No Man’s Sky – PREVIEW

No Mans Sky

No Man’s Sky is a sci-fi, adventure survival game that sets you off on an endless exploration of the cosmos.

WORLD

The procedural generated world you explore is the most impressive aspect of the game. It uses a mathematical algorithm that creates an amazing open universe no mans skythat includes an inconceivable 18 quintillion (1.8×1019) planets. Each of these planets has its own unique ecosystems filled with bizarre fauna and flora, and varying terrains. As you explore you can catalog these discoveries, giving it whatever name you want, which is then submitted to the universal database known as the Atlas for everyone to see. Although No Man’s Sky no mans skyis an online game where all players exist in the same game lobby, the vastness of space is so enormous you will likely never find another human player during the entirety of your experience.

What makes it even more impressive is the fact that this massive game was developed and published by only a tiny indie studio called “Hello Games”.

GAMEPLAY

The purpose of your time in No Man’s Sky is not defined, sure there is a goal to reach the center of the universe, which was estimated to take around 40 hours tono mans sky achieve, but it is as vast and relatively meaningless as reality. You do what you wish and carve out your own story, your own purpose in the game.

no mans skyYou are a planetary explorer in constant motion and pursuit of new life forms that lurk in the blackened invisible distance of the uncharted galaxies. You are equipped with a bunch of cool space tools and gadgets like the sleek spacecraft that allows you, without cut-scene or QuickTime event, to blast off and land on planets freely. You are also given a spacesuit with a jet-pack to traverse the alien environments, and a multi-tool used to scan objects and areas, collect resources to upgrade equipment or buy new spaceships, and protect yourself from the deadly creatures that roam the planet.

As you continue your journey you will realize that you are not the only being possessing intelligent life and may come face to face with AI controlled alien factions, which depending on their personality and proclivity for violence, you can interact and trade with. These moments are made to be impactful in their rarity just like the inhabitable planets that exist in theno mans sky game. The developers used the 90-10 rule, meaning that 90% of the planets are uninhabitable and of the 10% that have thriving natural elements, 90% of them will only be mundane denizens as a way to create a real sense of discovery and wonder when you come across something extraordinary.

Although you can do whatever you want, there are consequences for your actions. If you plunder the resources of a planet or harm the indigenous wildlife you gain a sort of “wanted level”. The greater the wanted level, the more attention you bring to your presence, which attracts the autonomous robotic Sentinels that monitor planets.

No Man’s Sky manages to appear simple on the surface and simultaneously, yet effortlessly, intricate and nuanced with so much to understand and explore in the vast reaches of its seemingly infinite virtual realm.

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