Just started playing a bit of
Event Horizon: Frontier again. It's not so much changed as simply geared up the options early-on. Which makes it a hell of a lot more fun, so you can explore the things you can do straight away. You start with 20 stars (unless I just made a purchase several versions ago and it's carried over, or it's a beta tester thing, which I am), which gives you tonnes of options from the get-go.
Like, tonnes. I'm already running around with two fairly kitted-out early game ships (just the scout and the raven), with twin m1 satellites on both, purple/gold torps and cannons (could have gone for anything though) and am looking at duels for cheap/free parts as gimmes. About 8.2/8.2 speed on my Scout (yeah, you get free good engines, or buy some for a couple of stars) already. It's SO much easier so far. Way better than the grind of Event Horizon (original) for getting cool bits and builds going. I'm actually going to restart and min/max the crap out of it. May even do a video guide of how to do so. I thought I was doing that, but I now realize the amount of amazing low level gear you can get. I'm not even past 1-4. Lol.
There's also mercenaries now. They can pilot the two other rust buckets you have at the beginning. It's amazing. Sure the ships/pilots don't level up quickly, but they certainly do help. And it means your starbase gets +2 customizable infinite-range super-drones from the start. For about 104 credits if you grab the tutorial ones. Throw some 1000-2000 credit m1 satellites on each of them, and it's like having 6 super drones of best-you-can-grab universal-slot firepower helping you out. They're great. The kill-stealing little SoBs
Oh, and missions. Like side missions. You fly around for ages, solo, without your starbase or mercenary crew, at blue dots and wait a bit. Sometimes an enemy or two will turn up, so you murder them. And keep flying towards the blue thingy. Then wait at the blue thingy. It's like exploration from the original, but more interactive. It also gives you amazing parts and pieces and is an incredibly rewarding use/waste of time. Bring a fast ship (your scout at the beginning). And get all the things for either free, or at a very low cost, as soon as you visit the engineer (sometimes you just get very OP stuff free. Even better stuff than you can use early-on). A nice little addition, and will no doubt get far harder. Killing a few drones or frigates for phat loot is nice. Cheaper than stars, for +40% damage everything, as well as gubbins to match.
Strangely enough, if you do the "tutorial", then go to options on the start screen and restart, you can restart. Except this time, you get the whole merchant/smuggler/mercenary/engineer start screen to each tutorial mission. And really cheap mercs available. So if you don't mind selling 2-6 of your starting stars, you can get some extremely good starting gear (satellites and weapons mostly) for your beginner ships before level 2-1. Pro-tip for new-game+ right there. After countless hours on the original, I've got a pretty good idea of what weapons and modules are "actually really good", but you can grind a bit if you don't know.
Anyway, it's fun, it's good. If you like Star Control 2 style space combat and Stardrive 1 style ship building, give Event Horizon: Frontier a go. It seems like it's outdone it's predecessor, at least for a fast/fun start and actual missions to play. I'll see how it goes long-term this weekend.