Video games - Escape Velocity Nova

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	Video games - Escape Velocity Nova

Escape Velocity Nova (EV Nova) is a computer game by Ambrosia Software, in collaboration with ATMOS. It is the third game in the Escape Velocity
series.

Overview

Genre

Escape Velocity (affectionately known to fans as 'EV') is a third-person space-adventure / RPG set in the future. While EV Nova is an RPG, it is not an open-ended RPG unlike the previous games in the Escape Velocity series; EV Nova has a clearly defined ending, but lets you continue playing if you wish.

Setting

EV Nova takes place in the future, when humanity has colonized the galaxy via 'hypergate' technology which allows instant travel between star systems. However terrorists destroyed the Sol hypergate, destroying the metaphorical space-roads which held civilization together. The galaxy thus fell into a dark age, and during this era multiple sub-races of humans evolved on their own, until finally 'hyperdrive' technology (faster-than-light spaceships) allowed humanity to rediscover the galaxy they thought they once knew -- a galaxy now consisting of almost-alien evolved humans, space pirates, and strife.

Game Concept

Stuff You Can Do

The player starts as a freelance space pilot in a shuttlecraft, out to make a small penny in the vast and unforgiving galaxy. The first thing to realize is that there are many ways to play Escape Velocity; this is one of the big appeals of the game. For example, a starting player who needs to worry about cash can:

Become a trader, acquire a freighter fleet, and trade goods between planets (one has to watch out for pirates though...)
Become a courier, delivering cargo from system to system

A more advanced player can explore the more amusing ways to play EV:

Make a living off of disabling pirate ships and boarding them to steal cargo, perhaps even become a professional bounty hunter -- or conversely, become a pirate
Conquer the galaxy and subjugate all worlds

Almost all players though will:

Become involved in an epic storyline (of which there are 6) -- these are the main feature of EV

Missions, Storylines, and Plot

The game has six epic storylines (or 'plotlines') that the player can participate in, one for each of the factions (Federation, Rebellion, Auroran, Polaris, Vell-os, or Pirate) listed in a later section.

These epic storylines are the bulk of the game. Each storyline is a long and involved set of plot-filled missions which feel very much like a short story written in second person. By virtue of being a grand adventure, storylines force pilots to align themselves with a particular faction, restricting the player's ability to play the game, but giving them access to more powerful ships and technology. A single storyline can take anywhere from an hour to several days to play to completion, depending on the player's level of experience and preferred pace.

There also exist a few shorter (< 20-30 minutes to complete them all) side-missions, which are difficult (like easter eggs) to find but have great rewards, such as the ability to use the hypergate system. Any main storyline can interweave with other storylines and side-missions; for example if you become disillusioned with the Federation you can join the Rebellion. Side-missions can also lead into main storylines, and certain storylines might block access to side-missions. EV Nova has significantly fewer freelance missions (perhaps 20-40x fewer) than previous games in the Escape Velocity series.

It should be noted that only a single epic storyline can be played per pilot, as opposed to previous Escape Velocities where one could play all missions as one pilot while gathering ever more powerful ships and weapons, except through the use of a plug-in workaround called "Multiple Strings" which lets one fulfill all mission strings using one pilot while keeping technology and ships from other storylines.

Becoming More Powerful

Escape Velocity is a game about self-improvement: about rising up from a simple shuttlecraft pilot to become a hero of the galaxy. With the right connections and cash, one can pilot bigger and better ships with one's own controllable escort fleet. One can even pilot an epic ship (for example, a capital ship upgraded with alien technology) as the bonus for completing an epic plotline.

In addition, there are many more 'toys' to play with called 'outfits'; each ship can be equipped with special devices, such as:

devices which let you hyperjump from closer to planets
cloaking devices
auto-refuelers
sensor upgrades
cannon weapons
turreted cannons
beam weapons
missiles
fighter bays
weapons licenses (legal and fake)
marine platoons

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Escape Velocity Nova ]

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