A few observations:
I never used an ICX until Heretic. I just didn't need it, what with all the nice shields and armor lying around.
Armor was a lot more useful in this version than any of the others I've played. Good armor was a must have, between the ranx, the Sung Citadel's cyberattack, Ares Lightning turrets...just too many things that could take down a shield. Armor is your friend.
The system for armor/shield/weapon enhancements seems to have changed, in that you need to have something to take the enhancement off with before you can add another. So, Meteorsteel dust, Degen nanos, defective weapon roms, and decayed etherium crystals are all useful now.
The CSC antarctica is a pushover with a +150% IM90. Of course, most things are. That thing could take down the Iocrym's shields, if you spent long enough or used strengthen.
The 'unknown hostile' and Point Juno missions rock. But I want to see Ares Dreads elsewhere too. Pretty please?
Nice work, George. It feels like it's coming together very well. The later systems are much, much more balanced than they used to be, although the last few are still a bit 'eh, I dont' really need to blow everything up here.' But there are fewer of those, certainly. I think HD whatsit was the only one.
Huzzah!
