The combat interface and flight model carry over from Wing Commander games and are very effective, although they still blatantly ignore the laws of physics (banking is impossible, for instance). You will also see some stunning space station interior renderings and planetside city views Origin evidently had a lot of fun with its in-house 3D rendering software. Because Privateer takes place behind the front lines of Kilrathi/Confederation conflicts, ships you will encounter are also more colorful and varied, and loose-floating cargo items reveal a surprising amount of close-up detail. While still relying on bitmaps, images are now sharper, details are much more abundant, and pixellation is greatly reduced in comparison to the WC series. The space combat engine used in Wing Commander 2 was greatly improved in Privateer. There are over 64 star systems you can explore, all adding to dozens of hours of sheer entertainment. In turn, most solar systems are dabbed with their own planets, space stations and jump points to other systems. The action takes place in the Gemini Sector, each quadrant in which is teeming with solar systems, Kilrathi and Confed ships, pirates, asteroids and other hazards. There are always many missions you can choose from, and you can ignore the main plotline as long as you please by taking on less important jobs.
You are free to explore the Wing Commander universe by taking on the roles of merchant, mercenary, smuggler and/or pirate. So begins Wing Commander: Privateer, one of the best mercenary space combat games ever made.
It comes alive with an eerie green glow, and moves silently off. One of your missile shots goes awry, hitting a dormant object. Being the hotshot pilot you are, you turn the tables on them. Before your first deal, you are attacked by roving pirates. With it and your few remaining credits, you decide to seek your fortune in the frontier Gemini Sector near the borders of human and Kilrathi space. You are an experienced space crewdog who has just inherited an obsolete Tarsus scout/merchant ship from your grandfather. Continued abuse of our services will cause your IP address to be blocked indefinitely.The year is 2669. Please fill out the CAPTCHA below and then click the button to indicate that you agree to these terms. If you wish to be unblocked, you must agree that you will take immediate steps to rectify this issue. If you do not understand what is causing this behavior, please contact us here. If you promise to stop (by clicking the Agree button below), we'll unblock your connection for now, but we will immediately re-block it if we detect additional bad behavior.