We did not review X3 Terran Conflict when it was first launched to the gaming world, but now that the long awaited 2.0 patch also known as The Aldrin Missions add-on has been released we are giving the game a long deserved once over and it is a shame we did not see it sooner. Hundreds of ships, massive open space combat, trading, exploration and more await players who are willing to experience this game which continues to impress me every time I play it.

This is the final game of the lauded X trilogy and like all endings it is a big one. It takes the story back to our solar system and asks the questions how the universe has changed, how has Earth changed and how well has the human race played with others? The Aldrin Missions extends the story by finding a lost group of Terrans and how the humans of Earth wish to add them back to the fold of mother Earth and of course how everything will go wrong.

The only question a PC gamer need to ask themselves about X3 Terran Conflict is, are they ready for something so massively well done that does not have a monthly fee?


X3 is one of the most complex PC games I have ever played control wise and it makes me wish I had a joystick/throttle and control switch system to play a game like this because it is impressive and awe inspiring. If you purchased the digital version of the game from a service such as Steam, I would recommend downloading the PDF Manual and printing out the commands to have them close at hand while you play the game. There are nearly a hundred commands for everything from space flight, combat, communication, sector maps and more and it is much easier to hit a single key or keystroke than use your mouse for autopilot follow, communication and everything else.

The game is open ended almost sandbox type of game that asks you to blow up the enemy, fly millions of kilometers, trade and buy goods, converse with nice and not so nice people and even build things such as a floating factory. This is more than your typical fly to point A, kill X number of Aliens and fly to point B games. There is even some interesting boarding of enemy battleships by outside groups, something I have yet to experience, but it sounds interesting to say the least.

One thing about X3 is you must like long flights, because even with time compression you are still flying some very long distances that take a long time, not unlike the MMORPG EVE Online which has some similarities to X3 (or X3 to EVE Online). Even the most die-hard PC gamer will be impressed at the large universe in which you can travel and raise havoc in.


Those multiplayer only gamers should continue to look elsewhere for a multiplayer game because X3 does not offer any sort of multiplayer gaming and it shouldn’t. There is no way that a multiplayer component fitted to the current X3 Terran Conflict game would be beneficial and in the end it would probably hinder the actual game. Kudos to the team for knowing that serving two gaming masters never works and putting their efforts into creating a fantastic single player experience.

The 2.0 patch or the Aldrin Missions, which everyone should have by now, is extremely impressive and adds much to the game from new areas, ships, missions and more. The new area has a good story line which continues from Terrain Conflict.
From the Publisher - Deep Silver - In X3: Terran Conflict (the predecessor to 2.0), the long-lost Terran colony of Aldrin was rediscovered. Now, after numerous years of isolation, the Terrans are keen to bring the Aldrans back into the fold as part of their massive effort to colonize areas of space thought lost or inaccessible. No colonization is easy, however, and you will be asked to not only help in the shaping of the new frontier, but will also be called upon to provide protection for the colonization effort against forces determined to oppose the Aldrin Expansion. New Terran stations and complexes, a new Terran ship and a host of other new features are introduced as you play a decisive role in the shaping of this new Terran frontier.

The great part of the 2.0 patch is the fact it is 100 percent free and for the large amount of extra gaming you receive it makes the games overall value even higher.


Impressive graphics best describe X3 Terran Conflict and while the interface is minimalist in nature the rest of the game shines with impressive visuals and cinematic moments. There were several times where you are in the middle of a battle or flying to a specific location and you come near a massive battleship and the sheer size and beauty of the ship leaves you wanting to fly around it and just be in awe. Battles are also very cool to look at from a distance with weapon fire and missile trails swarming all around. This is one impressive visual game to feast your eyes on and while the graphics of EVE Online are better overall, this is certainly the next best looking space simulation/combat game for the PC.

Audio wise the game is very good. The music is well done but at times it does feel almost out of place, but other than some odd music mis-steps, the sound effects are great, the little bit of voice over work is good and not annoying (thankfully).


Egosoft created a high value in the game comes from the strong single player game with many open missions and a wide variety of jobs with over a 100 ships to pilot. I will be cautious and not say the game has a perfect value score, especially for many gamers who will only play it through once, but it is one of those great games you can stick with and never feel ripped off.

X3 Terran Conflict is not one of those space opera games like Wing Commander was, nor is it a pure action game like Starlancer was, but X3 continues the strong game experience we saw with X2 but gives us a bigger and more enjoyable experience without overwhelming most gamers. While it might scare some gamers away with how large this game is and how complex the controls are, but most PC gamers will eat that up and enjoy it. It’s a must buy for those PC gamers who want one of those games you could not play on any console.