Is Strike Suit Zero worth getting?
Also which is generally regarded as the superior one to get between the original and Director's Cut edition for someone who doesn't own any of the Strike Suit games?
While a few things improved with the Director's Cut, the actions they took have lead to more than a few glitches and graphical issues and as such I recommend sticking with the original version of the game. The DLC is nice, but not needed and that's the only thing you would have to buy separately if you skip on the Director's Cut.
I found to be a fun game that let me live out my Robotech desires of fighting as a fighter jet and then turning into a mech that shoots many a missile. It's a typical sci-fi action story with standard arcade like space combat of destroy all the enemies or defend your ships, but it's very smooth and exciting as you continuously get better at the game or try out different armaments either in ship form or robot fighter form. Plays great with a joystick as well.
I also recommend looking at the side-sequel Strike Suit Infinity, which is a different game of the same vein. Still space combat, but unlike Zero's story and mission focus aspect, this is a high score chasing hyperactive series of levels that is the shoot-em-up for space combat genre. If you are into that kind of thing and idea that is, some might feel like there is not enough as it is just waves of enemies for high score.
Both games come with just beautiful scenery for a very vibrant and spectacular look at alien planets, nebulas, stars, and especially Earth and Luna and all the space traffic that goes between them.
It won't scratch the same itch as say an Elite title, it's not as straight forward and easy as Star Fox, but they more than made me happy as a fan of the space combat genre.
