Am not sure about Strike Suit Zero, for a couple of baf and good reasons. Good reason : DLC. Bad reason : not convinced by the concept of humanoïd robot floating in space. Still. this remind me that I long for some good space shooting.

As joysticks died, so did the sim genre, and space sims along with it. I have spent years waiting for a successor to Elite, being disappointed by mission-based shooters, predefined characters, and other limitations. But let's broaden a bit the horizon, to include even strikesuitzeroish arcade.

What are the best space shooters out there ? The best available ones ?

Also, this is a very ungog question, because (while the ideal is a gog game) there is that thing about space opera, at least in my eyes : the appeal is very esthetical. A reason why I love space science fiction is visual. Spaceships, awe, deep space, gigantism, splendor, void, light. Means, I'm sorry to say, eye candy. I'm seeking beautiful games, in that specific domain, and it matters as much as gameplay. Older space games, now, would interest me only if moddable to high-res NASA poetry.

So, for a gorgeous fast-ish-paced space battle fix, what are the current options ? Any classic in particular ? Any newly released underdog you adore ? Where do you people quench your thirst for colorful nebulae and swirling starships ?

http://transcendence.kronosaur.com/

I enjoyed Transcendence a few years ago. It's a 2D space roguelike, with lots of different armors, shields, armor coatings, weapons, etc. And the equipment you choose is meaningful. If you're sporting the right gear, a once devastating enemy becomes manageable. I wouldn't say there's a dogfighting feel to combat, but it can be hectic and fun. I'm kind of clumsy, so I usually opt for the freighter; it starts with a (comparatively weak) laser which tracks whichever enemy you target. There are more nimble and heavily-armed ships if that's your preference. You hop from system to system, minding your fuel and feeling more and more alone with each jump.

It's free and worth a look. (Looks like there's a buyable expansion now.)

edit: Rereading what you've said, this is probably at the edge of what you'll appreciate. Ahh well, I like it.

Get the Independence War games if you haven't got them yet, especially 2.
More of a fleet strategy game, Nexus: The Jupiter Incident is very good as well.

See if you can acquire Freelancer perhaps? Or Zigfrak... or ... hmm... dunno
X3 AP?

...i would say especially the first one. The 2nd one is good and has far better graphics, but the I-War 1 plot and missioins in themselves are the super nova hottest stuff of space simulators. Ever. Other than that, first one is less arcadey, but that is naturally personal preferance.

And yes, i do mean better and surprising^2 than even the best of X-Wing / Tie-Fighter / Freespace 1&2. Which ofcourse totally rock as well.

If you want shallow space dogfighting, you need look no further than the first X: Beyond the Frontier. It's not a bad game on the whole, but the dogfighting is very rinse and repeat and the AI extremely predictable (and suicidal).

Elite featured both dogfighting and trade, which I haven't seen combined that often. I enjoyed playing Malfador's "Star Fury", where a destroyed ship had debris you could equip or sell. You might find some items useful on your ship, or valuable.

You could make money as a trader or in combat. There wasn't experience, but more credits allowed better ships and equipment. Although gog.com has a game by the same company ("Space Empires IV") here, it doesn't have Star Fury (made in 2003).

Ah, here's the wishlist for it:
http://www.gog.com/wishlist/games/space_empires_starfury

Yeah, only ones that instantly come to mind are obviously Elite's direct sequels, the Frontier games, as well as Privateer, Freelancer and I think Darkstar One (haven't ever played that one, though, as when I got it originally it always caused bluescreens for me and somehow I instantly left the GOG version after launching it, something just instantly threw me off). Haven't ever played the X games but I think those have dogfighting + trade as well, don't they?

Never understood that critisism, I-War 2 allowed amazing customization of your spacecraft with a lot of different weaponsystems which can completely change the way it is played, has a great way in how it covers the vast distances in space with an wherever you want to go universe, piracy is like christmas you never know what you're going to get.
Compare that with I-War 1, the game has only canned missions which are original I must say but also highly scripted, the game is played mostly from the weaponsstation view (3rd person) and things can't get any more arcade than that, no free roam, no customization, no piracy.

I'm really looking for brainless space immersion, right now, so there are a lot of space opera titles that I'd normally like (some of them being my favorite PC games) that I wouldn't play right now, for reason of complexity, slow pace, and outdated graphics. Elements that wouldn't matter in other times, with another mindset.

I still try to keep in mind some suggestions, as irrelevant-for-now but maybe for the future. "Transcendence", for instance, may have been close to what I was looking for some weeks ago (some space RPG), but I have already wasted my time on "Smugglers V" for that (don't, it's no the best way), and I also have the "Space Pirates and Zombies" games for that. I'm looking for the opposite right now : cinematic space combat.

I have already played "Freelancer" (and the strategic "Nexus", "Homeworld", etc), and it is indeed closer to what I'm looking for. I fear the older sims ("Wind commanders" would not provide the pretty space dive I seek), but maybe I'll try the I-war games. Aren't they a bit the "Nexus" of space dogfight, though ? I mean, about slow-paced capital ships clash ? Graphically, are their being modded to modern high-res, like Freelancer ?

I had tried "X2", long ago, but this is more for "Elite"-like long-term involvement, management and trading. Plus, the agsence of engine noice had annoyed me a bit. A series for another time. Beautiful, though.

I had never heard of "Zigfrak". It doesn't look especially awe-inspiring, on the space contemplation level, but maybe close to the short-burst idiotic shootings I need right now. I'll check it out.

Thanks, all.

Also, voting : http://www.gog.com/wishlist/games/zigfrak

As it happens, I was re-introduced to this freeware gem yesterday (I originally played it back in 2004 or 2005):

http://www.bruneras.com/games_swboy.php

Gameplay video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXaZk8F-CBU

It doesn't offer you space exploration, it is more like a simple 3D space shooter in the Star Wars universe. Graphics are pretty simple, but still great. And it doesn't need a joystick, plays fine with the mouse.

Well well, I didn't realize he seems to have quite a few other games too:

http://www.bruneras.com/

There's also Battle of Endor, not sure if I have played it before...

No one mentioned the Wing Commander: Privateer games yet?

Also Elite: Dangerous now in Alpha! 'Citing!

http://elite.frontier.co.uk/

Well, since you're looking for an arcady action-heavy space shooter with good visuals, I would have recommended Strike Suite Z. "Spacefight eye candy" is pretty much the definition of that game.

But since you put it aside in your first post, I'm stumped

(Note that the DLCs only give you things like a new campaign, a new fighter... The basic game's campaign is perfectly playable without it)

Free roaming is not some instant win in my opinion.

I-War 2 is very good game and i liked it, but didnt really care for the sandbox part of it as its precisely that - shallow sandbox. Beatiful scenery, but other than thats you just grind the transporters never mind the system you are in.

Meanwhile, I-War 1 told way more interesting stody (in my opinion) with so good and surprising missions twists the they have not been since.

Did you know that the mission could be succesful, even when you didnt complete it anywhere near 100%? The debriefings would vary greatly depending on what you did or did not do - and oh my got that stuff was creative.

Its ofcourse just my opinion, but i do like to take good story and creative, surprising missions over your regular sandbox game any day of the week. Also while equiping your ship is fun - its just one part of the game, not something that "makes the game by itself".

Would mind if I-War 3 came along...

Why was freespace 2 mentioned only once?

If you think the visuals are bad by todays standard, you havent tried FSopen. Which looks amazing, when configured properly.