How does Wing commander hold up if you have never played it?

Absolutely.

Prior to this year, my experience with the WC series was starting the first game, being thrown straight into flight with no plot, dying for no apparent reason seconds later, assuming it was unplayable on my setup, and abandoning it.

When I actually played it properly, realised the start was a simulator and the instant death was automatic, and that proper missions and an actual story lay beyond that, I was blown away by how good it was. Sure, it's basic, and because it predates a lot of the genres' standards the controls take a while to get used to, but once it all clicks those are assets, not drawbacks.

I now consider myself a big fan of the series, and I've been playing for a few months. It's definitely still possible to get into.

That's actually a tough question, given how most of us that remember them so fondly were blown away by how technologically advanced they were for the time.

Story wise they are still a lot of fun. The FMV in WCIII, which is usually a turn-off for me, is pretty fantastic and really goes a long way in making it more of a story-telling experience than just a video game. You'll genuinely feel loss, excitement, and despair as the story plays out.

In all honesty, the graphics and gameplay mechanics of the space battles themselves have not held up as well, especially when compared to the X and FreeSpace series (among others), but the immersive story, in my opinion, more than makes up for their technical limitations.

OH HELL YES!!!

You might notice the graphics right away but after the simulator you'll be so wrapped up in story and characters and branching missions that you won't notice them again until you start number 2 and the changes that come with that.

Sort of a hard question to answer. It's been almost 20 years since the game was released. The graphics, although cutting edge at the time, are not great. The cut scenes are very low res and the flying sequences use software 3D rendering.

(edit: Actually started playing since this release and was very impressed with the flying. still every bit as fun)

However there is the nostalgia factor and what I call "the golden age of video game". They do not use live actors anymore. I do not think they will ever use live actors again. So the WC3, WC4 and Prophecy represent a unqiue time in game development.

The story of course holds up very well and I expect I will get into once I get over the almost 20 year old graphic engine. So does it hold up? For me it does. Besides when else will I get a chance to flirt with a not-too-old Ginger Lynn.

I have remembered i started 3 and i had a blast but because i never could get to play 1 and 2. Do i need story wise play 1 2 to understand 3?

Check out this thread for opinions on this. You don't need to play the first two, but I would recommend it.

thanks