In another mission you'll protect a ship while it brings supplies into a system, perhaps while under fire from hostiles. The goal is the same, you've got to protect a ship either way, but the actual combat is a completely different experience. Another good point is that missions often change on the fly. The ability to think on your feet is a pre-requisite, and so beating the game requires more than an ability to follow the lead reticule. You have your wingmates to control, and sending them to attack the right targets at the right time is crucial to deciding if you're to complete the mission or not.
Tactics are just as important as firepower.
It's not all single player action, either. The multiplayer element has been well thought out with the inclusion of three different play modes. What is of more interest is the Squad War game, where competing teams battle each other to take over a system of stars. This is pretty easy to get hooked up to and is pretty comprehensive, offering a right old wagonful of options. You may well be wondering by now, why on earth Freespace 2 hasn't earned the prestigious GDR Gold Award.