Noctis
And hooked you will be, indeed. The program is surprisingly small: the virtually unlimited galaxy fits in less than 1MB of space-- yet another testament to the fact that good games don't need to be big. The highlights of Noctis are the excellent 3D graphics, as well as the dynamic nature of its galaxy. For example, you can swing past a planet, land on its surface, and watch a tree swaying in the winds amidst heavy rainfall. The physics are reasonably realistic, although the program focuses much more on exploration (and the wonder of discovery) than on spacecraft behavior. One of the best features in Noctis is that the program allows you to name any star and planet you discover. The "official" starmap and galactic guide is maintained by a very active Noctis community, and you can send your own star names and comments to the maintainer for inclusion in the next version of the guide and starmap. This means that the universe in Noctis is continually evolving and expanding. It's a lot of fun just to download new versions of the starmap and guide once in a while just to see the new stars that fellow explorers have named.
With an excellent graphics model, solid gameplay, and an endlessly changing galaxy to explore, Noctis is a rare space exploration program that can evoke a sense of wonder in us all. Highly recommended to anyone who is interested in spaceflight, or just space in general. Two thumbs up, way up!
Average Rating: | 9.03 [355 votes] |
Genre: | Simulation |
Designer: | Alessandro Ghignola |
Developer: | Freeware |
Publisher: | Freeware |
Year: | 2001 |
Software Copyright: | Alexander |
Theme: | Freelance, Unique |
Multiplayer: | |
Related Links: | |
More Info: | Mobygames | The Web |
System Requirements: | Windows 95/98 |
If you like this game, try: | Orbiter 2001, Shuttle, Earth Orbit Stations |
Thanks to... | |
Technical Notes: |
Screenshots © The Good Old Days