X3: Reunion Demo

As far as space simulators go, not many games can properly portray the vastness of it and populate it with enough content at the same time, because it is rather difficult to come up with the right ideas and keep the players entertained. However, there are some who managed to implement enough features to make the experience worthwhile, even if it resulted in a slightly too difficult game for everyone to enjoy.

X3: Reunion is the third installment in the popular space sim series and it definitely manages to surpass its predecessors, especially when it comes to content and complexity. Hence, the game now allows you to participate in a lot more activities throughout the massive universe put at your disposal, as well as acquire a variety of battleships, transport ships and even entire space stations.

As usual, there is also a story running its course in the background, although you are definitely not required to follow the missions and you can always just go on your way and start building an empire for yourself. However, the plot is quite interesting as well, since it features some returning characters and a powerful, yet mysterious race of aliens that threaten the safety of the entire galaxy through their presence.

Although combat is fairly important and refined as well, it's the economy and the trading system that really shines at the series, rather than everything else. In this installment, a lot of work went into creating a more dynamic, market-driven economy, in the sense that the demand and the prices change accordingly and they are constantly fluctuating. Moreover, the AI is also competing against you in a very realistic manner when it comes to trading, since it can build factories and provide the stations with the very same products as you.

Speaking of combat, the control of the ships and the overall mechanics have remained somewhat the same, meaning that any returning fan of the series should be able to quickly figure out how to handle the changes. However, new players might need to study the tutorials very closely, because nothing is very obvious and the HUD is quite disarming, especially during combat.

Finally, the graphical achievements must be praised as well, because the game managed to deliver a truly staggering universe, using a very potent graphics engine to render the objects and the environments. Thus, the space looks amazing, while the ships themselves are very detailed and they contain an enormous amount of detail, especially in the case of large battleships, or space stations.

There are very few things one could complain about when it comes to X3: Reunion, other than the fact that you might stumble on the occasional bug and glitch every now and again. But, judging by how massive the world, coupled with the fact that you are free to explore it however you desire, that should not came as a surprise.