Back in the day when shareware was the only way the young and the cheap could get their gaming fix, when money had yet to find its way onto the branches of low-hanging trees (and still hasn’t), Solar Winds was the space RPG that many hardy adventurers lost a capacious amount of hours in. It might not have been the most stable game, or the easiest game, but it was fun. Solar Winds, and its aptly named sequel, Solar Winds 2, did well with hardcore fans of niche role-playing games, much like the neglected Castle of the Winds and its aptly named sequel Castle of the Winds 2.

If you experienced Solar Winds and wanted more, or never had a chance (you poor sod) then Escape Velocity Nova is where you need to go.

Escape Velocity Nova website. Go, now!

True, it's not exactly free, requiring a US$30 registration fee, but once you get into it that 30 bucks will seem insignificant. Traverse the universe trading, fighting and making a nuisance of yourself, all the while exploring galaxies and laughing at aliens with oddly-shaped heads. It's Privateer-cum-Star Control and if you loved either game or Solar Winds then you'll love EV Nova.

It's only fair to warn you that the graphics leave much to be desired. Any gamer worth their salt however knows that graphics are inconsequential when the gameplay is exquisite.

And it is, like a finely cellared Cabernet Merlot.