HELP X3 or X4 ?

[Velovar]

Hello people, I am new to this franchise it caught my eye some time ago and I read few things online, I will copy google results and I would appreciate if people would tell me their thoughts! <3

" X3 and X4 are both space simulation games. According to some players, X4 is a better game than X31. However, X3 has more races and ship variety2. The xenon in X3 are much better than in X4. X3 has a more dynamic universe where a few things can happen like wars. Faction rep is harder to grind in X3 and it's harder to make money. X4 has massive improvement in station building, the new truly dynamic economy and better visuals. "

Anything to add? What would your thoughts be if above is true or up to date?

[TheOrangeBox]

X4 Foundations (+DLCs) it's the pinnacle of the X series, that is the best development achieved in all these years into one game.

If you play X4 you'll have X3 heritage in it but if you play X3 you'll not have the improvement X4 has achieved.
X3 also shows its age and 15 years old technology, while still loved by many, X4 has taken the game a step into the future,

For a new player my suggestion would be X4 than X3 especially when both games require a considerable amount of time to spend in the game,

But at the end of the day the best choice is for you to find out as both games are unique and offer that space exploration immersion that other games don't offer.

[ArcticISAF]

X4 I have a ton of hours in. I haven't played X3, although I've watched a fair bit on youtube. My impression is that while it could be and still likely is fun, it's quite outdated in terms of graphics. The concept of walking around in your ship and stations in X4 is absent in X3 - you are the ship or outside the ship in a spacesuit. Totally fine if you tune your mind for it, but I do quite enjoy the walking around part in X4.

Races I believe is outdated now especially with the latest DLC, should be at least all the main races + some spinoffs. Ship variety, looking briefly at both ship lists, might be half in x4? But X3 has a ton of variants of the same ship. Example - Boron Barracuda, Boron Barracuda Raider, Boron Barracuda Vanguard, Boron Barracuda Sentinel. Repeat that a few times per race (or scroll through a list for yourself). Overall there's a quite decent amount of ships to pick from in X4, enough for people to have their debates on which is better and their setups and such.

Not sure about the xenon. X4 xenon can be tough, deadly if they get in range. They're not bad. Likely they're weak once you get highly advanced or have a good setup - but there's mods to boost them, change their weapons, give them more ships. And then you can see when they're 'unleashed' a bit.

I personally would go with X4, and I say that as X3 tempting me slightly to buy/play it, it seems worthy of consideration. Both have flaws, and it's definitely good to take your time and research both games first.

[Gibbo]

X4 is the easiest by far. Everything is a lot harder in X3 including the Xenon and Khaak. Some of the missions in X3 are insane. You have to capture a Xenon ship in one of them? This can take ages. Shipbuilding is a lot different as well. No blueprints in X3. Reverse engineering which on some ships can take real life days. And then building them takes even longer! Of course that's after you secure your HQ which is another epic mission.

If you like this then give X3 a go.

[Hans Blitz]

Well X3 was good for it's day, time to learn a new version, X4 is much different in certain aspects. X3 i do love the stock market and setting up my industry HUB for selling drugs, weapons & slaves in a neural zone that has good traffic throughput with the factions you're friendly with, this way you gain protection for stations from passing traffic as you deal illegal goods, they tend to move goods out of that sector so you don't need to carry any of it yourself and be fined for it.
Can't say if i can do the same in X4 yet but we will see the new universe, I like how ships are now and crew interactions, makes things less dull.

[Tiberius]

X4. Many gameplay systems (station building, fleet combat, overall responsiveness) are a huge improvement over x3.

Tho i'd say X3 has better atmosphere and arguably better ship designs.

[Patch]

I have 103hrs in X3 AP, 168hrs in X Rebirth, and 78hrs in X4. I love them all but most of the hours in X3 were before X4 released. For the best new player experience i would recommend X4. The game has a fairly steep learning curve but if you persevere and take the time to learn the game, youll be rewarded with one of the best space games available. The devs are active both with regular updates and occasionally answering in chat. Welcome to the X family. Enjoy. Feel free to ask in here if you get stuck.

[Tamamo-no-Bae]

The only thing I miss in X4 are rare and unique ships.
Things like the deca ships, or capturing Xenon ships.

In X4 you basically only get to fly racial ships.

[Velovar]

Thank you guys!
Can you walk around the base in X3? Or is it only X4 feature?

[Hans Blitz]

Originally posted by Velovar:

Thank you guys!
Can you walk around the base in X3? Or is it only X4 feature?

X4

[Hans Blitz]

Originally posted by Tamamo-no-Bae:

The only thing I miss in X4 are rare and unique ships.
Things like the deca ships, or capturing Xenon ships.

In X4 you basically only get to fly racial ships.

yeah in older games you could find some rare ships but they might add those overtime as they usually don't start out being there in the early game development. They just finished the Boron so the universe hasn't been completed.

[Hans Blitz]

Originally posted by Tiberius:

X4. Many gameplay systems (station building, fleet combat, overall responsiveness) are a huge improvement over x3.

Tho i'd say X3 has better atmosphere and arguably better ship designs.

I don't like spacesuit walks in X4 they were easier in 3 way too much inertia very hard to come to complete stop. I never found spacesuit so annoying to use in older games.
I also find the control system in 4 way more complex, after you get used to it then it becomes alright but when you're first starting out it's a little off putting where certain actions were just easier in older games. You have all these flight modes now.

X3 Albion Prelude was good, i liked having the Earth and Moon base zones and the faction that was old Earth the Terrains, they had some cool ships.

[Doctor Tiki]

They are both amazing, but I would just start with X4, its the future :)

[Titanium Jesus]

Maybe once x4 is past alpha. game has so many game breaking bugs it a joke.

[Mihail]

X3 Albion prelude is better, Can say Terran conflict is almost the same level :) X4 is a ugly menu (usually you spend more time in menu then flying- if they re-skin it and give it x3 style maybe have chance).

[bitzN]

They never bought it. Not even wishlisted.

Oh btw, huge necro thread.