![]() X3: Reunion was released originally for Windows in 2005. It is the third installment in the X series and the sequel to X2: The Threat (2003), which in turn followed X: Beyond the Frontier (1999). There are rumors of strange activity in the southern sectors of the universe.X3: Reunion is a single-player space trading and combat video game developed by Egosoft and published by Deep Silver. ![]() I think I've pushed my luck far enough in this sector and decide to leave. No more hostile ships show on my radar or on the sector map. Did anyone notice the firefight? It appears I am in luck. Afterward, I stop to draw breath and quickly check the sector. The surviving Boron M4 fighter peppers my shields, but as soon as I give him my full attention, he is no match for the power of my guns. It's an expensive kill, but I don't want the whole system turning on me. His missile defenses cannot stop all of the missiles homing in on him, and one of these finishes him off. My lasers rip his shields apart and damage his hull. My laser energy is drained in seconds as the eight lasers pour deadly energy at him. Without hesitation I launch a barrage of laser fire in the Vanguard's direction, hoping to score some heavy damage. My heavier shields should buy me some time. Although the M4s are lighter than my ship, they are faster and more agile, and the Vanguard is faster and more heavily armed than most ships.īut when the heat comes down, you better be ready to fight. Even in this short span of time, the police ships are onto me-one standard Boron M4 fighter and one Vanguard M4. He was an independent trader and still they came to his aid! Cursing, I swiftly dispatch the freighter and he disappears in a cloud of dust, his scream cut short. The supplier was not attached to any station or factory. I had not checked my immediate surroundings carefully, and two local police ships are speeding to his aid. To my surprise, he refuses and then I realize why. With him at my mercy, I ask him to surrender. His ship is far slower than mine, and in my brutal first assault, I destroy his only weapon before he has a chance to fire. He looks like a perfect target-his weapons are limited, he has no missiles. Just passing a few kilometres away is a Boron Dolphin Fresh Foods supplier. This doesn't suit me as I have no cargo at the moment, so I leave the station and try to "find" some. ![]() He isn't offering much to sell and he seems more interested in buying. So instead, I then check with one of the merchants on board the station and see what he has to offer to test my negotiating skills. I wouldn't expect anything, as this system is relatively stable. The trade menu comes up, and there doesn't appear to be anything spectacular on offer. The tranquillity of a Boron home sector has obviously affected me, so I look for the local trading station and dock to see if there are any opportunities. Of course, you can also be a pirate and prey on merchant vessels. Livestock transporters, military patrols, passenger shuttles, independent traders, the list is endless. There are well over 100 ships buzzing around, all with specific purposes and instructions. Immediately, I can see one of the huge differences in X3 from previous games: There is a real sense that the sector is inhabited, and stuff is going on regardless of my presence. I cruise into the middle of the sector and take a look at what is in scanner range. I'll ignore X3's plot completely for the moment (I prefer to do my own thing, anyway) and see what opportunities come my way. Heavily populated and well defended, profit opportunities are low, though it's quite safe. Kingdom End is a home sector for the Boron race. What sets X3: Reunion apart from other space simulations? To answer this, I thought I would take a ride through one of the home sectors, Kingdom End, and describe what I see. You can dock at space stations to trade if you're looking to lead a merchant's life. That's a lot of stuff to do, so Egosoft's Greg Kingston was kind enough to describe some of the gameplay possibilities in our final designer diary for the game. You can choose to be a mercenary or a trader, you can build an economic empire, or you can live on the edge, exploring the unknown. In X3, you will be able to chart your own course in a living, breathing universe. But before it arrives, the folks at Egosoft have decided to give you an idea of what a typical day is like in their ambitious and huge space sim. X3: Reunion will arrive in stores next week.
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