I’ve had many reservations about Star Citizen in recent weeks, which haven’t really subsided yet. A lot of ideas have wormed their way into the highly anticipated space-sim title over the past few months, but it’s really the space flight and dogfighting that I’m primarily interested in. And even though I’m not on my knees praising this game just yet, I really can’t fault this spectacular dogfighting.
Captured by YouTube user Gizimoo86, this short clip from the games ever-expanding Arena Commander mode shows off just how dizzying dogfights in zero gravity can get. It’s extremely difficult to follow, but I expect it’s not that way for the pilot. Having played Elite Dangerous recently, I can honestly say that being in control of the aircraft makes a massive difference to just watching it roll about in space.
We also knew that Star Citizen was a gorgeous game, but I think this snippet of gameplay just kicked my brain into submission while reminding me of that. The lighting is absolutely spectacular, and the amount of detail thrown into this duel above a planet is quite remarkable. It’s even more so when you consider that the game isn’t ready yet, and won’t be until next year.
Until then, Star Citizen will continue receiving updates, with major content additions coming every three months or so. In that time, continue throwing money at your screen if you like what you see.
Last Updated: February 3, 2015
Tosh MA
February 3, 2015 at 10:05
Yeah ok that’s beautiful.
Now I want them to finish it, so I can buy it and play it.
Uberutang
February 3, 2015 at 10:09
You can buy now and start playing.
Tosh MA
February 3, 2015 at 10:13
Yeah, see above as to why I’m not 🙂
Allan
February 4, 2015 at 02:22
After having gotten burned by Frontier’s cancellation of offline mode and subsequent crappy ass treatment of us, I’m, regrettably, going to have to wait for full release of this game.
Spathi
February 3, 2015 at 10:11
Well, “finish it” when it comes to Star Citizen may be a long loooong time! 😀
Tosh MA
February 3, 2015 at 10:13
That’s my worry, and that’s why I’m not spending a cent until it is done. 😀
Hyper1
February 4, 2015 at 08:07
I beliebe what he means by “Finished” is its official release rather than the game being done with no more updates which is what you are refering to.
release is currently planned for next year so you don’t have that long to wait
Hammersteyn
February 3, 2015 at 10:14
Agreed
SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad
February 3, 2015 at 10:45
Must.Resist.$120.Package.
Must.Resist.
The Abe’s Oddysee pre-order is on Steam now. It’s under $20. I might have to pick that up and forget about space. For now. And instead save my stupid slave peoples!
Tosh MA
February 3, 2015 at 10:54
Or how about you learn a mid hero that isn’t Viper or Zeus? 😛 MUAHAHAHAHAHA.
And my excuse is that I’m rusty and haven’t played support in ages.
SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad
February 3, 2015 at 11:22
O.O
I know other mid. I do. I do. I do. That was just my first mid in three months. So naturally I go with what I know best. 😉 Plus I did well in both games and you were horri-bad support! So STFU! 😀
*Edit: Okay Game 1 you did well. 😛
Tosh MA
February 3, 2015 at 11:30
Yeah I was going to say, game 1 wasn’t bad.
Game 2, that was my first disruptor game in 9 months. And we didn’t play as a team, Clock initiated before I was in position, and as you said we just were outdrafted. So psh.
Sageville
February 3, 2015 at 14:07
Yup, a lot of us sitting in the waiting room.
Elite Dangerous was cool, it’s taking the edge off the SC wait.
One day is one day….
Admiral Chief
February 3, 2015 at 10:12
As long as I don’t have to climb into any flying thing that Mossel is piloting, I’ll be fine
Tosh MA
February 3, 2015 at 10:15
hehehe
http://38.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lqth4m2tl31qh6w8to1_500.gif
Admiral Chief
February 3, 2015 at 10:17
Except this guy CAN fly
Mossel
February 3, 2015 at 10:39
hahaha! This is the first article I look at and people are talking behind my back! Fair enough though.
I’ll have you know I can fly the shit out of those gyrocopters in Far Cry 4!
Admiral Chief
February 3, 2015 at 10:41
As in crash land in the poop?
😛
Mossel
February 3, 2015 at 10:42
Not trying to boast or anything but I landed one perfectly… in a tree. Was planned.
Admiral Chief
February 3, 2015 at 10:49
Out of how many attemps?
Mossel
February 3, 2015 at 10:56
Freaking first try! I’ll be giving signatures at shopping mall near you!
Blood Emperor Trevor
February 3, 2015 at 10:12
I can’t wait for SQ42 episode 1, going to be epic.
RustedFaith
February 3, 2015 at 12:21
Same here its the first real PC game since the early 2000’s coming out and its going to be epic. There is no console bullshit keeping us back with this game either.
Hyper1
February 4, 2015 at 08:09
the first “Real PC game” what sort of shit are you smoking there have been plenty of great PC games that have been released between in the last 10 years.
RustedFaith
February 4, 2015 at 13:07
When last was a AAA PC only game released ?
Spathi
February 3, 2015 at 10:16
Damn, the guy is quite good at flying his Aurora! The video is actually a great example of how the decouple mode works in your favour and how much more dogfighting in SC is than just “jousting”.
Ghost In The Rift
February 3, 2015 at 10:16
I just don’t get why they cant release this year, how much more do they need to do, it looks so epic and fun, just hope we get a 3rd person camera option.
Spathi
February 3, 2015 at 10:23
There is a 3rd person camera option.
The persistent universe part of the game (the multiplayer world) is still only in the Design Phase, so they still have a LOT to do before they can release that. The first episode (first 10 missions) of the single player part (Squadron 42) will be released this year, and maybe even more.
Ghost In The Rift
February 3, 2015 at 10:55
But are they still gonna jam everything into 1 title? or release it piece by piece?
Spathi
February 3, 2015 at 11:08
I’m not really sure how the SQ42 releases will work for the public. But the whole game, SQ42 and the Persistent Universe, will be released as a full game. This will be at end of 2016, at the soonest!
Hyper1
February 4, 2015 at 08:12
what still needs to be done.
multi crew ships
fps
social module
expand map sizes to accommodate actual areas of space to fly in
half the ships to a flyable state.
as for third person camera there is one but you wont have access to your cross hair or radar or any other information, since this is displayed withing the cockpit on actual screens in the ship or on the helmet worn by your character
Admiral Chief
February 3, 2015 at 10:16
O_O
I love it!
Spathi
February 3, 2015 at 10:26
Alessandro, are you going to do a review on Elite Dangerous? I’d love to find out how that is developing and if it is worth it at this stage to buy the game.
Alessandro Barbosa
February 3, 2015 at 10:45
I’m still currently playing it in-between various different reviews, but I haven’t got enough for a verdict yet. Soon hopefully 🙂 *Flies more trade routes*
Hammersteyn
February 3, 2015 at 10:27
Soon mustards, soon.
http://i.imgur.com/fKi8GnT.gif
Raptor Rants A Lot:Original #7
February 3, 2015 at 10:36
wow… that’s… really beatiful 0_o
Still worried hype is going to kill this
Admiral Chief
February 3, 2015 at 10:36
Same here dude
SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad
February 3, 2015 at 10:47
Well I have a little faith since it isn’t THEM that is hyping this up. It’s not like they’re spending billions of dollars (cough *EA* *Ubisoft* cough) on marketing. User videos are hyping this now. And that’s a good hype I can get behind.
CHICA CHICA CHOO CHOO MOTHER#@$#@$!
Raptor Rants A Lot:Original #7
February 3, 2015 at 12:23
Lol they are hyping it. They are labeling it as the best space sim ever. They are sending out newsletters but not in the form of “here’s where things are”
No, they send out marketing style newsletters showing off the latest ship models, bragging about their speed, damage resistance etc. Like a car magazine for space ships lol. They are most certainly hyping it too
Blood Emperor Trevor
February 3, 2015 at 12:33
Chris Roberts’ initial pitch was “I want to make the best damn space sim ever”. It’s a goal. I wouldn’t have backed if he said “I was to make an okay space sim”. They also give a monthly report from all studios involved in production stating exactly where they are & what they’re doing out of fiction.
That’s in-fiction advertising. It’s meant to look & sound like that. Everything in-game is dealt with like that – including a recent bug fix for the Aurora which was announced as a recall & once fixed was announced with an in-fiction press release.
Raptor Rants A Lot:Original #7
February 3, 2015 at 12:58
I’m not saying it’s bad. It’s a brilliant idea! It’s probably one of the best methods of marketing you can get.
But at the end of the day it’s still hype…. You get so excited to buy your ship with multi-vector thrust adjustment CPU’s only to get.. well a ship in game…..
That’s what I am worried about. Also certain professions like if you wanted to be a pirate.. How sustainable would it be? You can be that in Eve too… But you have to PVE missions to sustain it…
Blood Emperor Trevor
February 3, 2015 at 13:20
I wouldn’t be at all surprised if they have to do that. The game isn’t built around PVP, it’s just allowed, and comes with consequences. I think there are far too many people who’re expecting to play Space Deathmatch Pew Pew 5000 in the persistent universe, when that’s what Arena Commander is for.
SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad
February 3, 2015 at 10:44
I really really really really really really really really really really really REALLY want this now. The amount of control you have over those ships looks to be INSANE! Move over Freelancer. I think I’ve found you a worthy successor. GIFF SHIP PLZ!
Skoobaz
February 3, 2015 at 11:52
Ahh Freelancer. The feelz!
Skoobaz
February 3, 2015 at 11:55
If you haven’t, look at the Crossfire Mod for Freelancer. Excellent and refreshing!
Xcalibersa
February 3, 2015 at 10:58
That looks stunning. Looks like I will finally upgrade my pc.
Space Pilchard
February 3, 2015 at 11:04
Elite: Dangerous is still better.
Spathi
February 3, 2015 at 11:11
Better than what? An Alpha of the dogfighting module, because then yes, the whole of Elite Dangerous compared to that may be better.
loftie
February 3, 2015 at 11:54
Currently, star citizen uses “mouse turreting”. Elite dangerous’ dogfighting model seems to be a lot better. (Ive played elite and it is a lot if fun, but have not played star citizen yet so am basing this on someone else’s opinion. Check here as well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VY5x85F-DKM
loftie
February 3, 2015 at 11:56
turreting lol: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlAsSyDAWR8&t=0m5s
Spathi
February 3, 2015 at 12:05
Cool, will have a look. But Arena Commander has changed a LOT over the last few months and the initial gimbal turret way of how guns work. What makes Arena Commander’s way of flying so awesome is that you can decouple your main thruster from your manoeuvring thrusters, while keeping your momentum, and strafe which ever way.
That being said, I haven’t played ED so can’t really comment on that. But have a look at the video of the dogfighting in the article and you’ll see that it is nothing like the first few iterations.
Edit: Watched the video, and SC just looks plain bad therein! It’s nothing like that anymore. ED on the other hand looks quite good actually!
loftie
February 3, 2015 at 12:22
yeah I watched the video, the ship still yaws too quickly and seems unrealistic. In elite you can turn flight assist off which keeps the ship moving in its current trajectory and allows you to yaw slightly faster but is harder to control as thrusters dont counter yaw automatically when flight assist is off. I still want star citizen though and will get it sometime in the near future.
Spathi
February 3, 2015 at 12:49
There is g-force effects in the game, so if you move too quickly, you will get a blackout. They also separately model each thruster, including the movement thereof. So each ship is different and modelled to the in game physics.
loftie
February 3, 2015 at 13:01
same with elite, all ships handle differently but no g-force (and no fishtanks lol). Maybe they will add it at a later stage? 😛
You can get your ‘windshield’ (whats a windshield in space called? a vaccuumshield? lol) blown out which starts your life support giving you X minutes of oxygen before you die. They say they will add ability to land on every planet and also be able to walk around wherever you want, be it planet, space station or in your ship. So both games are looking very good at the moment and Im sure each will have its own awesome unique experience.
Hyper1
February 4, 2015 at 08:36
E:D is the one that is unrealistic, it artificially limits yaw speed as a gameplay choice, the speed at which a ship can Yaw, turn and accelerate in star citizen is based on the main engine and its maneuvering thrusters, While in elite its based on magic.
RinceThis
February 3, 2015 at 11:20
The game will never be ready… Sorry peeps.
Sageville
February 3, 2015 at 14:09
You bastaad!