Elite: Dangerous
Overview -
The first 'Elite' game, released in 1984 for the Acorn Electron home computer, was hugely influential and one of the industry’s first open world titles. There have been several sequels but nothing for the last twenty years or so, until Frontier Developments, helmed by the original game’s creator, funded a Kickstarter in late 2012. 'Elite: Dangerous' was released in 2014 for PC and spent some time in the Xbox One Game Preview program before it was given a full release on the console.
Video Review
I am happy to report that almost all of the engine issues have been smoothed out, and 'Elite' on the One looks and plays better than ever. There’s no chop when entering or leaving hyperspace, no title crashes, no strange clipping. The game looks very nice on the Xbox, especially all of the pretty nebulae and stars and other astronomy stuff. The only issue of note is some unsightly blooming on the screen when near a star, but this is pretty minor.
Audio Review
If I were a future spaceship captain, I feel like this is how it would sound. Well, I know that there aren’t really sounds in space, but that would make for a very dull soundscape. Lasers and engines and all of that are added for effect and pilot awareness. The narrator has a lovely voice. The music is curious and dark at the same time, much like the galaxy itself.
Final Thoughts
The content and gameplay of 'Elite' is much as it was during the Preview program, which is to say excellent. The technical issues are much improved, and the addition of CQC is a net positive. It can be a cold, uninviting experience for the new player, but it is a great spaceship game that should not be missed.
