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[IMG News]

Apple Matters has served up a nostalgic review of Ambrosia Software's legendary Mac shareware classic, Escape Velocity. The game gives players the chance to take the helm of their own starships and seek their fortunes in a vast galaxy. Apple Matters recommended the game and its sequels to anyone seeking an enjoyable gaming experience.

Basically, this game is a 2D, top-down viewing, non-linear space adventure. You command a ship (or small fleet of ships), you travel to different worlds, you buy/sell/trade goods, and you destroy other ships. You start off life in a tiny shuttle with a full tank of gas and a bit of spare change in your pockets. From these humble beginnings, you will buy larger ships, bigger guns, betters shields (and other such awesome add-ons) all in the name of your chosen cause. Speaking of causes, this brings me up to point number two. You, the player, can determine how things turn out in your little universe. Because the galaxy in which you’re dropped is currently engaged in a civil war. You may choose to help the Confederates or the Rebels, but choose you must. Both story lines are interesting and definitely worth playing. Though in the end you’ll probably end up starting over and just hunting pirates the whole time, but that’s your business I suppose.

Now I realize the graphics are dated. And I realize you can get video that looks a zillion times better on your freaking cellphone, or calculator, or watch for that matter, but that isn’t the point. You aren’t going to play this game for the stunning visuals, or for the amazingly intricate game-play. The reason you should play this game is because it’s FUN! Yeah, crazy huh? It really is fun. Even after all these years I was amazed at how much I enjoyed this game. It has an amazing replay value.

For the full review follow the link provided below.

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[Jude]

They are great games.  Too bad the reviewer got most of his facts wrong...  

Jude

[macdude22]

I would pay 50 bucks for a new EV. These games are easily some of the best games ever made, and certainly one of the best values. Literally hundreds of hours of gameplay, and tons of mods to add hundreds more. I have X3 but I still find myself coming back to the 2D charm of EV Nova.

[No One]

James R. Stoup said:

The series started with Escape Velocity, then came EV Nova, and the series ended with EV Override.

What?! Dang, kind of a graphical downgrade for the third release in the series.

[macdude22]

EV Nova was the last game in the series and the only one that was OS X native. The first two were released as plug-in mods for Nova so you could play them on OS X.

[Frost]

I've always thought an updated EV with a flight and combat system that worked more like Ares would be freakin' amazing.

[Rob MacLoud]

I felt the same as you guys until I played "Space Rangers 2", which for those that don't know, is a game by a Russian developer released in Europe a couple of years back. Despite the name, it really doesn't suck, in fact it kicks butt! It has the graphics, story, freedom, depth, you name it, and is the most fun game I've played in years.

So what's the hitch, you guessed it, Windows release only. However, on account of its modest system requirements, it wouldn't surprise me if it ran well on an Intel Mac, don't know though, all my Macs are PowerPC.

Someone should give it a go and report back here!

[teflon]

i absolutely adored this series... simply amazing, and huuuuuge!

the main thing stopping a fourth game in the series is that the original creator, who also did all the engine work for both override and nova put in so much time and effort to get them done that his wife threatened him with a swordfish and divorce never to do it again...

Ares is a game that truly deserves a sequel, or at least a remake so that OSX can enjoy it. It was one of the many casualties of that particular transition.

[Eric5h5]

teflon, on August 28th 2007, 06:35 PM, said:

put in so much time and effort to get them done that his wife threatened him with a swordfish and divorce never to do it again...

Isn't this the part where tBC pops up and offers his immortal quote about wives and truly great games?

And yeah, Ares was really good (that last mission was pretty darn hard though).  Especially considering the entire thing was done by one guy.

--Eric

[the Battle Cat]

Eric5h5, on August 28th 2007, 04:37 PM, said:

Isn't this the part where tBC pops up and offers his immortal quote about wives and truly great games?

What?  Did I miss my cue again?  ::CLEARSeric'smomTHROAT::

Wives are a dime a dozen but a really great game that captures your imagination is a thing of priceless value.

[teflon]

bravo! bravo!

very well recited!

[Siriusfox]

Dude. I want 3D EV. Or even 2D EV with 3D elements. I'd buy EV all over again if I got that.

[Quicksilver]

Frost, on August 28th 2007, 02:51 PM, said:

I've always thought an updated EV with a flight and combat system that worked more like Ares would be freakin' amazing.

Definitely.  That, or a revamped version of Ares--Ares' gameplay mechanics and music were excellent.

[Morrigan]

Freelancer multiplayer is what EV Online could have been. Ambrosia also could have turned that game into a 2D MMOG back in the day and made a ton on it. Player driven missions and commerce combined with the simplicity of EV ... *sigh* would have been beautiful.

[Jude]

Morrigan, on August 31st 2007, 04:47 PM, said:

Freelancer multiplayer is what EV Online could have been. Ambrosia also could have turned that game into a 2D MMOG back in the day and made a ton on it. Player driven missions and commerce combined with the simplicity of EV ... *sigh* would have been beautiful.

Terminus came very close to what you are wanting.

Jude

[Morrigan]

Yeah I had Terminus, great potential unrealized.