The great thing about reviewing expansion packs is that it's only ever the people who acquired and enjoyed the original game that buy them - obvious really. X-Tension, by default, need only be bought by those who enjoyed X-Beyond The Frontier. For them, it is nothing short of essential.
In essence, X-Tension is more of a sequel than a simple add-on. The story kicks off from the end of the original game, the evil Xenon vanquished and you still stranded light years from home. With time to kill and your X-perimental ship being stripped apart and rebuilt, you are given an Argon Buster with a few bits of kit bolted on to help you on your way and, from there, it is up to you where you want to go, what to trade in and who to pick on.
Having only one ship to fly in X-BTF was limiting, but here, 30 are available, from small fighters to medium-sized traders and freighters. You can even slip into a space suit and go floating into space - useful for when you want to take over other ships.
Although there is more freedom to roam in X-Tension, with countless missions compared to X-BTF's meager handful, there is little continuity between them. So, in this respect, developer Egosoft seems to have gone from one extreme to the other. New missions are being created as we speak and will be released on a regular basis. Hopefully, we can expect some complex quests fairly soon. Again, there is an emphasis on building up your own network of factories and space fleets, but there is more freedom to engage in mindless combat and go exploring.
Graphically, X-Tension is prettier, the interface is improved and the soundtrack - an acquired taste - has been extended. Aside from the odd bug, X-Tension is a fantastic addition to a superb game. Half the price of most add-ons and with twice as much content, it's refreshing to experience a change of pace and see the series edge in a new direction. If Egosoft can see their way to injecting more aspects away from the economic side of things, we should be on for a cracking sequel, whenever - or if ever - it appears.
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