Appletell reviews X3: Terran Conflict for Mac OS X

Genre: Space Action/Sim
Format: Digital Download and DVD
Original Developer: Egosoft
Mac Developer/Publisher: Virtual Publishing
Minimum System Requirements: 2.16GHz Intel Macintosh, Mac OS X v10.5.7, 1GB RAM, 256MB GeForce 8600 or Radeon X1600 graphics card, 8GB hard disk space
Review Computer: 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo iMac, 2GB RAM, 256MB Radeon HD2600 graphics card
Network Feature: No
Processor Compatibility: Intel only
Price: $39.95
ESRB Rating: 12+
Availability: Out now
Demo: No

Normally, I review games on my MacBook. It’s my home computer, after all; easier to devote the time.

But look at the screen captures on this page. You can’t play a game like this on such a tiny screen. When you’ve got a game presented in that fake outer space where every corner contains a nebula or space gas against which your space ships silhouetted, you play it on a 24″ screen. Those are the rules.

And so, my delay in reviewing X3: Terran Conflict, which has been available for the Macintosh since early October. I had to get my gaming time in at the office before work, which meant many early mornings, but it was and continues to be worth it.

X3: Terran Conflict is the final chapter in the X Universe story, about which I know absolutely nothing. X2: The Threat and X3: Reunion are available for the Mac, bit I’ve never played them, and didn’t research them beyond the point of finding out if they’re Mac compatible. They are (although X2 is PPC only).

Now, first things first; these pretty screenshots are likely beyond your computer’s capabilities. I was able to come close on my iMac, but a 512MB graphics card would’ve been nice. The developers made it easy to dumb things down, though, and you won’t have to go too far if you have a respectable system.

Second, this is the type of the game that demands a lot of your time. It’s almost as huge as its setting, with a lot to learn, decide and control. Your reward for sticking with it will be a game you could play for all of 2010 and still have more discover, but be prepared for some intimidation at the onset. And in its defense, you don’t need to learn everything up front. You can hop right in and work your way through, learning as you go. It may not be the most efficient method of mastering the game, but if it comes to that or turning away in frustration, it’s certainly the way to go.

Along those lines, the most important aspect of the game, ship control, is quite simple. That’s smart, since it’s what most gamers will want to do right away, anyway. The mouse control system allows you to easily navigate the stars whether you’re controlling a single ship or an entire fleet. As a result, it’s possible to have a good time (for a while, anyway) even if you’re not doing what you actually should be doing.

At its core, X3: Terran Conflict is a space shooter. That’s why you’ll want to play this, right? To blow stuff up? But it’s not a space flight sim like the Star Wars games you’ve played in the past. It’s also about business. Research. It’s a sim with a heavy dose of combat to keep things interesting…except for when it’s not.

The trouble with such open gameplay is that there are times when there’s not much to do but look for something to do. In many ways, I prefer the mission-based approach where a game tells you, “Do this. Now do this. And if you don’t do this, you lose.” That’s not the case with X3: Terran Conflict, where things happen when you make them happen. I suppose the benefit to this approach is that you’ll never feel inundated by the universe you’re exploring. You’re not thrust into events you’re ill-equipped to handle.

Also, you’re never alone. There’s a large number of fully-voiced characters you’ll meet along the way, some of whom are quite helpful in the learning process. Unfortunately, they’re not very interesting. The characters and story are fairly pedestrian, so don’t expect a sweeping space opera to carry you through. If you’re going to get into this game, it’ll have to be because of the depth of gameplay and those fantastic visuals.

Virtual Programming showed some guts by bringing X3: Terran Conflict to the Mac. Are there any Mac gamers left willing to give up the time required to get into a space combat sim? Aren’t we all playing Diner Dash or those hidden object games? I hope not. In fact, games like this give me further reason to quit covering the casual games, because I want to spend more time with this one.

And so I shall.

Appletell Rating:

Buy X3: Terran Conflict