ok, if you promise to be more sociable and respect whomever maybe using my computer in my house. [;)]

=S=

Not Harpoon certainly, but the SFC series are all excellent strategy games. Don't overlook "3" either... most of those who do have never played it and it's nowhere near as "dumbed down" as some suggest.

Multiplay in SFC2 was a true art form, and there was (and for all I know, still is) a decent sized community of (generally) very, very, good players. It's best feature IMHO is the huge variety in hardware and techniques between races while still being pretty well balanced.