No Man's Sky

When released in 2016, the game was hailed as something unique and wonderful, though critics complained because many of the promised features were not present. However, the developers have made good on those promises since that first release and those promised features, such as multi player capability, extra building features, etc, are now available.

The game operates largely using algorithms that ‘create’ the world just ahead of the player’s progress. This is called progression generation and it is a positive because it uses fewer resources than maintaining a fixed world would.

If players travel to the same place at the same time, they will see the same features and colonies. This makes gameplay more authentic, while keeping the data usage relatively low.

New Details

The developers, a company called Hello Games, have worked hard to bring the game up to its original promise with regular updates that make the game more exciting, immersive and fun for all players.

Multiplayer functionality was the main feature that gamers wanted and this was included in the first major update, shortly after the launch. Improved building enables players to make their home base unique to their own preferences: having an ideal home to protect is a good way for players to feel invested in the game.

The developers continue to release updates regularly so you will always have something new and exciting to look forward to. They have learned from the errors of the past, and now only announce the new features once they are sure that they are player ready.

Ways to Play

The game is predominantly a world-building exploration game, with enough interesting missions to keep interest high. Players can choose their level of difficulty so they can simply explore the beautifully depicted space. There are different methods of play to choose, depending on what the player prefers:

Exploration: The default setting. You take on the character of a crash-landed humanoid alien and set about ensuring your survival and exit from the planet on which you have crash-landed. You are encouraged to use the multi-tool, that all players have as standard, to mine for resources which you then craft into protective gear and transport.

Survival: This is similar to standard gameplay but with much higher difficulty so if you like maximum excitement and challenge in your gaming this is the mode for you as you will be subject to more hostile attacks and more combat situations than otherwise.

Combat: Full-on battles from the beginning to the end. These usually slot into the player’s exploration, with battles being more prevalent when this mode is chosen.

Trading: This mode of play relies more on diplomacy and making deals with the aliens that you come across as you explore the worlds. It is not as easy as it sounds, however, the aliens speak languages which you must work to understand by gathering ‘Rosetta stones’ that will help with translations. Misunderstandings can cause friction!

Multiplayer: Up to 16 players can team up to explore new areas of the map and friends can track each other on the map.

Endgame

Play through all the various modes in the format that suits your playing style best, enjoying the beautiful vastness of space and the exquisite landscapes as you travel between planets and settlements to raid, trade and explore the cosmos.