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[Guilty_AI]

Does it mess around with balance and gravity though?

I really liked how DS made traveling a challenge. The balancing of carrying all your gear, the rain timefall gear wear system, the terrain challenges, the BTs, etc.

I'd love to play a sequel where Sam goes to the moon, then Mars, and other planets and moons like Europa and shit. Working to make deliveries of gear using the skeletons and carriers, etc, all while now having to deal with heavy/light gravity and limited oxygen supply and shit... itd be so cool.

Never gonna happen tho lol.

Theres some low grav planets but, yeah, traversal is nowhere near as cool as in DS

 

[Boneless]

The new expansion to Elite Dangerous is adding the ability to exit your ship and a lot of stuff associated with that. Might be one to watch.

Shame it doesnt properly support VR out of the box.

 

[Woo-Fu]

It's really hard to make an interesting city. How could they possibly make an interesting galaxy and build a campaign in it?

You end up with relatively small portions of the game world that are handcrafted while surrounded with procedurally generated content and the dividing line between the two is always painfully obvious.

You simply can't have the freedom to travel anywhere you want and expect it to be filled with meaningful content. Pick one or the other.

You mentioned The Expanse, just use that as an example and see how many different environments you have to model while sticking to the story, much less allowing the player to go anywhere in the solar system and the 1373 gate systems.

 

[Warablo]

I'm hoping Starfield fills the void.

 

[Boneless]

It's really hard to make an interesting city. How could they possibly make an interesting galaxy and build a campaign in it?

You end up with relatively small portions of the game world that are handcrafted while surrounded with procedurally generated content and the dividing line between the two is always painfully obvious.

You simply can't have the freedom to travel anywhere you want and expect it to be filled with meaningful content. Pick one or the other.

You mentioned The Expanse, just use that as an example and see how many different environments you have to model while sticking to the story, much less allowing the player to go anywhere in the solar system and the 1373 gate systems.

Cutting scope is not that difficult, start with one star system. use a scenario where almost everything is dead/destroyed etc. etc. Get the basics right, then open it up to the community to create more awesome stuff.

 

[IbizaPocholo]

 

[IbizaPocholo]

 

[lh032]

I think Star Citizen would come close to what you want but you need to wait till 2030.

pretty optimistic there ; )

 

[OceanicWaterHorse]

The new No Man's Sky Update seems to be close to what you were asking for.

Expeditions Update - No Man's Sky

Expeditions: Introducing Update 3.3 Update 3.3, Expeditions, introduces a brand new way to play No Man’s Sky. Start a fresh journey in a brand new game mode, master a unique set of challenges with revitalised mission mechanics, earn exclusive new rewards, visit bustling hub worlds, and much...

www.nomanssky.com

 

[IDKFA]

Hopefully this is what Starfield turns out to be.

 

[Ellery]

Yes please, but without the VR and FPS.

 

[Shelookdlvl18]

I gotta give Elite Dangerous credit. For all it's misgivings, it did about as well as can be expected as far as scope and size. Games like Everspace and Mass Effect tend to be too small and/or don't have enough exploration. No man's sky is plenty big with exploration, but it's not defined, and lacks certain interactions. It's cartoony looks don't help either.

Elite Dangerous is a 1 to 1 replication of the Milky Way Galaxy. While No Man's Sky just keeps regenerating planet after random planet, Elite's Stellar Forge system uses incredibly complex algorithms to place it's planets and systems. So accurate in fact, that when astronomers discovered the Trappist-1 star system with 7 planets orbiting it 39 light years away back in 2017... Elite Dangerous already had it figured out. Elites algorithms had already determined that something was supposed to be there, so when the developers went to add the newly discovered Trappist-1 system to the game, they found that it was already there. 39 light years away from earth, with 7 planets orbiting it. All they basically had to do was slap a name on it.

The scale is there, the exploration is there, and the politics and faction elements are there. Elite Dangerous biggest flaws was it's lack of aliens, no VR, and no space legs to walk around. They included aliens in about the most realistic way possible. Now they're about to include space legs so you'll be able to walk around and explore planets. While I wouldn't expect cities or anything, I'd definitely expect plenty of scenarios such as the dead bodies being found that make you want to leave not being hard to find.

The fact that Frontier Games has implemented so much despite being such a niche game, really shows what kind of person David Braben is. Dude is definitely doing his best. Imagine if Elite Dangerous had the financial backing Star Citizen did?

 

[Spaceman292]

I gotta give Elite Dangerous credit. For all it's misgivings, it did about as well as can be expected as far as scope and size. Games like Everspace and Mass Effect tend to be too small and/or don't have enough exploration. No man's sky is plenty big with exploration, but it's not defined, and lacks certain interactions. It's cartoony looks don't help either.

Elite Dangerous is a 1 to 1 replication of the Milky Way Galaxy. While No Man's Sky just keeps regenerating planet after random planet, Elite's Stellar Forge system uses incredibly complex algorithms to place it's planets and systems. So accurate in fact, that when astronomers discovered the Trappist-1 star system with 7 planets orbiting it 39 light years away back in 2017... Elite Dangerous already had it figured out. Elites algorithms had already determined that something was supposed to be there, so when the developers went to add the newly discovered Trappist-1 system to the game, they found that it was already there. 39 light years away from earth, with 7 planets orbiting it. All they basically had to do was slap a name on it.

The scale is there, the exploration is there, and the politics and faction elements are there. Elite Dangerous biggest flaws was it's lack of aliens, no VR, and no space legs to walk around. They included aliens in about the most realistic way possible. Now they're about to include space legs so you'll be able to walk around and explore planets. While I wouldn't expect cities or anything, I'd definitely expect plenty of scenarios such as the dead bodies being found that make you want to leave not being hard to find.

The fact that Frontier Games has implemented so much despite being such a niche game, really shows what kind of person David Braben is. Dude is definitely doing his best. Imagine if Elite Dangerous had the financial backing Star Citizen did?

I know it's not really the style, but Elite Dangerous with a decent story mode would be unbelievable.

 

[Guilty_AI]

I gotta give Elite Dangerous credit. For all it's misgivings, it did about as well as can be expected as far as scope and size. Games like Everspace and Mass Effect tend to be too small and/or don't have enough exploration. No man's sky is plenty big with exploration, but it's not defined, and lacks certain interactions. It's cartoony looks don't help either.

Elite Dangerous is a 1 to 1 replication of the Milky Way Galaxy. While No Man's Sky just keeps regenerating planet after random planet, Elite's Stellar Forge system uses incredibly complex algorithms to place it's planets and systems. So accurate in fact, that when astronomers discovered the Trappist-1 star system with 7 planets orbiting it 39 light years away back in 2017... Elite Dangerous already had it figured out. Elites algorithms had already determined that something was supposed to be there, so when the developers went to add the newly discovered Trappist-1 system to the game, they found that it was already there. 39 light years away from earth, with 7 planets orbiting it. All they basically had to do was slap a name on it.

The scale is there, the exploration is there, and the politics and faction elements are there. Elite Dangerous biggest flaws was it's lack of aliens, no VR, and no space legs to walk around. They included aliens in about the most realistic way possible. Now they're about to include space legs so you'll be able to walk around and explore planets. While I wouldn't expect cities or anything, I'd definitely expect plenty of scenarios such as the dead bodies being found that make you want to leave not being hard to find.

The fact that Frontier Games has implemented so much despite being such a niche game, really shows what kind of person David Braben is. Dude is definitely doing his best. Imagine if Elite Dangerous had the financial backing Star Citizen did?

The saddest part is that this'll all the lost once they pull the plug on the servers. Thats about my only issue with the game.
I sincerely hope they patch in a true offline mode at some point.

 

[Nyxir]

Wait for starfield

 

[Ferdinandthecowfish]

What I am looking for is pretty much:
Space exploration, flying about
Being able to get off your ship into FPS
Have a campaign with mission where you encounter stuff that makes you want to takeoff and leave (like you find a ship full of blood and dead bodies, thriller kind of vibe. Uncover alien technologie etc. Dark, flashlight etc etc, meanwhile, you ship is waiting for you outside)

Sounds like the latest expansion for Elite: Dangerous. Although I've heard that the FPS elements are sort of a mess right now but that could be because it's still in beta.

Elite also has great VR implementation.

Squadron 42 is what you want. Hopefully beta this year.

I won't hold my breath.

 

[Snake29]

Sounds like the latest expansion for Elite: Dangerous. Although I've heard that the FPS elements are sort of a mess right now but that could be because it's still in beta.

Elite also has great VR implementation.

I won't hold my breath.

Star Citizen's FPS gameplay looks leagues better then the latest ED patch.

 

[Boneless]

Indeed, I thought ED FPS looked pretty meh, a bit jaggy and doesnt support VR yet. A shame you cannot walk in and out of your ship.

 

[MisterBrimstone]

The day procedural means cities, entire civilizations, meaningful dialogue, etc etc etc THEN I might get excited for the posibilities. No man sky tried to compensate space being boring as fuck with biomes everywhere but it's very samey.

 

[Aenima]

Dont dismiss No Man Sky for its visuals. Game is awesome right now. And has pretty much what you looking for including VR.

 

[Fuz]

Give a try to Outer Wilds.

 

[Halo is Back]

not going to happen

Could Imperium Games be like...

 

[brian0057]

The original Mass Effect is kind of like that.
It's from the second game onwards that the series went to shit.

 

[TheMay30thMan]

Star Citizen, if it ever comes out, will be the closest thing to The Expanse. Mass Effect is kind of there. I don't believe the supurb storytelling of The Expanse would translate well to videogames. The story is wild, but it’s a story about human conflict in extraordinary circumstances, not exploration. It would come at the expense of fun gameplay. (IMO)

 

[Skyfox]

I agree but here are some ideas for now:
Alien Isolation (ships full of dead bodies and alien tech)
Doom 2016, Doom 3
Star Wars Battlefront II (in the offline modes against bots you can pick from many planets)
Aliens vs Predator (works on xbox one consoles and is very atmospheric with some different planet locations)
Halo series
Destiny 2
Tacoma (not heavy on action but good character atmosphere)
Titanfall series
Rage 2 (lots of fps exploration in sci-fi outdoor environments)
Portal 2 ( a great sci-fi fps with unusual environments)
Dead space
Star trek elite force 2 (an early mission has a derelict ship you visit, this is an old pc game though)
Elite Dangerous Odyssey (this game was ruined by not coming to PSVR)
Red matter psvr (nice sci-fi locations but a bit puzzle style)
Prey
Killzone 2 HD
Metroid Prime 1/2/3

 

[CamHostage]

Ha, it's funny that upon my first read of the OP's description, my first thought was that sometimes it feels like EVERY game I see is one of these these lonesome space scavenging survival games. (At least, ones that aren't an anime game or a souls-like, though there are also probably souls-like space games too?) Maybe I'm just overreacting, but it feels like The Void of Space is the new Zombies...

The problem, it sounds, is the OP doesn't want the randomness of a roguelike, they want a story campaign with on-foot action and space piloting.
Kind of like a new-era version of Mace Griffin...



Lots of suggestions here seem like they may suit some interests, but I'm not sure if any have that "GTA in Space" feel of going places, accomplishing missions there, then grabbing a vehicle to jet off somewhere else, with some additional encounters once you've switched to the driver's seat. It seems hard to build that kind of openness of an immense space field with individual planets but also detailed intimacy of designed levels; roguelike and procedural placement has so far addressed the scale issue, but then putting story and specific challenges inside that might be an issue.

 

[Dr.Morris79]

Give a try to Outer Wilds.

Excellent shout out. Marvelous game that is.

 

[Alright]

Ha, it's funny that upon my first read of the OP's description, my first thought was that sometimes it feels like EVERY
game I see (that's not an anime game or a souls-like, though there are also probably souls-like space games too,) these lonesome space scavenging survival games. (Maybe I'm just overreacting, but it feels like Outer Space is the new Zombies...)

The problem, it sounds, is the OP doesn't want the randomness of a roguelike, they want a story campaign with on-foot action and space piloting.
Kind of like a new-era version of Mace Griffin...



Lots of suggestions here seem like they may suit some interests, but I'm not sure if any have that "GTA in Space" feel of going places, accomplishing missions there, then grabbing a vehicle to jet off somewhere else, with some additional encounters once you've switched to the driver's seat. It seems hard to build that kind of openness of an immense space field with individual planets but also detailed intimacy of designed levels; roguelike and procedural placement has so far addressed the scale issue, but then putting story and specific challenges inside that might be an issue.

Mace Griffin

That's a name I haven't heard in a long time

 

[JeremyEtcetera]

I agree but here are some ideas for now:
Alien Isolation (ships full of dead bodies and alien tech)
Doom 2016, Doom 3
Star Wars Battlefront II (in the offline modes against bots you can pick from many planets)
Aliens vs Predator (works on xbox one consoles and is very atmospheric with some different planet locations)
Halo series
Destiny 2
Tacoma (not heavy on action but good character atmosphere)
Titanfall series
Rage 2 (lots of fps exploration in sci-fi outdoor environments)
Portal 2 ( a great sci-fi fps with unusual environments)
Dead space
Star trek elite force 2 (an early mission has a derelict ship you visit, this is an old pc game though)
Elite Dangerous Odyssey (this game was ruined by not coming to PSVR)
Red matter psvr (nice sci-fi locations but a bit puzzle style)
Prey
Killzone 2 HD
Metroid Prime 1/2/3

I think this list should be checked out, as there a lot of good picks here, however this seems like one of those OP's where they shoot down every suggestion made in the thread because it's not exactly what is being asked for.

 

[FeldMonster]

The Expanse is so damn good. Best sci-fi show out there, and so many people sleep on it.

Personally, it always gave me Mass Effect vibes. It's a space opera focusing on one crew as they navigate inter-planet politics and try to survive a building and looming extrasolar/extragalactic threat. Holden's name even gains reverance to the entire system the same way Shepard does to the galaxy. He's got his pilot (Joker/Alex), his ship engineer (Naomi/Garus), his reliable tank (Amos/Wrex), and a super famous/capable ship (Normandy/Rocinante). The exploration is fantastic too. You get plenty of those "bad vibes" in different areas you encounter. I'll never forget the first time I explored the derelict collectors vessel in 2.

If you haven't played Mass Effect, keep an eye out for the trilogy remaster coming in a few months. you're in for one hell of a treat. It's got everything in the OP except VR and it's third person instead of first.

The Expanse has a great background and world building. The politics/competition between Mars, The Earth, and the Asteroid Belt is quite intriguing, but for some reason, the show forces us to follow some of the most annoying, illogical, unlikable characters I have ever seen in a show. They seem to only kill off or remove the interesting ones. Or leave them a bit underutilized. Most of the side characters are great, the main 4 are wretched. I can't stand them anymore, and won't watch the most recent season.

I strongly advocate for Dark Matter over The Expanse. What it loses in world building, it gains in likeable characters.

 

[Video Game Historian]

Thing is, actual space is really boring.

this, the only thing interesting about outer space would be landing on new planets (and not procedurally generated ones like No Man's Sky)

 

[Guilty_AI]

this, the only thing interesting about outer space would be landing on new planets (and not procedurally generated ones like No Man's Sky)

nope, vast majority of planets would probably pretty boring too from a game perspective, assuming they'd be landable at all

 

[Pol Pot]

I want Ace Combat in space

Why has no one made a new Colony Wars yet?

 

[Men_in_Boxes]

The best part of No Man's Sky is knowing that it was made by 12 people and released in 2016.

AA and AAA teams are going to be inspired by it in the future.