Wing Commander IV: The Price of Freedom
Wing Commander IV took the precedents set in WC3 to new heights. Record setting budgets were used to create real sets for the cast to utilize. Atmosphere flights, multi-stage missions and new technologies were explorered in greater depths in WC4. The developers were pushed by the amazing success of WC3 to film and develop the game in little more than a year. With the Kilrathi War over, Colonel Blair was recalled from retirement to investigate rebellion brewing on the fringes of Confed space. He discovered an even greater conspiracy with ominous implications. Wing Commander IV introduces the Union of Border Worlds and Black Lance, which have become popular factions in fan fiction and role playing. The game shipped on six discs, and a stunning DVD edition was produced for Creative Labs DVD-ROM bundles. Although specific hardware was initially needed to play this version, patches have been developed to circumvent the requirement.
The Kilrathi war may be over, but back home nothing is the same. There's trouble in the Border Worlds, Civil War seems imminent. You have to decide how to save the Confederation - or if it should be saved at all!
The latest epic adventure in the Wing Commander saga applies improved cinematic techniques and photo-realistic graphics to a story of intrigue, betrayal and death. Never before has Hollywood been so completely under your control.
Screenshots
Where to buy
The original can be found on various auction sites and works well in DOSBox. The easiest way to enjoy the game on a modern computer and operating system, is to buy it as a digital download from Origin or Good Old Games.
Playing the game
Don't know how to land your ship? Stuck on a particularly difficult mission? The following items may be of help:Included game documentation
Wing Commander IV Introduction
Basic installation instructions, Tutorial, Option Screen information, detailed Installation Help, directions for Creating a Boot Disk (p. 11) and Troubleshooting answers to possible problems (p. 32)
The Price of Freedom
An expanded version of what happened between Wing Commander III and Wing Commander IV. more...
Playguide
How to play the game and set game options. more...
Reference card
Lists all keyboard, mouse and joystick commands in the game. more...
Behind the scenes
Detailed release information
MS-DOS PC Original
- Published by Electronic Arts
- Released 1996-02-04
The original release. Can be upgraded with the high resolution video files from the DVD version through a fan made patch.
Windows 95
Origin sold boxed Windows 95 versions of WC4 and also made an upgrade patch available for the original release.
Macintosh
Created by Lion Entertainment, a very close copy of the initial PC release.
Windows 95 DVD (double sided)
This was one of the first DVD games and featured a double sided disc of high quality movies. Computers at the time weren't up to playing the video, requiring a special Creative Labs decoder card (the DxR2) be installed. A lesser known DVD version also exists, consisting of all six CDs of the normal game (and low resolution video) on one single sided disc.
Windows 95 DVD (single sided)
Same as the PC Windows 95 version, still uses the high compression Xan movie format.
PlayStation
Developed in-house, to a four disc limit. Cuts out a significant amount of video and missions (no Circe Series, for instance). Ground missions replaced with new space-based missions with similar objectives. Briefing videos altered slightly to represent this.
GameTap
Wing Commander 4 was one of three Wing Commander titles available through the GameTap service.
PlayStation Network (PSN)
Wing Commander 4, from the PlayStation version, is currently available for sale on the Playstation Network. As a result, you can play WC4 on your PS3 console or PSP handheld!
3DO Interactive Multiplayer (cancelled)
Cancelled early in development.
