Optimus Apparatus v1.00 (44.2Mb)
The game comes downloads as a windows installer package. When installing make a note of where it’s being installed to because apart from the game it only installs a link to the developer’s home page and an uninstaller in the applications menu but no shortcut to the game itself. Creating a shortcut is easy enough.
The game reminds me a little of a game I bought recently called Gravitron 2, {which I bought following posting Gravitron on this forum}. The game mechanics are remarkably similar except I think this game is far superior in looks. I like how you can customize the ship you will use by choosing from a select number of shapes, then coloring different sections of the ship using RBG sliders to select almost any color you can imagine, leading to as subdued or psychedelic a space ship as you wish.
Make sure you read the instructions (5 pages) which are accessible from the training area of the game. That is accessible from the saved games page. The instructions are a little hard to see unless you move the ship over to the right side of the screen. The initial game screen is a training ground which enables you to get used to the controls. What I like about these gravity orientated games is that if you don’t use your thrusters you eventually fall to the nearest object.
To start the game proper you click on a weird looking symbol to the top left of the screen called Rocks World Icon. This will take you straight into instant action.
The game is keyboard controlled, though the mouse is used for menu selections. The default keys are WASD for thrust and directional movement. The cursor keys are for various weapons, though initially you start with only a nose cannon. You can change all key bindings if you wish, and if you decide you don’t like the ships color scheme you can change it in between levels.
This is not your average space shooter. It’s got something special which I think raises it above others of this genre. The following is taken from the developer’s home page:
Optimus Apparatus is a single player game combining Gravity Shooter with Action-RPG elements. Fly missions on randomly generated maps, gain cash to upgrade your spaceship as you progress through 15 different worlds. Pickup spaceship components dropped by defeated enemies and use them on your spaceship. It is possible to balance your spaceship components abilities, energy costs, weights etc in many ways. Construct the most effective combat machine, using many different weapons and spaceship components, each one with randomized statistics and special abilities. Components have different pros/cons which can be enhanced/reduced with other components. There are many possibilities when constructing your spaceship. Then prove your spaceships effectiveness on the Challenge missions, and compare your results with others on the online hi-score ladders. Can you construct the Optimus Apparatus?
System Requirements: Support for resolution:1280x(1024,960,854,800 or 720)
Operating Systems: Windows2000 , WinXP , Windows Vista Starter , Windows Vista Home Basic , Windows Vista Home Premium , Windows Vista Business , Windows Vista Enterprise , Windows Vista Ultimate
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Privateer Gemini Gold (279.8Mb)
This is another 3D space simulator, though this one has elements of that brilliant classic space management game called Elite as well as a space shooter. (I’ll be posting Elite 2 sometime soon). I know I posted a large 3D space shooter only a few weeks ago, but this one has been in my ‘to post’ folder for months. I’d meant to post it over the Christmas period, but as I’ve mentioned several times, I lost all my documents after a system failure. (I finally reinstalled windows over a formatted disc, so lost everything), Anyway, I promptly forgot all about the game until recently. I was going to include it with The Babylon Project, but thought having another relatively large game to download wouldn’t please everyone; though this game is a fraction of what The Babylon Project was once you took into count the extras that you probably downloaded as well (at least 2 x 750Mb downloads). I only added it as an afterthought after finishing off the post for the other game mentioned above. I thought why not as they are both space orientated. :) If you like this game, you’ll definitely like The Babylon Project and probably Universal Combat another space shooter that I posted details for in the space shoot ‘em up thread. You can find a link in the game synopsis thread. Anyway, here’s the info posted about Privateer, with a download link:
According to the developers, back in 1993 Privateer was released as part of the Wing Commander series and became a great success in the gaming industry. Over 10 years later a small group of Privateer enthusiasts reintroduced the game with a new graphics engine and real 3D spaceflight.
Privateer was one of the first games in offering "open ended" game play (like Grand Theft Auto), when finishing the main plot, you can continue your game by exploring the rest of the universe. Privateer Gemini Gold is basically a remake of that game adapting it for today's faster machines and more demanding gaming enthusiasts. Key to this is that the game uses the 'Voxel' graphics engine which offers some spectacular angles and viewpoints of the ship and impressive graphics - much less blocky than usual 3D graphics.
Your role is as Grayson Burrows who inherited a small old scout class ship from your grandfather. Your task is to start over the 'Privateer' in a new and sparsely populated sector of the Confederation. Depending on what you want to achieve, you can take your chance and become a pirate, merchant or bounty hunter. You can upgrade your ship to conquer the galaxy but life is not made simple by other barbarians, pirates and evil commanders. It's good fun once you've mastered the controls although you can't help feeling that it's a poorer imitation of Wing Commander and lacks both the quick fire action, thrills and depth of it.
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