No Man's Sky - Early Impressions/Reviews-in-progress Thread
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The Wraith
Member
I need this game to come out on the Pc already
good call! /spins up Campfire Headphase
DeepEnigma
Gold Member
Then wait for your penny sales.
Glad you reposted this... I forgot to save the link last night. Listening now.
arts&crafts
Member
I would rather pay $60 for a game that is complete than pay $30 for a game that is not complete. If I bought it EA for $30 3 months ago I would wait until it was complete anyways.
Personally I am not a fan of EA games as I burn myself out and dont go back once they are complete, maybe you are different.
Tatsumi Oga
Banned
What is interesting is how several sources really seem to enjoy the game and how clear Jim sterling is about it. I fully realize it's all about different opinions and everything, but what Sterling explained sounded rather boring and not very fun or amazing at all. Is this going to be a case of Destiny and The Division where tons of people were absolutely loving it at first and eventually came to the conclusion it really wasn't all that? Or will people remain this impressed?
SaganIsGOAT
Junior Member
From what I watched, and actually one of the main reasons I cancelled my preorder, is just the sheer amount of time people spend doing inventory and resource management. I get it, some people love that stuff, but for me, it is cumbersome and would get in the way of fun. There is one MAJOR thing Hello games could do to truly make me fall in love with this game.
1. An Explore Mode. Think of this kind of like Minecraft's creative mode. You don't have to worry about resource management, just a raw experience focused on traveling and exploring. You are given unlimited access to the resources you need and you can just focus on uncovering cool worlds, flora and fauna. They could even take it a step further and add a Safe mode where you wouldn't have to worry about deadly atmospheres.
This may water down the experience even further, but to me, the main draw of this game has always been the sense of discovery and awe as you travel around galaxies, not time spent in menus.
1. An Explore Mode. Think of this kind of like Minecraft's creative mode. You don't have to worry about resource management, just a raw experience focused on traveling and exploring. You are given unlimited access to the resources you need and you can just focus on uncovering cool worlds, flora and fauna. They could even take it a step further and add a Safe mode where you wouldn't have to worry about deadly atmospheres.
This may water down the experience even further, but to me, the main draw of this game has always been the sense of discovery and awe as you travel around galaxies, not time spent in menus.
Bloodporne
Member
Yes, you can always head right back. I plan to do that for my first planet today. It will take me forever just to get out of my first star system.
I think a $40 price tag would have done wonders for this game personally
I think that largely will depend on what you are expecting going in. I was expecting a sim that is easy to get into and has an incredible atmosphere. That is what we got.
Plague Doctor
Member
Welp. I was predispose to wanting this game but now I am sold. Thank god for amazon prime discount.
Kacho
Member
No Man's Sky Isn't The Game I Expected
http://www.polygon.com/features/201...sky-first-impressions-review-preview-10-hours
http://www.polygon.com/features/201...sky-first-impressions-review-preview-10-hours
Tatsumi Oga
Banned
That's not fair though.
Sterling talked about the space combat as well, he talked about the NPC interaction, the inventory, he talked about it all.
Not yet sure if people here are hating on Sterling because he just happens to not see why this game is so amazing, but his impressions video did not strike me as being uninformed and unfair.
sublimit
Banned
I wish the developers could tell us (without spoiling anything) if there are trully any unique things that will be "hiding" in those planets outside of the main route.
For example will there be any "lost" civilazations that we could potentialy discover?Ruined cities with lore hidden in them?Any NPCs that might give you sidequests or just talk with you?
We may never find any of those things but the "promise" of special and trully unique things being out there can make people want to explore more.
If there will be no significant surprises and we find the same reskinned planets and the same randomly generated (mindless) creatures over and over again then this game will get boring super fast.
For example will there be any "lost" civilazations that we could potentialy discover?Ruined cities with lore hidden in them?Any NPCs that might give you sidequests or just talk with you?
We may never find any of those things but the "promise" of special and trully unique things being out there can make people want to explore more.
If there will be no significant surprises and we find the same reskinned planets and the same randomly generated (mindless) creatures over and over again then this game will get boring super fast.
I am mocking people who think this game is good but haven't played it. They haven't played it, what do they know, right?
I am a-okay with people who think this game sucks but haven't played it. In fact I think these people are right. This game sucks (I have not played it).
^^^ITT^^^
I am a-okay with people who think this game sucks but haven't played it. In fact I think these people are right. This game sucks (I have not played it).
^^^ITT^^^
More_Badass
Member
Sometimes watching something and someone telling you about gameplay isnt a substitute for actual play
"So you're dropped into this procedural world, and you need to spend most of the day just crafting stuff to build shelters and tools. A lot of the gameplay revoles around standing and hitting the terrain to collect resources. At night, you need to avoid monsters."
None of that captures the thrill of cresting a hill in Minecraft and seeing some awesome natural formation, or needing to plan your descent into a cave system so you don't get lost, or the feeling of satisficstion of seeing the home you created on the horizon after a long trek, or that awe of breaking into a massive sprawling cavern
I'd imagine the same for NMS. Watching can seem boring. All you're doing is collecting stuff, walking around, flying to new planets, and such. But that's not what at the forefront of your mind while playing. You're upgrading your tools, you're seeking out outposts and ruins and points of interest, you're struggling on a brutal planet and getting that thrill of surviving and lifting off into the safety of space. You're taking in the sights, the wildlife, and such.
But therein lies the sense of growth and progression for me. These are goals to struggle for as you explore and upgrade. Like an RPG of sorts.
Weltall Zero
Member
I'm all for procedurally generated games (FTL, Spelunky and Starbound are among my favorite, most played ever games), but NMS so far looks exactly like those fears you mention. To me there is no significant difference between its worlds and Spore's. But to each their own, and if people enjoy those world they way they are, more power to them.
Tatsumi Oga
Banned
I see what you mean man and i partly agree. Taking in the atmosphere and feeling thrilled by certain happenings simply isn't going to happen when you watch it being played, very much agreed. But i don't know man. For pretty much any game i have ever bought, watching gameplay videos of it was the best way for me to see if this was going to be a game for me or not. This has never really failed me. I am ok with needing to find materials and upgrading your items and ship, that's all fine stuff but i don't want to be doing that a shitload of times. I want to be exploring and finding unique locations just as much. Cool looking caves/waters/islands/structures....you know, simply stuff that truly makes it worth exploring these planets.
I've seen quite a bit of footage now and especially that last thing seems to be lacking. The creatures look great and definitely add to the atmosphere but really making exploration rewarding seems to be lacking here. That's kinda what Jim Sterling was going on about as well. On top of that he finds the space combat not very fun at all and the game did not give him the impression of being in this huge galaxy. Now i can't know that for myself without having played it...but still.
bananafactory
Banned
Some good impressions from the Press Sneak Fuck
http://kotaku.com/two-hours-with-no-mans-sky-a-diary-1785003271
http://kotaku.com/two-hours-with-no-mans-sky-a-diary-1785003271
That's an important question, but quite relative from one person to the next.
I like futzing around in a sandbox environment. Just relaxing and being in the moment. That's what draws me to NMS.
Others may not gel with that loop.
I'm very curious to hear the answers to your question as well. I'm sure there will be quite the spread of takeaway thoughts.
PopcornMegaphone
Banned
I'm interested in this game but I get the sense it could use a few more tweaks/patches/features. I'm willing to wait 6 mos and reassess the game.
After about 4 hours i'm enjoying this. Is there a genre of "survival game without fear of dying" ?
I understand why people call this a survival game, but at no time was i ever worried for my well being. MY life support might get low, but the resources required to re-charge it were always near by.
I think its more of a task/resource management game than true survival.
I understand why people call this a survival game, but at no time was i ever worried for my well being. MY life support might get low, but the resources required to re-charge it were always near by.
I think its more of a task/resource management game than true survival.
Yeah, this is me too. Base building is huuuuuge for me, the game honestly wasn't on my radar at all until I saw that. Exploring is, and has never been my thing, hell I still haven't touched Fallout 4 just because it's too aimless for me. However if they build in a good base/crafting system that allows you to really flesh out a planet, I'd hop on board at $40 or so.
My impressions after 4 hours last night
Also, I streamed about an hour last night, so the replay is there as well. The stream starts at a point a couple of hours after I started, so I have a couple of upgrades etc/
Also, I streamed about an hour last night, so the replay is there as well. The stream starts at a point a couple of hours after I started, so I have a couple of upgrades etc/
Freeman76
Member
It is worth adding, since you havent left the starter system yet, that it becomes very difficult to return after a while, because you need a large amount of resources to use the hyperdrive until it is well upgraded. Once you have jumped 4 or 5 galaxies, it becomes a real resource pain to go back 4 or 5 galaxies to the start again.
Tatsumi Oga
Banned
Read it just now. This guy is very impressed with the exploring. If you love exploring this is for you he says. Yet when i watched all this footage i never saw much that truly seemed to be reflecting that. How odd.
Hendrick's
If only my penis was as big as my GamerScore!
Intriguing game. Just spent 6 hours on my starting planet. Going to venture out now and see what is out there. I can see how the game can get repetitive, but for now it's keeping me engaged. It really does seem like it is about the exploration and not the minute to minute gameplay.
More_Badass
Member
Have you watched the talk? It's pretty insightful amd offers a good understanding of the systems and human touch behind the game's art. If you can appreciate how Spelunky can consistently create excellent elegant levels, NMS is a larger form of that, in how Yu used careful rules to dictate how levels can form, rather than just creating random messes of platforming detritus
Snkfanatic
Banned
Hmmm
Ok question for ya, if I love games like Grand Theft Auto and just driving around and finding somewhere pretty/scenic and just listening to the music and relaxing do you think I would like this game then?
My biggest draw to NMS is the space battles or just flying around in general so the game already has my interest but the way you describe it this way has me even more interested in just wandering around. Wonder if it will scratch that same itch as GTA does.
Tomeru
Member
Oh no doubt. This just illustrates that the game needs co-op to truly shine, especially considering HG wants to let you build structures and own a freighter. This is a game one could get lost in if one doesn't have a sense of pre-determined focus. Getting to the center of the galaxy is just not enough imho. I just find this game the most amazing black canvas I've ever played.
Netherscourge
Banned
Sean made it clear that not everyone will like the game.
Many people went into the game with a lot of assumptions - possibly even misinformation.
So, when those assumptions are not met or possibly even the opposite of what they were expecting, they will be down on the game.
Other people who are just jumping in and examining the game for what it is will probably like it a lot more.
I expect reviews to be all over the place. Probably settling down into the 70% range across the board.
Pro game reviewers review TONS of games. They tend to compare and contrast games to other games in the same genre. Games like Elite will probably be mentioned a lot. Or even game's like Don't Starve. Heck, Spore will be tossed around too. NMS will be compared with those types of games and the good and the bad will be evaluated against what it does well and what it doesn't do well.
People like me, who never played Spore or Elite or Don't Starve (well, just briefly played DS; wasn't impressed with it) will probably love NMS because I have no assumptions going in.
The systems in NMS will, for me, be the first time I'm seeing them so I won't have other games to compare them to. I will simply play NMS and decide just from that if the game is fun, addictive, boring, etc... I have a short attention span to begin with, so it'll be interesting to see how hooked I can stay into this game.
Many people went into the game with a lot of assumptions - possibly even misinformation.
So, when those assumptions are not met or possibly even the opposite of what they were expecting, they will be down on the game.
Other people who are just jumping in and examining the game for what it is will probably like it a lot more.
I expect reviews to be all over the place. Probably settling down into the 70% range across the board.
Pro game reviewers review TONS of games. They tend to compare and contrast games to other games in the same genre. Games like Elite will probably be mentioned a lot. Or even game's like Don't Starve. Heck, Spore will be tossed around too. NMS will be compared with those types of games and the good and the bad will be evaluated against what it does well and what it doesn't do well.
People like me, who never played Spore or Elite or Don't Starve (well, just briefly played DS; wasn't impressed with it) will probably love NMS because I have no assumptions going in.
The systems in NMS will, for me, be the first time I'm seeing them so I won't have other games to compare them to. I will simply play NMS and decide just from that if the game is fun, addictive, boring, etc... I have a short attention span to begin with, so it'll be interesting to see how hooked I can stay into this game.
Watch Jeffs trying to feed the Space Goomba. It's in the stream from Jeffs home office.
More_Badass
Member
Again watching versus playing. You're a passive observer. He's invested in leaving his planet, seeking out new ones, etc. That dynamic can add weight and purposes to gameplay that can seem boring when you're not in the mindset of actually playing something. See Euro Truck Sim, Minecraft, etc
Footage of Inside looks like a simple platformer, but that doesn't capture the tension, pacing, and such that the game delievers when you're actually playing
That was probably my favorite article I've read from the guy (Mainly cause it had me laughing so much). I particularly love the name of his first planet (I didn't even realize it was Jason writing that - I tend not to look at the byline - until I saw that).
I concur. I was watching some one play and it was pretty obvious this was a game that was way more interesting to play than to watch play (They were stuck on a planet trying to find a resource and I bet in that situation I'd be loving the game cause I love that kind of stuff but watching some one else do that was just kinda of eh). Some things really change in context depending on if you are watching or playing (THey may be better watched or better played).
And an be frustrating to watch if you do get immersed in just watching it (was watching some one else play and getting annoyed at them when it seemed they were being inefficient about flying to the goal they were trying to get to... and at least they were doing goals I was interested in them doing. Be more frustrating to watch them pass by something that I really wanted them to get to.. it was a kid so I was kinda afraid he'd get distracted and I'd be like... but but but I wanted to see that marker you were heading to!).
The space flying is more fun to watch though than the walking around.
Goddamnit I wish UPS would hurry up and get here already *grumble*.
Gamekult is streaming it right now:
http://www.gamekult.com/live/e-sport.html
They seem a bit disappointed by it. "After 12 hours, I had the impression to run in circles"
http://www.gamekult.com/live/e-sport.html
They seem a bit disappointed by it. "After 12 hours, I had the impression to run in circles"
depths20XX
Member
I would highly suspect the answer to these questions is "no". If things like that were in the game they would be foolish not to talk about them before the games release.
VlaudTheImpaler
tl;dr
_/¯To be clear, I haven't played the game.
I'm about 80% sold at this point, and will be playing it on PC either way.
I'd also like to hear some impressions outside of the launch window, and since I've already got things on my plate, I can afford to wait a week or two.
But yes, if you enjoy "just cruising" in GTA, then it stands to reason you'll enjoy NMS. Now granted, GTA (esp. V) seems a LOT more visually interesting in regards to custom-created art assets and variety. I think that "just being" in GTA V is as valuable as playing story missions. But NMS looks incredible in its own unique way as well.
Perhaps someone on PS4 right now can speak more clearly to the open-world GTA comparisons.
And that's cool, there's nothing wrong with that. It's just kind of weird that because many people don't really know what this game is about will end up wasting $60 on it.
At least if there were impressions before the game released, then people could say to themselves "yea, I'm not really into the whole exploring/survival, it's repetitive and boring. Not spending $60 on this." Or they could just as well love the impressions and jump on board. I personally don't like the approach of "let's keep things super quiet and confuse everyone so that we can get their money." Not saying Hello Games did this, that's just what it kind of "seems" like.
I, on the other hand, love getting lost in Minecraft, going underground and exploring caverns for hours on end, just because it's neat, so I know this game will be right up my alley.
More_Badass
Member
Yes, there are ruined buildings and outposts to find. Steamers and a few GAFfers mentioned frontier settlements with NPCs that teach you words.
You can also see a massive building in the background of this GIF from the June trailer
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