Mac software > All Reviews > Software > Games > Privateer Gemini Gold 1.02a Review

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 Privateer Gemini Gold 1.02a Review

Old games never die, they get remade. Wallow in Wing Commander nostalgia with open source remake Gemini Gold

Macworld team

Manufacturer: Privateer Gemini Gold
Pros: Stays true to its source material, porting a classic to Mac OS X
Cons: Stays true to its source material, warts and all
Price: Free
We rate this 3 out of 5.Star rating:

A space combat simulator, the original Wing Commander played out like interactive fiction with predetermined resolutions plotted according to the player’s performance. Wing Commander 3 was notable as the first video game to feature specially filmed cut scenes, with a cast that included Mark Hammill of Star Wars fame. At the height of its notoriety there was even a movie made, joining Street Fighter and Mario Bros in the ignoble pantheon of games that should have stayed games.

Wing Commander Privateer Gemini Gold (to give its full, unwieldy title) is an open source remake of a late entry in the series. Although the gameplay is similar, combat isn’t the only way to battle through Privateer’s plot. In this offshoot, players can choose to become merchants, pirates or mercenaries in a scenario that’s more similar to the classic Elite (another old standard to get the remake treatment). Unlike Elite, Privateer follows a pre-set storyline to completion.

This version is built on the Vega Strike game engine, an original, open source game in its own right (see vegastrike.sourceforge.net).

Gemini Gold is a faithful remake of the original Privateer – with 1994 vintage graphics and gameplay intact. Don’t expect Half Life 2 style 3D accelerated effects. What this remake does capture, though, is the spirit of a game series that has had a lasting influence on the genre to this day.

Before you venture out into the black vacuum of space for the first time though, we advise a quick read of the bundled manual. Otherwise you could find yourself staring at a starfield feeling a little bit useless. There’s no in-game help to speak of.

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