Elite – Very Dangerous
Hello Dear Reader and Gamer
Elite – Very Dangerous
Many years ago on a computer now far, far away, I played a game called Elite. It was the most advanced single player space combat/trading (annoying) game I had played. The BBC in conjunction with Acorn (not the antiques either), produced a complex wire frame universe. It is very difficult to remember the impact this game had on the then flagging computer game industry.
You were basically dropped in the middle of space, with a pretty useless spaceship and had to master flying, combat, trading and just staying alive. Now, don’t forget this was just a 32Mg machine and completely packed. The wire frames had no real substance but that did not matter as it was just brilliant. Of course there was one more element to this game, the lost hours spent flying, whilst not leaving my bedroom.
The aim of the game was, well to just grow, get to élite status or just become a great trader or explorer or whatever. Games improved, wire frames became solid and well things leapt forward to create amazing places. Elite became something of a memory, a forgotten gem. It surfaced from time to time in different forms, but never the same. Nothing was so open-ended and that was the beauty of Elite.
The game itself was first created back in 1984, over 40 years old now and still played in places in its original form. There were a couple of other games that came close, Homeworld and EVA online. Both games offered a differing view of the universe, EVA possibly the closest to Elite. The graphics I must admit are amazing on EVA and being online means you don’t have to have a full client program (game) on your machine. A small link and that’s that. The power of servers (even computers) these day can make anything seem real.
Then came a whisper from deep in the internet, Elite was coming back. I was intrigued about what form it would take and could the spirit if not the wonder be recaptured. The main problem for me was the platform chosen. I am a Mac person, not a PC, I prefer the PS3(4) rather than Xbox. So I had to wait.
When it became available for the Mac I did wonder if it would be just a poor memory or another jump forward. Well, it was Elite and more. Wire frames gone, solid space stations hung in space and yes you were back to the beginning all over again. Crashing into real asteroids, running from pirates and trying to match that darn opening on the station just like in 2001.
Has it changed? Yes it had to in order to sell. Now you can explore more, fly closer to planets and suns, watch ships explode before your very eyes. It is another time-consuming game, you have to get just a bit more to have that next space ship or upgrade. Now you have to ensure your weapons are correct, the power distribution can cope with all you install and that you don’t forget that all important fuel else you suddenly find yourself drifting in space before blowing up.
Elite is a dangerous game. It’s fun, annoying, frustrating, exciting and time-consuming (or wasting as some may say). You can engage with others around the world or just play solo. Both still have AI characters who you meet along the way. Unlike EVA, you don’t get so many mission based elements but you do get to choose (to a degree) what you can take on or just fly around.
Would I recommend Elite Dangerous? Yes I would. It has one major advantage over at least one other space game and that is you only need to pay the once. No monthly fees, no forced into extras. You can buy more but why?
Tagline: ‘Now where is that darn space station?’
