The craft’s control is largely left to the player, but often day-to-day tasks such as navigating from a hyperspace exit-point to a desired planet or space-station and docking can be handed over to a ship's autopilot. However it is often worth the risk as illegal goods generally carry a very high price on the black market.įrontier substitutes Elite’s arcade flying style for one based rigidly on Newtonian physics: momentum must first be neutralised to bring the player's craft to a stop, and turning 180° has no effect on the direction of travel until previous momentum has been counteracted. It is worth nothing that some trade goods (particularly narcotics, nerve gas, weaponry and slaves) are illegal in many systems and attempting to trade in these can result in a fine from the police, which can often escalate into the police attacking you if not paid. It often becomes apparent that a particular trading route is profitable, such as the Barnard’s Star - Sol route. Thus, learning to compare prices in various systems is essential for profitability, and calculating overheads for each trip (such as fuel, missiles, and hull repair) are essential skills. Playing for both sides adds to the difficulty to acquire a rank promotion for either.Īs with Elite, much of Frontier is concerned with trading: players can buy and sell a variety of goods-from food and computer parts to guns and slaves-with the aim of making the most profit possible from each trading run. The ranks of the Federation and Empire are independent of each other. Both sides have military forces that a player can run freelance missions for, with successes leading to a military promotion.

Players are free to side themselves with the Federation, the Empire, both, or neither the game does not restrict one's political career. These two factions are bitter enemies, but at the time of the game they have established a tense cease-fire, akin to the Cold War.

There are two major factions in the galaxy: The 'Federation', based in the Sol system, and the 'Empire', based in the Achenar system.

Though the plot is minimal, some background information about the universe of Frontier is provided.

Download Frontier: Elite 2