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Wing Commander IV: The Price of Freedom

From Alfawiki
Origin Systems
IndustryVideo game development
Founded1983
FounderRichard Garriott, Robert Garriott, Owen Garriott
Headquarters
Austin
,
United States
ProductsWing Commander series
ParentElectronic Arts

Wing Commander IV: The Price of Freedom represents the fourth principal installment in the Wing Commander series, a science fiction space combat simulator developed by Origin Systems and distributed by Electronic Arts for PC in 1996 and Sony PlayStation in 1997. It was also made available on the North American PlayStation Network Store in 2009.

Taking place after the conclusion of the Terran-Kilrathi War, Wing Commander IV depicts a galaxy in turmoil, where humans, surviving Kilrathi, and ex-combatants endeavor to reconstruct their worlds. A novel adaptation authored by William R. Forstchen and Ben Ohlander was released on October 1, 1996.

Gameplay

Players step into the role of Colonel Christopher "Maverick" Blair, an acclaimed pilot tasked with carrying out missions that drive the storyline forward. Between sorties, players engage with crew members aboard the carrier TCS Lexington through full-motion video sequences. Briefings are provided before missions, allowing players to choose wingmen and customize starfighters by balancing attributes such as durability, speed, armament, and missile configurations.

The gameplay centers on aerial combat involving gunfire and missile exchanges, complemented by electronic countermeasures (ECM). Starfighters are equipped with shields that regenerate and armor that does not; both layers must be depleted to destroy an enemy vessel. Weapon energy is limited but replenishes gradually over time. In critical situations, pilots have the option to eject.

Each wingman exhibits distinct flying techniques, combat proficiency, and responsiveness to commands. The game features branching dialogue choices that influence character relationships, crew morale, mission availability, and ultimately affect various endings.

Plot

Following the cessation of hostilities between the Kilrathi Empire and the Terran Confederation, the Confederation focuses on restoring its economic stability and societal order. The Kilrathi survivors, led by Melek nar Kiranka, face hardships rooted in their warrior traditions. Rising tensions between the Confederation and the Union of Border Worlds emerge after unprovoked attacks on an unarmed medical transport by unidentified fighters wielding a novel incendiary weapon.

James 'Paladin' Taggart, a senior Assembly governor, pushes for a vote on declaring war against the Border Worlds. Admiral Geoffrey Tolwyn is dispatched to investigate. Meanwhile, retired Colonel Christopher 'Maverick' Blair is recalled to active duty and immediately encounters an assault from a Border Worlds Avenger-class fighter. Assigned to the TCS Lexington under Captain William Eisen, Blair serves alongside Major Todd 'Maniac' Marshall and Lieutenant Winston 'Vagabond' Chang. He also meets Lieutenant Troy 'Catscratch' Carter, known for his hostility towards Kilrathi.

Blair uncovers no concrete proof regarding the attacks or their originators. Subsequently, Tolwyn replaces Eisen with Captain Hugh Paulsen. During operations, Blair either socializes with Maniac or clandestinely observes Eisen’s defection to the Border Worlds with Maniac piloting. Vagabond pursues Eisen; if Blair remains loyal to Confederation, he undertakes missions opposing Border Worlds forces commanded by Maniac, who attempts to persuade Blair to defect.

Should Blair defect, he joins Eisen, Maniac, Vagabond, and Catscratch aboard the BWS Intrepid, an aged carrier damaged during a Confederate strike. Commanded by Colonels Jacob 'Hawk' Manley and Tamara 'Panther' Farnsworth, Blair assumes leadership of the flight group while Eisen captains the vessel. Eisen reveals suspicions that factions within Confederation may be orchestrating the conflict; his defection aims to expose this conspiracy. Blair and Maniac destroy the Lexington; Paulsen escapes but is later killed by Seether for failing his mission.

Chief Technician Robert "Pliers" Sykes invents a cloaking device alongside a "Manned Insertion Pod" designed for ground troop deployment. Utilizing these technologies, Blair leads an assault on a communications facility in the Orestes System where critical data about the conspiracy is obtained; however, Vagabond dies during this mission.

Blair rescues Kilrathi leader Melek’s convoy after which Melek provides flight recorder evidence showing sleek black ships employing incendiary weapons against Kilrathi transports. Hawk identifies a pilot named 'Seether,' renowned for advanced maneuvers, and mentions a covert 'G.E.' program linked with Confederate Intelligence. Eisen departs to deliver this evidence to contacts on Earth, appointing Blair as acting captain under Rear Admiral Eugene Wilford. The Intrepid captures a secret Confederate freighter carrying black fighters dubbed "Dragons" equipped with incendiary devices called "Flash-Paks."

The Telamon system endures a biological attack that exterminates most colonists except those naturally immune. Survivors report seeing Dragons deploying bioweapon canisters. Blair traces these events back to the Axius System where he infiltrates a clandestine starbase guarded by TCS Vesuvius and thousands of Black Lance soldiers commanded by Admiral Tolwyn. Tolwyn’s strategy involves perpetuating continuous warfare between Border Worlds and Confederation to drive evolutionary advancement through conflict. The Gen-Select Bioweapon targets all except genetically superior individuals. Blair is discovered by Seether but fights his way out.

With Tolwyn’s forces in pursuit, the Intrepid heads toward Earth intending to prevent Tolwyn’s Congressional speech but fails despite assistance from TCS Mount St. Helens led by Eisen. Above Earth, Blair duels Seether before landing at Congress.

If Blair enters silently, Tolwyn orders his execution without trial. A bold entrance enables Blair to reveal Tolwyn’s scheme before the Assembly successfully; this leads to Senate rejection of war declarations while Tolwyn faces indictment and subsequently commits suicide in custody. Depending on player choices, Blair either assists in training new pilots or utilizes Black Lance resources alongside Hawk as Admiral to suppress uprisings. Failure results in Blair’s execution for treason as hostilities commence or his return to civilian life if missions fail prior to defection.

Cast

Development and release

Initially planned for a December 1995 debut, the game ultimately launched on February 8, 1996, targeting MS-DOS platforms after a year-long development period. WCIV was developed with an unprecedented budget at the time, totaling US$12 million, predominantly invested in full motion video (FMV) sequences captured on physical sets using 35mm film rather than digital methods. The original MS-DOS release came distributed across six CD-ROMs.

Origin later introduced a native Windows 95 version that included a deinterlacing feature to enhance cutscene image clarity, while otherwise mirroring the MS-DOS edition. In 1997, a special DVD-ROM version was issued, upgrading video quality to full DVD resolution by utilizing the original film footage. Due to the limited MPEG2 decoding capabilities of contemporary PC hardware, this version required external decoder devices bundled with DVD-ROM kits, which constrained compatibility. Subsequently, fan-created patches allowed playback on modern systems without needing dedicated hardware decoders. Additionally, a separate DVD release lacking enhanced video quality was available for PCs compatible with the original CD-ROM edition.

The PlayStation adaptation was not a straightforward port; it featured redesigned graphics, altered collision detection, and simplified control schemes with some automated elements to reduce the game’s size from six CDs to four. To accommodate disc space limitations, certain transitional FMVs were omitted. Although a 3DO Interactive Multiplayer version was announced, it never materialized. Likewise, a port intended for the Panasonic M2, planned as a launch title, was canceled following the console’s cancellation.

On April 3, 2012, the DVD-quality edition became accessible through digital distribution on Good Old Games. At the same time, a former developer released the game's source code to the community under the codename Milking The Tiger for preservation efforts.

Fan-driven development commenced in 2021 on Wing Commander IV: Remastered, aiming to create an updated remake using upscaled versions of the original video assets.

Sales

According to PC Data, Wing Commander IV ranked as the best-selling computer game in the US during February 1996. It secured the position of 11th top-selling title in the first half of that year but did not feature among the year-end top 20 listed by Computer Games Magazine. By February 1997, European sales surpassed 200,000 units and earned a "Gold" certification from the Verband der Unterhaltungssoftware Deutschland (VUD) in August 1998 for exceeding 100,000 copies sold within Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. In the United States, PC Data reported revenues of $7.9 million and approximately 170,000 units sold by October 1999. Mark Asher of CNET Gamecenter noted that while the game recouped its $10 million development budget, profits were minimal.

Critical reviews

Wing Commander IV: The Price of Freedom for PC garnered generally positive feedback from reviewers. Computer Gaming World awarded it the runner-up position for "Space Simulation Game of the Year," recognizing it as the finest example of an 'interactive movie'. It achieved second place in GameSpot's 1996 category for "Best Story". Daniel Jevons from Maximum praised the title for its innovative integration of cinematic storytelling with SVGA combat sequences. Conversely, Next Generation criticized the gameplay engine for remaining mostly unchanged since Wing Commander III, suggesting that the $10 million budget might have been better allocated to enhancements like multiplayer functionality and overall performance improvements. Bob Strauss of Entertainment Weekly remarked that the series primarily functions to highlight Mark Hamill's involvement and promote upgrades in PC hardware.

The game received a nomination for Computer Games Strategy Plus's 1996 award in the "Science-Fiction Simulation" category, secured the 1996 Spotlight Award for "Best Use of Video" at the Game Developers Conference, and was also nominated for "Best Script, Story or Interactive Writing". Additionally, Inside Mac Games honored it as the top space simulation title of 1996.

Reception of the PlayStation edition was more varied. While critics consistently lauded its cutscenes, narrative, acting performances, and quality of full motion video, gameplay was often described as mediocre, with particular criticism aimed at control sensitivity issues that complicated enemy tracking. Trent Ward from GameSpot observed that using the PlayStation Analog Joystick—unavailable in the U.S. at that time—improved control responsiveness. Both Ward and Electronic Gaming Monthly felt that despite gameplay shortcomings, the high caliber of cutscenes compensated effectively; Shawn Smith of EGM noted, "WC4 is an example of packaging done so well, that you can't help but enjoy the game underneath." In contrast, Next Generation and GamePro argued that extended cutscenes reduced actual gameplay time, with Next Generation labeling it as "a last gasp of the failed FMV subgenre."

Crispin Boyer from EGM pointed out that unlike a straightforward port of Wing Commander III, this installment was reworked specifically for PlayStation hardware, featuring streamlined controls and HUDs tailored to television display resolutions. Nevertheless, Next Generation contended that control schemes on the 3DO and PlayStation versions of Wing Commander III were more finely tuned.

External links

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