Don't Sleep On X4: FOUNDATIONS!

I reviewed X4: Foundations in 2019 - but how about its present state? Especially after three DLCs with a fourth one on the way? The expansions turned a decent game into a truly awesome "pocket universe". So: don't sleep on X4. You might miss something. It still is janky sometimes and not for everyone, but the most annoying things have been fixed in my opinion - which leaves us with a unique game sitting in a niche it created by itself.
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[@WatchMysh]

Correction: I SCRATCHED the surface, not SCRAPPED lol... anyways: X4 does almost everything but nothing perfect. It's rough around the edges and sometimes even feels like it doesn't want to be played - but it also is charming in its own way. What do you think? //edit March 27th: giveaway is over, happy winner has been notified and is ... happy. :)

[@aleXXblume]

Sounds pretty realistic 🤪

[@ragnos28]

I think that, If there is one aspect were X4 shine above any other, is carrier gameplay. I'm not sure if that was the intention, but X4 devs created one of the most enjoyable and satisfying carrier gameplay experience from all the games in the sci-fi space simulation genre (at least from what I've seen). Just stay near the landing pads of a Raptor, while it sends its 100 fighters to spread death all around, its like you are inside of a movie. And after, use the camera to watch in close up, as each of those 100 fighters, fight for survival while trying to turn the enemies to shreds. 🤓

[@WatchMysh]

@@ragnos28 can't argue with that. It's a sight to behold.

[@ragnos28]

@@WatchMysh Plus, you can kick a fighter pilot from the seat, take the "stick" and show him/her how is done. 😅

[@markhackett2302]

@@ragnos28 Although something to keep in mind is that the Zeus doesn't best play like the other carriers, as your video recently showed, trying just leads to a lesser experience.

[@ZlothZloth]

A very important thing about this game is that it demands some serious time. It's a long, complex game. If you've got the time to spend learning its systems, it will reward you for it.

[@WatchMysh]

Yes. But the nice thing is: the game itself gives you a lot of time to do so. No need to rush anything.

[@cnewtonc]

@@WatchMysh That's my favorite part. I have never played the storylines.

[@WatchMysh]

@@cnewtonc I really like some of them. Just playing the Split story as a Split.

[@ZlothZloth]

@@WatchMysh Yep, it sure does that. And it even says so in the missions sometimes!

[@im_piano]

How taxing is it in time compared to E:D?

[@ssfbob456]

So I watched this video and picked it up with all the DLC during the Spring Steam sale for like $45 all together, and God damn this is exactly the space game I've been wanting for a long time. Working as a fighter escort for a bunch of capital ships and ending up in a massive fleet battle felt like something out of Babylon 5.

[@WatchMysh]

Nice! :) And B5 is one of the best shows ever. Aren't they rebooting it?

[@ssfbob456]

@@WatchMysh Yeah, apparently there's supposed to be an announcement about it at the San Diego Comic Con this year.

[@vadimnimarov8796]

how does this game compare with Star Citizen?

[@WatchMysh]

@@vadimnimarov8796 it doesn't. It's an economic/strategic sandbox that runs on your PC. It's in space, too, but that's mostly it. Combat is more fleet focused than dog fighting.

[@ssfbob456]

@Vadim Nimarov Okay, I say this as someone who's played Star Citizen recently, like in the past week, so keep that in mind. Unlike Star Citizen, this game actually functions. Star Citizen is great when it works correctly and you're up against other players with your friends, but their AI for NPCs is, even for an Alpha release, absolutely pathetic. Add to it that all the missions within the same are all basically the same and the novelty of the graphics wears off pretty fast. Star Citizen is a game that does a few things at a mediocre level. You want great space combat? Other games, like X4, do it better. You want a good FPS? There's plenty of dedicated shooters that do it better. With 10 years worth of development and a $500,000,000 budget, the excuse of "its still in alpha" doesn't work for me anymore. They push out half-baked features and never fix them in favor of the next half-baked feature with the promise that it'll all work out eventually. They're either lazy, incompetent, or both. I can't recommend spending any money getting into Star Citizen, graphically it's amazing but it falls flat in every other category, especially from a technical aspect. There are plenty of other space games out there, and though they aren't promising you the last game you'll ever need to play, it's still far better than empty promises and faked demos.

[@l0rf]

One of the oldest memories I have is "this is the story of a dream. Man's dream of freedom in their own universe". The intro to X - Beyond The Frontier, closer to 30 years ago now than I'd like. X4 is a wonderful title if you like the style of game and for a team of that size, it's fantastic what they managed to accomplish.

[@Daimo83]

The X1 intro was beautiful. That song + kingdoms end are some of the best game music ever.

[@WatchMysh]

Same :) X1 was glorious

[@estranhokonsta]

Talking about old memories. I was introduced to the X series by a guy that i haven't seen in so many years and years. He did that for many other cultural things that i was ignorant of. And i tried to do the same to him. It was a kind of a trade of interests. I must say that i grew in what some would call a "culturally centered" (even eclectic) family. So was taught to respect all knowledge and cultures. But only much latter did i understood how much he truly helped in the growing of my world view. I wonder how he is doing now... My first X series game must have been X2 or X3 reunion? It was around that time. I really can't remember much of the details. I would have to replay it to be sure. But i do remember spending countless sleepness night hours upon night hours just trying to do trading, expanding my fleet and its tech, etc. The travel were so slow that it made me constantly "stressed" because i had to go to work in the day time🙂 But it was so good. It is still one of my happiest time playing a game. I had almost forgotten it. Now i think it would be impossible for me to spend much time in any game whatsoever. Times and people change. But I am glad to hear that the series still goes on and is creating more and better content. Long live the X series.

[@jh5kl]

​@@estranhokonsta that s a really very interesting comment to read 🙂👍

[@efxnews4776]

Yeah, i'm a noob in the franchise but not new to X4... i can say safetly that this is the game that make me consider to upload my mind into a computer only to play X4 for a long time... Since this won't happen for X4, i can only hope to be alive when X5 comes out, then i will upload my mind into a computer and play it forever!

[@YumLemmingKebabs]

The Argon are descendants of Terran soldiers, not colonists. They were the fleet that lured the original Xenon fleet through the earth gate before destroying it to save Earth from invasion.

[@Nomammosway]

Lore! Is king!

[@WatchMysh]

Yep, remembered that wrong

[@YumLemmingKebabs]

@@WatchMysh Er... sorry if that came across as like, assholey. Sometimes I forget to put the right words in my sentences to make it sound like I'm not angry or whatever.

[@WatchMysh]

@@YumLemmingKebabs Everything is fine. :) I don't give a heart to a comment if I don't mean it.

[@maxmustermann-zx9yq]

but how did they "forget " about earth then? given the state of technology, are you really telling me that the planet earth was an unbelievable myth to following generations? since the gates still existed, how was it that in X2 only the goners believed earth even existed?

[@martixbg]

The appeal of X is the Dwarf Fortress-like world sim and the scale jumping - from 4X style management, to commanding fleets, to piloting individual fighters.

[@Triaxx2]

The UI definitely feels a lot like Dwarf Fortress. (Which I say affectionately.)

[@krixpop]

With all due Respect, is the other way around. The appeal of Dwarf Fortress is X-like world sim _without_ the scale jumping. X: Beyond the Frontier is from 1999, more than *7 years older* than the Dwarf Fortress Alpha. - Dwarf Fortress is an extraordinary Game ! But correct History of Games matters ! - Wow, we reached that time ... History of PC games ! Who would have thought some 40 years ago that we (gaming industry) will become the greatest, most profitable and the fastest growing Industry in World's economy ! Mind-blowing ! And is just the beginning ... - Thus: Game History = IMPORTANT ! 🍻🧐

[@Jeff1tgdsghdehhsf]

I always thought more of Mount & Blade

[@ItIsYouAreNotYour]

@@krixpop X's world sim isn't even close to DF's world simulation. It's not even close. You couldn't fit DF in this game if these graphics scaled to the same level.

[@krixpop]

@@ItIsYouAreNotYour Agree, but is not about what game is bigger. is about that X was 1st. And Is game history. That is all i pointed out. Is the same as saying that a TGV is faster than a steam train,. Yes, but the steam train was 1st. And history should be known and respected. imho.

[@richardneville4255]

One of the best games I've got in my library, love playing it during the winter months. Progressing from a one manned ship to building a massive space empire and going to war with other factions, nothing like it! Egosoft deserve more recognition for what they've achieved here. It took me 3 attempts to get into this mainly because of the learning curve. Thanks for all the tutorial series from those who do them.

[@brichards989]

It took me 4-5 years after the game was released but it's in really good shape right now and on its way to becoming one of my all-time favorite games.

[@WatchMysh]

Same here

[@marcinrzu]

it took me 4-5 years to load my save, but on the upside it was the only 4-5 years I haven't encountered any bugs in this game

[@ashamahee]

@@marcinrzu LOL XD

[@Parvus_Symmachus]

And in those 5 years it got realy expensive with the 3 dlcs and the trend is going up because there is the next dlc in the line, creating a bloody mess of poop as a Game and then need half a dekade to fix it and charge the players for their mistakes? Sorry im not hooked and ive played every entry The Original up until Albion Prelude (and even have 3 saves in Farnham's Legacy) And these were always in a bad state on release but learning from mistakes is not something this Developer is capable of... it doesn't matter how much Money you throw at them...

[@Nomammosway]

Same, The labor of love is real..

[@planexshifter]

The Ka’ak have high levels of tech- They can warp! They can travel sectors without using gates!

[@Astrosisphere]

Yeah - I was thinking: "They haven't gone and nerfed the Khaak again have they?!" when he said that! In X2, encountering a Khaak M3 in anything less than an M6 or without Strafe Drive Extension pretty much meant death!

[@MetalBawkses1]

Saw this video a few weeks ago and decided to finally take the plunge and buy the game, tough to get into at first but i've lost hours upon hours to it now, absolutely loving it

[@Yolo_Swagins]

same

[@planexshifter]

I’m at 1,444 hours and not even close to being done with it.

[@Turanic1]

Honestly if you love Homeworld/Freelancer/Stellaris , this game is for you... And I mentioned a few rts for a reason ... Do you like stealing ships? Building stations? Do you want multiple storylines for various factions like in TESIV ? Do you like running 100+ ship fleets? Would you like to customize every weapon/ shield/ engine or skin on your ships? Do you like to trade? Do you want an enemy reminding Reapers from Mass Effect?

[@Mixail747]

To get to all that you need to battle through messy controls and bloated UI.

[@5tahlin]

So is it possible to play this like freelancer with just oen combat spacecraft? I don't want to get into trading and economics, just dogfights, missions and improve my spaceship.

[@JamesStDon]

I have the same question

[@desepticon4]

@@5tahlin Yes.

[@markhackett2302]

@@Mixail747 No, the controls are fine, you can save your own, all that "messy control" are from peolpe who get the (admittedly confusing) pitch/roll the opposite way round, and from Star Citizen fanbois who complain that docking in X4 sux. The UI is not bloated, it merely does a lot.

[@TheCzechmate007]

Oh Lord, I spent so much time playing the X3 saga... Thanks for bringing it again to my attention! I spent the last 3 years in Elite dangerous and Star Citizen. 🙂

[@WatchMysh]

You're welcome :) X4 wasn't that good at release but imho is in a very playable state right now.

[@jankulis2502]

Finally, a good review that actually persuaded me to try out the game

[@WatchMysh]

Thanks - but be careful: it still is an X game. I wouldn't consider this as a review. It's more like a "state of the game" and my biased opinion. I didn't like the game at release but now I'm having a blast.

[@Yendisz]

I really liked you narrating the whole thing, insightfull, funny, informative. all the good qualities keep it up man

[@WatchMysh]

Thanks for the supporting words :) I'm giving my best.

[@DrrZed]

I like to say that X4 is 'a 4X where you start as a basic unit and end up as a ruler of an NGO Superpower'.

[@JswahSwitch]

The best way I've explained the X games is they start off as a first person flight sim and end as a Sins of a Solar Empire/Stellaris style RTS

[@jackroach5583]

Haven't played this in around 2 years. Watching this make me want to get back into it. Great video which sums up this underrated game. Love the X series, great replayability!

[@haconen3201]

That was a really nice, and straight forward display of all the new additions over the years. I will give it another go when 6.0 is out. Thank the vid mate

[@arniespace]

Nice job breaking down X4 for people who never played it or are on the fence about purchasing it. I started playing X4 about 3 years ago, best game ever in my opinion. Every game start is totally different for sure. In my most recent one a branch 9 destroyer I (the bad one) completely annihilated all the stations in Argon Prime just 6 hours into the game. Never saw anything like that happen before, especially so early in the game. I like to build stations and get a strong economy going, eventually building my own shipyards. I pay attention to which wares are in short supply and build stations to produce those first. I produce everything I need to build ships myself and I trade with all of the factions. Combat is a lot of fun in X4 as well. Even though I keep on good terms with all the major factions in the game there are plenty of Xenon, Khaak and pirates to kill. The pirates especially need to be dealt with if you have a lot of trade ships flying about. I love the fact that you can take control of practically every ship in the game. You can't get a hold of the Xenon or Khaak ships, but there are like a hundred ships that you can fly, and they all feel different as well.

[@eggscellentTH]

Thank you so much for explaining so much about X4. I've been interested in X4 because I loved playing X3, but I had no idea about the seed universes and how different each playthrough can be due to the factions behaving differently.

[@WatchMysh]

Thanks :) It's not always such a black and white scenario as I described but it can happen ofc. In my momentary play through I have an ultra strong teladi empire and shit blew up in Getsu Fune right from the start.

[@IIIJG52]

@@WatchMysh I just love the teladi back from older x games, its just a shame that some of their combat ships, especially the phoenix is so awful. Love their tanky faction theme though.

[@WatchMysh]

@@IIIJG52 yes the Phoenix is really bad. But love their shields. :)

[@krixpop]

@@IIIJG52 I have the impression that X Rebirth is kind of more good looking ... I may be wrong, but imho, the ships are just awesome in X Rebirth. edit: yet excitedly looking forward for X4: Kingdom End ...

[@Gibsland]

@@krixpop That's why the X:Rebirth Ship pack is a must have mod for myself. Hoping they fix it after 6.0 dropped so that I can bring those beautiful ships back in.

[@LordAlderaan]

There is also Avorion. Quite a little gem that flies under the radar too.

[@bitmau5]

Don't remember when I subbed, but glad this showed up in my feed, thanks!!!!

[@andreasfunke843]

Great video, thank you. Let me add the fact, that the studio behind it, only has 20 employees compared to the hundrets of employees in other game studios. Also the next version 6 (which is currently in open beta) will optimize a lot in terms of physics, performance and overall playability, so it may be worth to look into that. I for myself did not play 100s of hours yet, but still love the game for it's complexity.

[@WatchMysh]

Yes they are only 20 people. That's why things take a bit longer but you can feel the commitment to everything they do. :)

[@marcinrzu]

I can see the poor little studio's commitment to the 50 euro pricetag, along with 15 euros per DLC, 4 years after game release, and this game plays like Early Access title for 20 euros. Just saying.

[@WatchMysh]

@@marcinrzu You're aware X4 is a PC only production? This comes with some economic challenges especially for small studios. Also full price after 4 years is common practice. There are sales every few weeks, that's how today's video game market functions. You can still buy Witcher 3 for full price if you want - 8 years after release.

[@marcinrzu]

​@@WatchMysh yes, I am aware, I guess most early access titles are PC only, aren't they? just checked, you can buy Witcher 3 on GOG for 10 euros, DLCs inluded, Most of games after 4 years do not retain the same pricetag, and the ones that do, include all DLCs in the price. So, Witcher 3 - I think it was a bit more originally, so this makes you a liar :) of course I might add that Witcher 3 was a finished product upon its release. I might also add it was considered among the best in its genre, and neither of those things can be said about X4. I'm very sorry but you come across as dishonest, so either you are sponsored by Egosoft (which it very much looks like you are) and just misleading potential customers into buying this game, or just very very biased fanboy. Except the game giveaway sort of gave you away. Don't bother responding. I've no time for salespeople.

[@WatchMysh]

@@marcinrzu now you're trolling me. There's an 80% sale going on at gog atm which also contains the Witcher series. The Witcher also was developed by an established studio financed by a Publisher namely Bandai Namco. It had lots of performance problems at release & was critiqued because of a graphics downgrade. I asked for the game key to give away after the video script was finished. Asked for Vanilla, they gave me the 2022 bundle without having seen a word of the script. I'm a hobby KZbinr, dude. No conspiracy here. X4 isn't finished by the way and will very likely receive an "ultimate edition" after it's done. Like most games receive as you said. It's okay to not to like a game I might add.

[@SovereignZuul]

I have never even watched a single X4 video before. I have played X3 briefly and it didn't vibe. This video is fantastic, it makes me want to play X4.

[@WatchMysh]

Thanks :) But don't expect too much! It still is an X game after all. A bit clunky, a bit broken, but very fun and rewarding once you look beyond that and get the hang of it. But the game's foundation is a lot better than X3's. Better physics engine now with 6.0 and the economic simulation beneath the gameplay layer doesn't cheat.

[@denisrozhkov7972]

It seems after more then 20 years of development Egosoft has finally realized how to converge gun shot in the center of the aiming reticle, true professionals :)))))

[@danceswithsheep3058]

I have bought all the DLC but still haven’t played it since the original release period although, if I don’t do so before, I know the Boron update will drag me back in. Thanks for reminding me what I’m missing.

[@WatchMysh]

You're welcome :) The Boron update also dragged me back to the game.

[@milbobaggings1236]

i just got the game and without your “how to” videos i’d be lost thank you so much and i hope to see more of x4 videos in the future

[@WatchMysh]

Thanks for taking the time to appreciate what I do! Means a lot to me. More X4 videos are coming up with the new dlc on the horizon. :)

[@jeremyortiz2927]

Thanks for the video! I had no idea this game existed. It looks really, REALLY cool.

[@WatchMysh]

You're welcome. X4 is really cool, but you have to get used to it. It does almost everything but nothing of it perfectly. So I can completely understand if some people don't like it at all. It's rough and sometimes even feels like it doesn't want to be played - but it also is charming in its own way.

[@markhackett2302]

@@WatchMysh It is also complex, and there are a lot of complaints about the UI, "unintuitive" or "a mess", but it is like people who use a lot of Adobe Photoship claiming "GIMP has a TERRIBLE UI", because they didn't want to learn how GIMP solved the problem, but GIMP owners not understanding the problem with the UI, after all GIMP is a multi-home document, there is one window for file operations, one window for editing the image, and another window for images, any number, because that is what UNIX does with its window manage, whilst Photoshop, being built only on Windows paradigms, may have separable tabs, but it is an MDI, it is "one window" for all file operations, editing and every image. AFTER you learn how the UI in X4 does it, you can say "Oh, that makes sense!", but there are many ways it COULD have made sense, and many complainers are wanting the UI to do what THEY want it to do in the way THEY want it done. Whether that works or not.

[@WatchMysh]

@@markhackett2302 I understand where you're coming from but still have to disagree. Yes, the X4 UI follows its own logic. Sadly this doesn't help much when far superior ways of interaction were developed in the meantime. Spent half of my career developing interfaces and the X4 UI experience is just sub par no matter how you get accustomed to its flaws. I could do a 10 Minute video alone on how to send ships around the map and how dynamic & intelligent UI systems could help you to coordinate your efforts. Especially a deep and complex game like X could profit incredibly from a modern UI. But you have to integrate it as a basic principle within the early stages. So there's no fixing now because you'd basically re-develop all interactions. Can't comment on GIMP. My last contact was in 2008 or so.

[@markhackett2302]

@@WatchMysh That's kinda the point, though. Some really can work with the Photoshop UI and call it wonderful and GIMP BAD. They aren't WRONG, just personal opinion. The example of parallax occlusion is apt here: that is a graphical technique developed and written a decade ago. But FS22 and Unreal Engine 5 only just get it. "While UE 4" was written, not "being written", BEFORE that, when it was complete, that better option of Parallax Occlusion existed. Because even for AAA teams that REALLY know their onions, adding in tech takes time, and probably even a new engine to do it. See RT1.0 vs RT2.0 and later. The map is a lot like the stragegy game Harpoon. And the popup menu, on a right click, is from UNIXland. IMO those are well done, just not the ONLY way it COULD have been done. Where the UI is "cluttered" is how it places elements on the map as popups. It is a lot better, you can get Info in a left hand pane or a right hand one, but if you have a pane open in both, there isn't much map screen left. And you can find you have an M trader and "the best price" is a station that doesn't have docking for it (or more commonly an L trader but no pier). No way to filter other than zoom in and try to scan round. Those are how I see it, and only a small selection of what I think, not the exhaustive list, so the UI does get in the way in places, but not sure that it can't help but do that (for example, to have readable text you HAVE to hide a fair chunk of map behind popups). But a lot of complains are "It isn't the way I want it done", and if someone wants THAT, feel free to make their own game. DETAIL matters, even if "Nah, I, Egosoft, decided to do it THIS way", detail of WHAT is to be done and WHY that way not a different way, still is helpful, but "do it this way" may cause problems elsewhere, rose tinted glasses and all that. But detail of what to do gives an opportunity to DO that, "It doesn't work" doesn't.

[@WatchMysh]

@@markhackett2302 Well... just: yes. Most criticism on UI is very subjective. That's why there's the best practice to not comment on UI changes until you worked at least two months with them. God I'm so glad I switched professions lol ... What I'm most irritated of (besides its structure sometimes) by the X UI is its lack of responsiveness. It's not "snappy" in as there's not a lot or not enough feedback on what's below or around your cursor. Improving that alone would be a big step forward.

[@Nathdood]

I've had this on my wishlist for years, but mixed reviews always kept me from playing. Maybe now is the time! Great video

[@WatchMysh]

There's a reason reviews are mixed. Like I said it's not for everyone and sometimes the UI stands between you and what you want to do. But if you can get used to that there's hundreds of hours of fun to be found in building an empire step by step.

[@Lucpol1986]

Between this video and Captain Collins’ channel, you will hopefully be persuaded to grab it on sale 👍🏾

[@ward6356]

my first space game was Freelancer. After that i was looking for another space game and stumbled on X2 the threat. Loved the series ever since.

[@myhorseisamazing5883]

Descendants not from colonists, but from earth military that lured terraformer fleet into gate network after they attacked earth for the first time. Earth gate was destroyed and usc fleet colonized Argon, named after admiral Nathan R. Gunne

[@WatchMysh]

You're right, thanks. Remembered this one wrong.

[@varlmorgaine3700]

Thank you for this informativ and really well made video :) had x4 lost from my radar a while now but maybe i should look into it

[@buckcherry2564]

I said I wouldnt play X4 until they added Boron...ABOUT TIME!! I LOVE X3:TC, making a dozen little BofuKing stations (2-3 modules), building bunkers around Paranid space to keep them in if they got hostile, using the Xenon sector to connect both boron space areas, all the while slowboating around in a Split Elephant, passing through systems and loosing trade drones as I casually command armies from my cockpit. Oh, and accidentally finding the Aran(?) having no idea what it is and accidentally blowing it up. so MANY memories from that game. Until X4 can give me that again....I just cant....now that the Boron are back, I will have a much harder time resisting.

[@WatchMysh]

Bofu King lol

[@Thaddarwin]

After many, many hours in ED - I'm looking for something else - there aren't many choices out there but you've pretty much convinced me that this might be my alternative. Excellent video and very informative. Thank you...!

[@WatchMysh]

The nice thing is that X4 isn't anything like ED. The focus lies in strategy/economics so there are no expectations to be shattered. Thanks for the nice words - and have fun!

[@Piroschatz44]

Dual Universe isn´t that bad either, but you have to like building, crafting, designing own ships and so on. Space Bourne 2 is fresh in EA, seems ok so far.

[@Aurinkohirvi]

Very well done review! I'll wishlist the game, maybe I find time to start playing it some day.

[@WatchMysh]

Thanks :) I've made a bunch of tutorials for it, too.

[@M1A1cavalryman]

Thank you for this! I'd been playing the X series since the original game but gave up over Rebirth. Your video convinced me to take another look.

[@DuaneGundrum]

I have owned this game and have wanted to get into it forever, but I remember trying way back in the day and just gave up. I am really looking forward to giving it another whirl.

[@andreyzhavoronkov6746]

I've been playing X2 and X3.. Your video has motivated me to give X4 a try :)

[@RobVespa]

Nice video! Always nice to hear people talking up the X series.

[@WatchMysh]

Thanks. :) love this game despite its obvious flaws

[@jjcra1]

This looks awesome, TY for showing it all. It looks very overwhelming.

[@WatchMysh]

"How to X4" incoming soon™

[@aguspuig6615]

Fun fact: the 4 in X4 means its the fourth entry in a series, to know more about the previous 3 google XXX!

[@WatchMysh]

Lol

[@jamesspencer9472]

Excellent video. I had no idea this game existed. I will look into it.

[@razorback0z]

At least now I know where the creatures that took over my house came from. Knew I should have cleaned that mold before it evolved.

[@23Kerber]

X4 was a game I took a gamble on when I saw it had mixed reviews. It was well before any Expacs had released, and I thought for such a low price, worst case scenero I am out like $20. I am QUITE happy I took that gamble because it feels like such a unique title. It scratches many itches and the available mods add an increadable amount of extra play time.

[@WatchMysh]

New mod tools are on the way which means mods will get even better :)

[@krixpop]

The entire X series was/is awesome. X3 Reunions being the 1st "modern" so to speak, with X3 Terran Conflict / X3 Albion Prelude, two absolutely gorgeous and complex games plus for those owning the X3 Albion Prelude the FREE X3: Farnham's Legacy, a complete new game; a cooperation between Egosoft & Gamers. - Fun fact and the TRUTH : Early 2006 I wrote a Letter (paper in envelope, lol) to Egosoft asking if I could share my X3: Reunion DVD with my friend. They answered that is not necessary, and included in their response envelope an X3: Reunion DVD with a key for FREE ! Egosoft: love them forever !

[@lukaszjanusz4230]

I used to own X1 back in the day (probably disk is still around somewhere). It's amazing how the game evolved. Think I will give it a go

[@Fallub]

Great summary of this complex monster of a game. Thank you.

[@RailingMedia]

"Subscribe, or not" - and for that alone, I absolutely have subscribed. Good content doesn't need to beg.

[@markhackett2302]

Large ships enter from BEHIND the gates now. This means thankfully no more fighters splatting on the windshield as the carrier goes through, that was the major reason capital classes were eschewed in X3. "Aaaghhhh. Boom. Reputation lost 1 point" every time you drove a big ship through a gate....

[@WatchMysh]

Oooh! Explains a lot.Thanks. I thought the wayfinding was broken again. Well, it still is though. I had enough other video snippets prepared but used the wrong one here - because I didn't know it was a feature.

[@markhackett2302]

@@WatchMysh Large/Extra Large ships also teleport so no longer have to fly physically through the gate, that speeds up capital class ships getting through the gates. If you see a bright light (like in the Terminator movies, at the start, when the Terminator first appears). Pathing is STILL a problem, but there are more roles and commands, to alleviate it somewhat (see, for example, Ragnos28). You will see that in destroyers trying to take out a station. It works, but if it blows up a part of a station and the bit it decides to shoot at next is BEHIND a blown up part, well they will beeline for that target, taking them right over the blown up bit and into range of EVERY TURRET ON THE STATION. Big bada boom. Surrounding a station helps there. By the time one bit of the station goes boom, the other bits are about to go boom too. Pathing being "make a bee line" is the problem. If the destroyer engaged a larger curve "great circle" path to keep out of range of the station guns, then reoriented, you'd not see any problem. More roles and more commands make that less of a problem, and those changes are part of the base game, so you get the "Bombard" role when 6.0 releases for the base game, you don't have to buy the Boron DLC too.

[@WatchMysh]

@@markhackett2302 Could this problem not be resolved with just bigger gates or adding a "capital gate" to each smaller one in the first place? I know it would break the lore of only being a single gate between jump points ... but I guess the community would accept that as less immersion breaking than any workaround. And yes, EgoSoft's integration of anything included in DLC besides content into the base game is outstanding practice. Love them for that. The footage for this video was recorded with Beta 6.0 revision 4 by the way. Didn't try out the new roles yet, though.

[@markhackett2302]

@@WatchMysh Not really solved by "bigger gates" because the player always ignores safety, but also gates no longer face the other end so you are at most 45 degrees off straight through, like happened with XBtF/eXtension (it wasn't a square any more in X2, but can't remember if the gates were any random direction from some other. 90 degrees off, and even an infinite gate is just a straight line that you will bounce off. Making a more realistic non-square sector led to this. I am glad they put fewer rocks in. X3 improved pathing for capital ships massively, but they then made the capitals even bigger, and they spent all their time in-system "trying to thread between rocks" and getting nowhere, negating any improved pathing. Dagnabit.

[@WatchMysh]

​​@@markhackett2302ell I'd let the capitals pass through the top portion of the gate, mark this area with flashing beacons, and let the players learn safety by themselves. I'd really love to see prettier gate effects btw. They look kinda out of place within all the other visual improvements.

[@mekal177]

x series seems like its finally gaining traction so glad to see this series getting the recognition it deserves have been playing off and on for about 15 years it truly is the best space sim

[@ryanorionwotanson4568]

I'm intrigued, I'd like to try this.

[@thezanzibarbarian5729]

Seems a silly thing to do, but it's something I like to do. You start off on an "S" class ship as a passenger that's docked on a station. You also have one "M" class ship on the same station and one "XL" ship some distance away. First thing you do is to tell your "M" class ship to land on the "XL" ship. Once they've taken off, you command your "S" class ship to land on the "M" class ship. Then you sit back, go into 3rd person mode outside your "S" class ship and watch it all unfold as your "S" class ship lands on your "M" class ship that then lands on your "XL" ship. Once done, you get out of your "S" class ship and go into the "M" class ship and then onto the "XL" ship and to the bridge where you take the controls 8-))... And watching stations and ships being built is fun too. Seeing the little builder drones flying to and throw from the builder ship to the station as you watch the station slowly getting built, almost pixel by pixel. Same applies when you've ordered a ship too. Especially if it's an "S" or "M" class ship where you can stand right next to it and watch it slowly come to life. But the Egosoft "X" series are great games to play. If you have the time and patience. I started way back with X2. That's twenty years ago now! _How time flies when you're having fun eh?_

[@xezqeznunya6671]

For a new player the hours is likely much much greater, since you have to gather large amounts of resources for many of them, find your way around, earn a bunch of credits to buy certain ship classes.

[@AdamSider]

I'll wait until there is an Romantic and Sexmod. But seriously i love X4. What you forgot, is to mention the struggle with your first hours. It became better but the handling and learning to make your first automatic miner is not easy and you see yourself quickly watching YT videos or read Wiki's for help. But after all it is very satisfying and every start is exciting and feels fresh. Thank you for your hard work making this Video. Kepp it up.

[@WatchMysh]

Yes the first hours are the worst. But they got a lot better with the new dlc starts, especially the terran one. Wouldn't recommend the Split one, though, for new players

[@Tuck-Shop]

X² We Boron now show you how to fight. I yield, I yield. A moment that made my Dad and I laugh

[@Whistler-007]

Never heard of X4 until coming across this video. Thank you

[@happybluedog]

I am a long time X player like pre X-tension Beyond the frontier long and initially x4 was quite a let down but as a long time user I knew they would get to making it what they promised. As a lifeform that is organic and alive, I appreciate that you updated this review.

[@WatchMysh]

You're welcome :)

[@AuxxiliaryATC]

Really good video. Well shot and edited as well. I bought the game and all dlc’s. I’ve waited years for the AI to be “better” than they were at launch before I bought the game. I know they are still “ok” but it’s now more enjoyable for me. Appreciate you, cheers.

[@WatchMysh]

Thanks :) I put a lot of effort into my videos. Yes, the AI is okay-ish now. Still a lot of room to improve. Especially the autopilot really tested my patience today lol

[@Erduk]

If AI is the problem for you, Egosoft recently hired a modder who had supposedly done a lot of work on the AI that people liked. I would expect to continue to see improvements based on that fact.

[@AuxxiliaryATC]

@@Erduk thats really good news

[@Blowfeld20k]

@@AuxxiliaryATC Yeah and the great part is it only took ...... How many years for EgoSoft to get round to it? (wink)

[@AuxxiliaryATC]

@@Blowfeld20k exactly, which is why i waited all those years before i bought the game

[@icefire5799]

According to the audio book the argon are the survivers of the fleet that lured the xenon away from earth into a jump gate.

[@WatchMysh]

Yes, remembered that wrong

[@feverishchic]

Nice story telling brod❤

[@fabianstalder5008]

I still fondly remember the hundreds of hours I had put into X3 Terran Conflict. What a fantastic and deep game series.

[@leootp22]

Same dude, same. I think that's the closest to space I ever got.

[@AndreasNK]

Man it is one of the few games that not only they have workshop but i dont even bother to download mods because the game is so awesome as it is. For guys who have no idea what x4 is i will tell you this. Last night i was standing from my window on my new build HQ station in a system of my choice. Admiring my fleet of the hard earned (stolen lol) ships. Watching on my map a massive battle between argon antigone and xenon going down. Using my spy satelaties that i placed on each warp gate because ladies and gentlemen....informations are gold. Waiting the right moment to cut in help to turn the tie and grab all the loot and gtfu of there before more mad xenon warp in. Bring back all the loot sell them and invest on production modules so i can grow more rich more powerful. So one day....everybody will crawl on my feet under my supreme leadership! Hail Argons!

[@bulldog5513]

Thank You, Your video is both informative and entertaining.

[@WatchMysh]

Thank you! :)

[@ferdeboergd256]

I played some of X2, a bit more of X3 and got this in the Humble Bundle some time ago but haven't tried it yet because of what I was reading about it... seems it's time to jump in. Thanks for the video!

[@WatchMysh]

Have fun! But wait for 6.0 or join the beta.

[@GrauW0lf]

I played x-beyond-the-frontier as a kid and it was a masterpiece in my opinion. And so is x4 today.

[@agnosticpanda6655]

It truly is amazing to see how much effort went into this game after it's release. I always came back to play this over the years and by now it's so good I'm hardly playing anything else. Personally, I think this game is like a mix of Elite:Dangerous and Stellaris in the best way possible. Solid first person space flight simulator with an amazing empire simulation thrown on top of it. Plus designing your own megastations can be incredibly fun in the late game!

[@WatchMysh]

I could play just the station builder for days...

[@DrZuppermann]

I remember having a 5⭐ boarding party of 20 borons back in "Albion's Prelude"...

[@berkutsierra7887]

Got this recommended to me while thinking about X4 after eyeing for years. Putting it back on my wishlist.

[@SPACE_GEKKO]

Good summary of X4!

[@WatchMysh]

Thanks :)

[@Mightydoggo]

Well, there actually is a similar game, also from a German developer (I think it were some students) it´s called Avorion and is pretty much a less complex X in Voxel graphics. And you can build your own ships. Anyways, love the X series. I never understood how so many people were missing this gem.

[@WatchMysh]

Avorion sits in my library since I don't know how long... So many games to play and so few time. Didn't know it was German. There more you know...

[@bdragon254]

Great video! Thanks. I've always had my eye on X4 but I've never had the pleasure of trying it.

[@WatchMysh]

Thank you :)

[@Yolo_Swagins]

Great review

[@WatchMysh]

Thanks :)

[@Milan74]

What X4 needs is co-op mode to play together with friends. Then i would pickup the game again

[@WatchMysh]

Would be amazing

[@sleepfishl]

They increased the Story-Content so much? ... Guess I'll have to install it again. :)

[@WatchMysh]

They did. You now have 3 DLC Plots, the Paranid Plot and other shorter stories. Like some side branches or overlapping plots.

[@egoalter1276]

X3 reunion came free with the single isue of a gaming magazine I have ever bought, way back in 2005 I think. I was way too young at the time to comperhend the game, and only had access to a PC that could barely run it, but month on month, I kept coming back to it, with the intent to eventually conquer this absurdly complicated piece of software in a language I barely understood at the time, I had no business playing. I still remember the firs time I managed to figure out how to buy and sell goods at a factory (you have to use the left and right arrow keys) clear as day. The X series is something utterly unique and special, and Im very glad it exists, and continues to exist.

[@Ehal256]

X3R was amazing when I first played it. Still play Terran Conflict and a bit of Albion Prelude from time to time. Up to probably 1k hours in total across all three now :)

[@tyr8338]

Great video, I really liked playing x3 years ago but I was hasitant to try x4 as I heard there was no real story and to be honest I was more interested in uncovering the storyline in x3 but now that I learned x4 DLCS added a lot of content I will check it.

[@KiteoHatto]

X4 plays like if someone took a chunk out of endless space and let you play it in first person. Its a wonderful sandbox. Flight model and ship customisation isn't as deep(or grindy) as elite, but there is so much more to do.

[@WatchMysh]

Nicely worded

[@leedutfield964]

Added content = what came with x3 at launch. 😊

[@shamalow1819]

Never heard of the x4 before a few days ago, found it on 60% sale, and i love it (btw the game is on sale on steam right now!)

[@WatchMysh]

Nice! Hf! :)

[@104thironmike4]

Excellent video, excellent overview. And yes, this game is flying under the radar, I just learned about it through you. Subscribed.

[@WatchMysh]

Thanks :) But beware: the game isn't as polished as less ambitious projects with bigger teams. Yet below the rough surface lies a real gem in my opinion.

[@104thironmike4]

@@WatchMysh That's ok, I currently don't have time to play it anyway and am waiting for a sale, and then will see. Thanks for the heads up! Great channel, keep going!

[@WatchMysh]

@@104thironmike4 Thanks :)

[@captjolly107]

Been a while since I played the X series. I'll definitely keep an eye out for the sale! Nice review :)

[@Nommicus]

Subbed and commented singularly cos of the mobile company comment haha. Looks like a good game will look into it. Cheers for a great vid.

[@WatchMysh]

Thanks :)

[@emgee44]

I remember when the very first version came out, I did buy a copy and played it for a while but didn’t stick with it, think I got into another game at the time called Tachyon - The Fringe, another space fighter sim, this was back in the early 2000’s. Think I still have those copies laying around somewhere?

[@WatchMysh]

I have Tachyon on GOG. :) It's been a great game back then. Very unique, too.

[@markhackett2302]

If you can't put 20 hours merely to throw it away as "learning", if you aren't going to put hundreds of hours in the game, because "I have a job" or "I have kids" or "I have a life outside gaming" or even "I have OTHER GAMES", then even if you loved this game, it isn't for you because you cannot AFFORD to put hundreds of hours in. It may well be that you played and expected an old-school playstyle where things went quicker, but because it revolved around you. X4, even more than any game in the X series before, doesn't care about you, but it also, unlike any MMO, allows you to take over the entire galaxy or anything between "trucker in space" and "Global Power".

[@NotUnymous]

Seems like X4 shaped to be one of the best space games Out there

[@WatchMysh]

Thank you :) X4 is still a bit rough compared to other games with less simulation aspects - but I guess the X-enjoyer-faction got used to that ...

[@zak9129]

oh wow I played X3 for months...I might have to pick this up and check it out, thanks!

[@WatchMysh]

You're welcome. :) I think it's better now than X3 because it became a real economic sim. Everything is dynamic now. Have fun! :)

[@tamamovitch8583]

I just bought it while on sale and got hyped because I always wanted a space sim that lets me go from zero to hero and command vast fleets against and unstoppable enemy.

[@JosephK42]

Really good series of games. I basically lived in x3 for a few years. Dropped off my radar after rebirth. Will have to take a look at 4.

[@martinhorner642]

Yes, we don't talk about Rebirth. It's better forgotten.

[@party4lifedude]

I played X3 when I was a kid, I didn't really understand the game. I just thought the space ships were cool, and I had never seen anything like it. I completely forgot about this game though. I remember seeing a trailer for it a long time ago, but I was already pretty burned out on impossibly large space games that will never be completed. It's nice to see that there is something here though.

[@AlternicityBlogspot]

I used to study whilst playing X. Set up your stations, hit Time Accerlerate, then read/write with paper. I could go for hours like that.

[@cavonouv8008]

Great video! Good coverage of the perks and downfalls of the game. Its a great game and I've lost many hours exploring/fighting/creating in X4. Also the mods available can make quality of life in the game a little less chore-like and gives you more time to enjoy what you like to do

[@kuhndj67]

X4 is a lot of fun... I bought it early and have periodically jumped back in. I've always felt the game could be a great platform for storytelling, Egosoft just doesn't build enough of them. I wish they'd make the game modable so users could create/share storylines.

[@spidermeng1846]

Dock smaller ships on bigger ships? Sold.

[@pyrix]

I just wanted to thank you for this video. It helped me take the plunge to buy it, and with the Steam sale currently going on at time of writing this comment, I managed to get a good deal on the whole bundle.

[@WatchMysh]

Have fun! The game is rough around the edges but a real gem if you get used to it. :) Make sure to join the beta program to play with the 6.0 update. It improves things a lot esp AI and loading times.

[@mikeforester3963]

As an X³ Terran Conflict "veteran" I'm getting more and more tempted.

[@WatchMysh]

I think at release X4 wasn't quite there but now it's the better game. Especially because the underlying economic sim is much better and the DLCs expanded the universe to a really lively level. With just the vanilla factions back then it was boring... at least for me.

[@TormodSteinsholt]

I picked up a few years back and it has been sitting collecting dust in my steam library. I wanted to feel like a part of a vibrant galaxy with a rogue / opportunistic / entrepeneur vibe. I expected there to be opportunities that would emerge from the dynamics between factions. Embargos, wars, etc would provide opportunities to trade, snatch or plunder. That you could find vulnerable trade routes, wounded ships or smuggling opportunities. Try to be opportunistic, but avoid too much interest by the big actors. The small fish in a big pond. However, I found that things were static and nothing in motion. It felt more like a static backdrop. Granted, I didn't spend triple digit hours on the game, but I could not figure out how to understand what the galactic political/strategic/economic situation was or what the next step was with my newly found ring station. I would happily buy the DLC's if they provided the experience I was originally looking for.

[@WatchMysh]

That's also one of my main points of critique. You're kinda forced to play the "big economics" game because it's hard to get a clear picture what's happening besides interpreting market data. But things got a bit better: you now have some kind of newsfeed going on about where each faction is mounting defenses. You also need to place a satellite network and use your "global alarms" list. I also read that Egosoft hired an AI modder/specialist recently.

[@BekoPharm]

Mebbe I was just lucky with my Split (DLC) game seed but that was one of the most fun plays ever. The conflict between the Free Families and the Patriarchy could be grasped very good IMHO. The ZYA were killing off any military vessel in FRF space and thanks to missing hull parts it was looking really bad for FRF until I intervened. Took hours of getting the economy going for FRF again and battling back ZYA (and XEN alike) but in the end I was able to tackle down every ZYA ship entering FRF sectors and I made millions from my production facilities for hull parts n stuff.

[@WatchMysh]

@@BekoPharm I'm doing exactly this at the moment. The Split game start is very strong in conveying an ongoing conflict/occupation on and of FRF space. I'm at war with the Patriarchy so I have to build a fleet first and then establish a beachhead in FRF space to support their economy.

[@BekoPharm]

@@WatchMysh haha awesome👌What a coincidence.

[@maxkade9133]

You are just bad and lazy

[@lootanfall]

I didn't know the game, but the graphics... Wow!

[@markhackett2302]

Well how often in a space combat sim of ships fighting each other do you see people walking around? Rigging human like critters is HARD. Doesn't mean the critters are AAA appearance, nor ships AAA detail, but you aren't sitting there looking at a screenshot, you are flying a ship, using the map as a strategy game, or whatever, and you ain't getting that from "AAA devs". So which do you want, a screenshot that is pretty or a game that is so engrossing you can spend a thousand hours on just one playthrough but doesn't look as good when stationary? It'd be nice to have BOTH, but we don't.

[@WatchMysh]

@@markhackett2302 You're right! But I think he didn't criticise the graphics ... on contrary: he liked them! :D

[@markhackett2302]

@@WatchMysh Ah, I was presupposing that "the graphics isn't AAA quality" in your video was what did it. IMO Elite:Dangerous was cartoony. Of course, that IS realistic, because if you have no atmosphere, you have no dust in the way, and so you can't really tell distance, so a detailed toy close up is the same as a "real ship" far away (cue Father Ted meme). Ships in X were build from ceramics, rather than metal. Lighter and stronger than steel, but needs support against fractures because it isn't as ductile.

[@jonathanj.3695]

This is what I wish wars played out like in Elite Dangerous.

[@planexshifter]

Been playing this from release. One of my all time favorite games.

[@kitfo18]

I was like, why have i never seen this game before it looks great. It's the single player only that kills me.

[@pavelbizjuk1355]

For me that is the best aspect of the game. I can't play "Elite Dangerous" mostly because it's multiplayer. No save/load, no mods, some random gunk can mess your game... Nope. Not for me. Well, for each his own, hope you will find a game to your liking

[@blobdob1368]

Just play eve

[@kitfo18]

@@pavelbizjuk1355 You do know it have a single player option in the same universe right? Elite Dangerous has a single player...

[@kitfo18]

@@blobdob1368 Played it, did not like it at all.

[@pavelbizjuk1355]

@@kitfo18 It does? With save/load options? Or just with out other players? Or you are talking about some other game?

[@Velerios]

Actually the Kha'ak ARE technologically advanced, probably even more than the Terrans: the Kha'ak are the only faction that has a WARP Drive; They don't use Jumpgates and can jump everywhere; Kha'ak stations are not build in a sector, but instead warped from other sectors. They are a Hive Mind and their weakness right now is the lack of capital ships because they were decimated by the operation final fury in x3; still they are dangerous, their kyon blasters instantly hits and when they swarm in masses, they are very dangerous to anything smaller than an L class ship or even an L class destroyer.

[@WatchMysh]

Yep, badly worded from my side. Thanks for pointing that out.

[@Xeoah]

Not satisfied till x4 adds khaak queen.

[@terrylyn]

"This video has gone far too long now" - Not at all, it was too short! I'd have loved to hear much more about this intriguing game. I will definitely pick it up and try it myself, thanks for bringing it to my attention.

[@WatchMysh]

You're welcome :) It's on sale right now Steam.

[@terrylyn]

@@WatchMyshI bought it as I noticed you have very good tutorials on your channel for this game, they have already been great help :)

[@RodrigoRodrigues-hk8sd]

i have 2k h in this game and i really love it , no other game like this, but not a game for everyone i can say that, very good video, keep the good work!

[@WatchMysh]

Thanks :) I don't have 2k hours, maybe "just" 300. Still one of my favorite games - but tough to get into.