Noctis

Noctis is a wonderful space-exploration simulator; I doubt any C+ and Assembly game can get closer to perfection then this.

The Noctis galaxy has only 256 colors, but the use of these colors are extraordinary, with fully detailed planetary landscapes, great effects, and just sometimes stunningly beautifull sceneries. The galaxy also has no less then over 70 billion stars, sorted out over many star and planet-classes; using semi-random seeds similar to that of Elite 2 and 3, just much more advanced. Only Noctis is firmly set on exploration - there's no empires to be build, no aliens to be slain, no beam cannons, no particle weapons, simply because Noctis doesn't need any of those. What it's got instead are the StarMap and Guide, extraordinery DOS-graphics and one of the most beautiful atmosphere you'll ever encounter in any game.

And to think, the current Noctis is only the beginning, with a 32 bit Linoleum (Alex's own programming system) version to follow soon, a project named "Noctis V"!

In short, Noctis is a unique space-exploration game, with literally endless possibilities. It's not for the space-shooter fans, nor for die-hard action gamers. Noctis is for explorers; those that dream of the wonders out there. Noctis is quite simply one of the best games I've ever played - within both freeware and commercial; a simulator of dreams.

This game just astounds me.

To think that you can start on one end of the galaxy, fire up your engines and zip to the other end, enter a detailed and unique star system, land on a precise location on one of its planets and sit under a tree gently swaying in the breeze on a hill overlooking the sea where waves roll lazily into the shore is one thing. Knowing that there is no other place like this in all of the countless stars making up Noctis' galaxy is another.

Doing all this with a program that's just over a megabyte is something else entirely. People give lip service to game-making as an "art" while it tends to instead behave like an industry. Noctis really is a work of art.

However, before going in one should realize that Noctis is not a goal-oriented game. Exploring where one wishes and snapping some pictures is the simulation in its entirety. If that's not your cup of tea, please don't penalize this sim for not being something it isn't intended to.

With 3D graphics and infinite space to explore, Noctis is an incredible space simulator, which allows you to explore and adventure through a fictional galaxy.

In many ways this title is similar to Microsoft Space simulator, but it is freeware, which makes it a whole lot better, right?

In this game you control a spacecraft and you have the ability to explore any planet or star you see and plot a course and land the planet’s surface.
If you like, when you discover a star, you can name it and send the name to the Noctis website and they will add it to their community star map.

The download size is amazing since you can fit all the 3D graphics and seemingly endless space in just over one megabyte.

This really is one of the best freeware space exploration games out there.

<b>NB:</b> Check out the website. It's really worth it!

Ok, here are the main flaws that prevented me from playing this game:

1. Extremely confusing interface, it took me 10 minutes to just find out how to get to a planet and I was never even able to land on it.

2. Controls. It was difficult to use the mouse to move and look around, ESPECIALLY with the frustrating menu that kept exiting out of itself unless you move really fast.

3. Graphics. While they look fine, they made me have motion sickness after 20 minutes, and I do play many first person shooters and only have had this occur once before.

So I guess other players may have enjoyed it, but I give this an unplayable rating.