When comparing FreeSpace 2 vs Gears of War 4, the Slant community recommends FreeSpace 2 for most people. In the question“What are the best sci-fi PC games?” FreeSpace 2 is ranked 16th while Gears of War 4 is ranked 26th. The most important reason people chose FreeSpace 2 is:
Very dramatic story.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Dramatic story
Very dramatic story.
Pro Freespace upgrade project
Volition has released the source code for Freespace 2 under a freeware like license which allows players and modders to modify every aspect of the main game.
Pro Solid Fan community that is committed to this game
Additionally, with the source code being freeware, there have been amazing fan-made games built upon the same engine (Diaspora - Battlestar Galactica). Use the GOG, NOT STEAM. STEAM is garbage for this game. You need GoG and Knossos launcher from the Hard-Light Productions team. See here. Enjoy!
Pro Supports force feedback joystick
Playing with a force feedback joystick with lots of buttons is a great option.
Pro Local splitscreen multiplayer
Nowadays, some titles tend to exclude local multiplayer, focusing primarily on online play but Gears of War 4 is an exception. You can play both the campaign and all multiplayer modes with your friends via splitscreen.
Pro Really fun horde mode
Horde mode is a multiplayer co-op mode where up to 5 players try to survive against waves of enemies. It features regular combat and allows you to build fortifications, which you can do by collecting resources from killed enemies and using the fabricator. This allows you to build blockades, sentries, and various other defenses, giving it a very tower defense-esque feel, which is also a lot of fun.
You can also choose between 5 classes with each class being better at something different. For example, the Engineer can build and repair defenses much faster than others and the Heavy uses stronger weapons that allow him to kill large enemies much faster. As a result, teamwork is very important, so when your squad is co-operating like a well-oiled machine, it just feels incredibly satisfying.
Pro Exciting gameplay
In Gears of War you and a squad of several other soldiers fight against the enemies of humanity, using various weapons such as rifles, a shotgun, and even a weapon that fires saw blades. It's very fast paced and a lot of fun, rewarding not only effective use of cover and accurate shooting, but also quick decision making on when to charge your enemy and take them out with your knife or your chainsaw bayonet. This leads to a lot of very intense, sometimes brutal, and always satisfying battles, making Gears of War 4 a really enjoyable ride.
Pro Excellent visuals
Gears of War 4 has some really outstanding visuals with high quality textures, great lighting, and excellent shadow mapping. This makes all of the armored human characters, monstrous lizard-like enemies, and the various lush landscapes filled with ruins look especially good. All of this is turned up a notch with the help of excellent weather effects, such as rain, lighting, and gusts of heavy wind that carry massive objects over your head, giving Gears of War 4 a very cinematic feel.
Cons
Con Need to be computer savvy
There are some minor modifications that need to be adjusted for each install. Not hard, but potentially challenging to a non-tech person. Having said that, the community is very supportive, albeit very nerdy.
Con Steam version
Users complain about the Steam version, it does not seem to include third-party software that is included in the GOG version.
Con Pure action game
There is no simulation of space or economy, it is just simple FPS action.
Con Poorly done story
The story has some cool moments, but it mostly focuses on pointless drama and issues that end up feeling like filler because they have no real impact on the story or character building. This coupled with a few plot holes will make you want to press the skip button and just get back into the action.