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No Man's Sky - Early Impressions/Reviews-in-progress Thread
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Aztechnology
Member
I was one of those people but that's because the implication (one they themselves set) was that after getting through the grind (Which the game kind of was) would yield a great end game experience like other MMO's have set as precedent. So that's not really a good comparison to make. It would be like if they alluded at the center of the universe there was an intergalactic war with an allegiance system, huge scale battles and unique loot only attainable there etc. (they absolutely didn't) but that would be the equivalent.
DeadlyVirus
Member
He didn't say when ;P
The game just released today. There were no reviews prior to the day 1 patch. You won't see any for a few days.
Amen to that. It is sickening to read things like "preoder cancelled".. I mean, do these people go in front of movie theaters to brag about the fact that they didn't go watch Suicide Squad because of a review they saw on Rotten Tomatoes?
I don't know what's up with people with this game, but it truly shows the problem between what developers can do based on their vision, and the limitless expectations of gamers that only understand what they dream of once they have watched a single trailer.
I'm 31 with a 4 month old child, and I'm having the time of my life as well
(not so much for my very bad english)texhnolyze
Banned
For those who are enjoying NMS, have you played a survival game(s) previously?
Amen to that. It is sickening to read things like "preoder cancelled".. I mean, do these people go in front of movie theaters to brag about the fact that they didn't go watch Suicide Squad because of a review they saw on Rotten Tomatoes?
I don't know what's up with people with this game, but it truly shows the problem between what developers can do based on their vision, and the limitless expectations of gamers that only understand what they dream of once they have watched a single trailer.
I'm 31 with a 4 month old child, and I'm having the time of my life as well
My big question with this game is something that could never really be answered by reviews. It's where people who were hyped for the game and loving it stand in 2 weeks to a month.
timetokill
Banned
Some impressions from Ian Bogost
LastGamer84
Member
I've played Ark and Minecraft. I enjoy NMS immensely, but I've wanted a game like this since I was eight years old. It scratches that sense of wonder, exploration, and discovery of space I have craved. I'm learning alien languages, discovering new lifeforms, and piecing together galactic lore.
I couldn't be happier.
I sense some desperation here, but not from Sony.
About to try NMS some more. It's getting one more chance. Last night I was utterly bored to tears with it after a couple hours. I don't understand what it is about the game that's supposed to be impressive. It's got procedurally generated worlds that are functionally the same and nothing is actually fun to do.
Also you'd think they'd realize people being in the same place at the same time was going to happen at some point
Also you'd think they'd realize people being in the same place at the same time was going to happen at some point
SolidChamp
Banned
Some impressions from Ian Bogost
Such smug condescension.
There IS no "Disneyland". The journey is the whole point. Enabling yourself to take that journey and being able to survive it is part of the fun. You're either aware of that and you gel with it, or you don't.
I look at the opening of the game more as "Here you go, here's the universe. Give yourself the ability to explore it."
This dude, whoever he is, jumped right into the game rubbing his hands saying "Okay, instant gratification time!!! Game, GIVE ME WHAT I HAD IN MIND!!!"
Pfft.
loganclaws
Plane Escape Torment
Procedural generation!
😞
Steve Youngblood
Member
I honestly can't tell if the bolded is in response to those tweets or a description of the post you were about to make.
ViolentP
Member
No doubt.
I'd like to see what those that had no preconceived notions think a month from now. The hype train will be fed till its dying days.
SolidChamp
Banned
That's for me to know.
It's okay to not enjoy the game. Are you not enjoying it? Because people who don't enjoy it can move on to something they do enjoy, rather than pointing their raging hard-ons at the flaws they see, ready to champion them like they make their opinions on the game more valid than the next person's.
Netherscourge
Banned
Uh - am I blind or is he actually saying NO...?
QuantumSquid
Member
I've watched the video that .gif is from. He said "Yes". Sadly Sean Murray is not a flawless god being.
that beard brings him pretty close tho
butman
Member
He's saying "Nein!"
Yes I know, but I'm sure some critics were playing the game pre-patch. I'm just surprised that not even one review has come out yet outside of the one in the OP. I mean I'd even take Biogamer Girl at this point.
I don't think Jim disliked the game, it feels more like he thinks it's just "ok" and extremely over-hyped.
Steve Youngblood
Member
OK. Several things. Firstly, I haven't played it yet. Wouldn't mind trying, but my gut reaction to any of the footage I've seen is that this probably isn't going to be my cup of tea. I completely understand the appeal, but it doesn't really feel like something aimed at me. I have no ill will towards it however, and am open to being completely won over. I'm interested in reading impressions both positive and negative.
Secondly, while I understand that sometimes negative voices can be obnoxious, I want to make it clear that threads about a game -- be they the official thread or the reviews thread or anything else -- are not designed to be hype safe havens where fans congregate in peace and the so-called haters shake their fists in vain from outside the door. Provided that you are participating in good faith, all opinions are welcome. We don't operate under the pretense of "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all."
Finally, the whole reason I replied at all had absolutely nothing to do with my opinion of No Man's Sky and everything to do with your post completely lacking in self awareness. If you're going to call out what you perceive to be smug condescension, don't you think your rebuttal would read better if it aimed at displaying some level of humility? And by that I just mean perhaps omitting phrases like "This dude, whoever he is" and then presuming that the only explanation for the author's poor opinion is ignorance and impatience. To be clear, my aim wasn't to agree with or defend those tweets at all but to call your response tone deaf.
Blackleg-sanji1
Banned
Just wanted to quote this because it felt like just a genuine thing to say as a gamer. No overhype and at the same time not trashing it either
This game needs a more punishing mode like permadeath or it needs to go back to the life pod idea they originally had. (You die and go back to a life pod on the nearest planet with nothing but the clothes on your back. The game was at its best for me when I was marooned on a planet.
The game also desperately needs to tighten up the controls. Coming from pretty much any modern FPS to this game is like trying to aim while your arms are paralyzed.
There also needs to be more variety in the gameplay loop. More bad things need to happen to me so I actually am struggling to survive. Once you know what shit looks like (it looks the same on every planet) survival is a joke and you're just going through the motions on the way to the center. Maybe the game gets fun then.
Lastly, the game needs to let me fly my damn ship. If I wanna smash into a mountain let me. If I want to fly I between and under these cool rock formations let me. This is like baby's first flight simulator.
The game also desperately needs to tighten up the controls. Coming from pretty much any modern FPS to this game is like trying to aim while your arms are paralyzed.
There also needs to be more variety in the gameplay loop. More bad things need to happen to me so I actually am struggling to survive. Once you know what shit looks like (it looks the same on every planet) survival is a joke and you're just going through the motions on the way to the center. Maybe the game gets fun then.
Lastly, the game needs to let me fly my damn ship. If I wanna smash into a mountain let me. If I want to fly I between and under these cool rock formations let me. This is like baby's first flight simulator.
jellies_two
Member
dumb question.
if there is 18 quintillion planets (18 * 10^18), and 1 million players, isn't there an infinitesimal chance that any player will actually visit a planet that has been named by another person? and yet its already happened.
What does the probability math say about the chances?
if there is 18 quintillion planets (18 * 10^18), and 1 million players, isn't there an infinitesimal chance that any player will actually visit a planet that has been named by another person? and yet its already happened.
What does the probability math say about the chances?
It says that the 18 quintillion planets are not equally seeded for spawn probability, in fact almost all of them are not and will have an absolute zero-probability of spawning. It is very likely that only the outer most rim of the "universe sphere" is seeded for spawn, and of those only a select-% are actually seeded for "safe spawning" for players to be certain that players do not spawn on dead, deadly, or trapping planets with no way off. And then of those planets, the seeding probably entirely random on who spawns where.
Depending on the size of the sphere, the amount of planets located on the very outer rim where everyone is seemingly being spawned, are actually a very small amount relative to the 18 quintillion, and spheres have the smallest SA:V ratio (3/r).
jellies_two
Member
ok, but .. that implies a "spawn friendly" planet must be surrounded by totally inhospitable places. Not just like 5 to 1 but 1000s to 1.
But it seems every spawn planet is surrounded by not-too-awful systems?
But it seems every spawn planet is surrounded by not-too-awful systems?
To be honest, if this game had co-op it would have been a #1 anticipated game, but the lack of it means I'll be waiting for a steam sale. Exploration in a sandbox doesn't mean much to me without friends to mess around with.
True indeed, but we don't know the real geometry nor do we know the actual population bias that has been applied. For all we know, all players spawn in a singular cone of the galaxy even if it were a sphere and the whole region is non-uniformly biased towards "friendly systems". This would basically be a cheat, though. A very artificial distribution but perhaps a necessary one if it was proving impossible to generate a suitable algorithm to populate the entire surface area of the galaxy-sphere "smartly".
The_Spaniard
Netmarble
Omnistalgic
Member
Hmmm seems like destiny. Everyone crapping on it because it got hyped but turns out it's an amazing game. I'll judge for myself.
Blackleg-sanji1
Banned
Have you played already omni? Or waiting for pc
No Man's Lie.
I understand features can change during development, but on something so major feature-wise you should be more careful with your words.
I had previously imagined an experience where the universe is vast but on rare occasions you might run into another person -- It was an exciting thought, and I had that thought because they said that's what the game was.
Played about 6 hours so far and I can't even bring myself to leave my starting planet just because I keep finding things that keep me there. Learned a few alien words, found a monolith that had a riddle that raised my favor with an alien race, and just activated a beacon that says there is a major life form reading about 20 mins away, so probably an npc I'm guessing. I'm having a blast so far.
I'm surprised that I'm not seeing anybody compare this to Animal Crossing because the same kind of vibe as that is very much how I am experiencing this game. It's very laid-back I'm going in at my own pace and instead of catching bugs, gathering fruit, chopping down trees and the like, I am mining for resources, scanning and uploading new flora and fauna for money, repairing and Building Things, keeping my survival skills in check, and discovering new things over each Horizon.
If someone were to watch a video of Animal Crossing it might look kind of boring and repetitive, but the way I've experienced this game so far is pretty much the realization of what I thought I would be getting ever since I saw the very first reveal trailer years ago, so I am very happy with the end product.
I'm surprised that I'm not seeing anybody compare this to Animal Crossing because the same kind of vibe as that is very much how I am experiencing this game. It's very laid-back I'm going in at my own pace and instead of catching bugs, gathering fruit, chopping down trees and the like, I am mining for resources, scanning and uploading new flora and fauna for money, repairing and Building Things, keeping my survival skills in check, and discovering new things over each Horizon.
If someone were to watch a video of Animal Crossing it might look kind of boring and repetitive, but the way I've experienced this game so far is pretty much the realization of what I thought I would be getting ever since I saw the very first reveal trailer years ago, so I am very happy with the end product.
From what the early streamers said, the "universe" is a series of unconnected galaxies, and every player starts out in the same galaxy.
Each galaxy would have a small fraction of that 18 quintillion so the odds aren't quite so astronomical, especially toward the center of the first galaxy.
Art Vandilay
Member
Ouch. Hopefully they can implement the feature down the road.
EndlessSky
Member
I can agree with the beginning being extremely slow and pretty boring. Mostly since the walk and run seed are incredibly slow compared to how far the needed materials were. Now like five or so solar systems into the game it is growing on me. Usually just hop into one or two planets in a system for about half an hour to quickly see what it offers, and then move onto the next system. Also, knowing about the boost jumping trick really saves time and makes on foot exploration bearable.
SolidChamp
Banned
All very fair points.
I'm not looking for a "safe haven of hype", to be clear. I'm looking for fair and balanced opinions and they generally only land on one extreme or the other. I had an amazing time with the game last night, but of course it has some serious issues. Namely, some performance issues on certain planets that are too "busy", in terms of landscaping.
That guy whose Twitter feed I quoted chose to word his opinion in such a way that sounded deeply condescending and dismissive, agree? I feel as though his vision of the game is exceedingly narrow.
My own condescending post was also lacking a certain tact, but I admit I really don't know who he is. Therefore, maybe I should care less and not have wasted the post.
Well I played some Minecraft. It never really grabbed me.
NMS is much more my type of game. I'm only 4 hours in but I'm blown away so far. I think I was smiling the whole time I was playing it. Most interesting game I've played in years.
It's shaping up to be this generation's Red Dead Redemption for me, the kind of game I always hope somebody would make but never thought they would.
i am absolutely loving it. put in about 6 hours so far.
just exploring, learning words, crafting stuff. it is what it is. i can appreciate it not being for everyone though. and the criticism it is receiving, while subjective, is fair. if you like minecraft, exploring, space, its worth a try. if you want something more structured and defined, i'd be hesitant to recommend it, especially at its current price.
i really fucking hope that they continue to support it and add features. i think passing that responsibility off to the community via mod support would be the way to go. but i imagine that might be a pipe dream at this stage.
just exploring, learning words, crafting stuff. it is what it is. i can appreciate it not being for everyone though. and the criticism it is receiving, while subjective, is fair. if you like minecraft, exploring, space, its worth a try. if you want something more structured and defined, i'd be hesitant to recommend it, especially at its current price.
i really fucking hope that they continue to support it and add features. i think passing that responsibility off to the community via mod support would be the way to go. but i imagine that might be a pipe dream at this stage.
He's a critic/academic. That's kinda his job.
Hydrargyrus
Member
I really don't know (because I haven't played it yet) if the game's failures are a bad design or its failure is that it doesn't fulfill the people's expectations.
Maybe this game would have been received better without any hype or expectation.
Maybe this game would have been received better without any hype or expectation.
7 hours in.
This is a niche game. If it's your thing, you are going to fucking love it. If it's not, you're going to be left wondering "how do people like this game?"
I'm not a fan because it feels pretty repetitive: gather materials, get an upgrade, repeat until you can "progress." But if you enjoy the exploration or survival elements, I think you'll probably love it.
For me, though, that "thrill of discovery" just isn't there :-/ Reading over all the impressions, I think this could be the line that divides the scores. Some critics feel it, others don't. I'm on the "don't" side.
This is a niche game. If it's your thing, you are going to fucking love it. If it's not, you're going to be left wondering "how do people like this game?"
I'm not a fan because it feels pretty repetitive: gather materials, get an upgrade, repeat until you can "progress." But if you enjoy the exploration or survival elements, I think you'll probably love it.
For me, though, that "thrill of discovery" just isn't there :-/ Reading over all the impressions, I think this could be the line that divides the scores. Some critics feel it, others don't. I'm on the "don't" side.
Doctor_Thomas
Member
I think expectations play a big part of it. I hadn't read or seen anything since the original reveal trailer and it's delivering exactly what I wanted - a massive space and planet exploration game.
I think the big marketing probably helped the game reach a wider audience, but probably also made it impossible to meet the expectations of players but, genuinely, I find the whole experience very relaxing.
Wait, it's a survival game? When did that happen? I thought this was a game about just exploring forever. Feel like I'm going to be disappointed if the element of discovery was removed in favor of the element of putting uninteresting things together. That seems... very MMO-y.
Hydrargyrus
Member
Yeah, because this is what I've been seeing since the beginning. Only travel and explore.
It seems to be a boring game for most of the people since the first presentation and a game for those who like exploring calmly.
Not a game for animal hunting / player meetings / story-driven experience. Only exploration.
I think that the biggest mistake here is the huge marketing campaign to promote this game as something that it is not only because it's fucking eye catching.
It's not going to fulfill ALL the expectations and this is going to punish it.
The survival elements are there but not enough to make it a good survival game and just enough to make it a tedious chore.
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