Descent - Freespace - The Great War (2CD)(1998)

Descent: Freespace is a space combat simulator set in a future where the Galactic Terran Alliance (GTA) has been locked in a long and costly conflict with the alien Vasudan Empire. As a rookie pilot, the player begins by flying routine combat missions against Vasudan forces, only to find both sides threatened by a mysterious and technologically superior alien race known as the Shivans. The sudden arrival of this new enemy forces former rivals to form an uneasy alliance in order to survive.

The game focuses on space dogfighting across large-scale battles involving both nimble starfighters and massive capital ships. Players are assigned a wide variety of mission types, including escorting convoys, launching bombing runs against enemy destroyers, reconnaissance flights, and full-scale fleet engagements. Each mission is scored based on objectives completed, accuracy, and overall performance, with briefings and debriefings tying individual sorties into the larger war effort. Wingmen fight alongside the player using intelligent AI, and reinforcements can be called in when available, creating the sense of being part of a larger coordinated force.

Weapons range from energy cannons and guided missiles to heavy bombs designed for capital ship strikes, with loadouts chosen prior to each mission. Players can pilot multiple classes of fighters and bombers, each with distinct handling and combat roles. Capital ships themselves act as both allies and enemies - towering vessels bristling with turrets that can be protected or destroyed depending on mission objectives. The game also supports online multiplayer, allowing cooperative or competitive missions against human pilots.