izigame.me

I'm not fully done with the game and I would love to play it again if I have the time for it!

Introduction:

Ah, No Man's Sky... a beautiful, free roaming space exploration game with unlimited or over 18 quintillion planets for you to visit. Why the unlimited? you might ask? Well, I'm not going to visit all of them in my lifetime sitting!
"I'm not alone in this... this is a multiplayer, right?"
~ Me, in August of 2016, after getting off the biggest hypetrain ride ever in history and buying the game in full.

The release:

No Man's Sky is a Space Exploration, Sandbox game with a very... very... VERY... bad start. For starters it was a barren, bug-riddled, bullshit excuse of an AAA game I've- sorry; WE'VE ever witnessed, don't you agree? We were all there at the release, we stepped all out of the same platform of the hypetrain station all to see God awful, buggy, unoptimised sack of horseshit of a game with little to nothing to do!
You started off with a waking-up-from-a-slumber kind of situation were your spacesuit is booting up, and while that dramatic sequence is rolling to bring some effect to your following gameplay you'll see your that your spaceship is not the only thing that is broken... it seriously looked like a alpha version of the game. Grass glitches, discoloration, random flashes like it's the Matrix...
Want to change some specs at the game settings? Crash. Want to take the first steps in this undiscovered planet? Crash. Want to beam down your laser onto a creature that looks funny? Crash. Want manage your inventory? Crash. Want to say a bad word after the experience? Karma: Crash. Want to compliment the Developers at something they made was actually astonishing? Crash; and taking it back. Want to boot up the game one more time after so many crashes? Crash.
And after that ONE last crash the game wouldn't even want to start up properly, giving me an error. Looking at the time spend on the game; more than 2 hours, making it impossible to refund. And it's just been sitting in my library for the longest time unable the play. After that ruckus I was really amazed that this game thought me one thing and ONE thing only and it really opened my eyes for future games to be released:
"Never step onto the hypetrain - It's bad juju!"
This game really haunted my every future move on investing in games. A game that has been falsely advertised on every promising aspect but no actual amendments. Interviews of simple, straightforward questions all being answered as lies. LIES!
The only thing that was highly unnecessary of the community (not all!) is making bomb and death treads, not only on social media but in front of their office as well. Very childish and very inappropriate! A matter of time in court was all it could take, no need for (verbal) violence! Shame to those people!

Updating the game:

A very bad start indeed. After so many angry people demanding their money back and not leaving Hello Games alone. But there was a spark of hope, they only needed to follow their heart. Is it the money, or putting smiles on people's faces they're after? Only time could tell you. It was the latter.
November 2016: "Foundation" update popped up, were you create your own base on any planet you wish to claim and raise the flag.
March 2017: "Path Finder" update, for vehicular transport. So you don't have to walk from time to time.
August 2017: "Atlas Rises" update, a storyline for all of us follow.
Okay things are looking up, but what about the bu-
July 2018: "NEXT" update, Multiplayer, Visual Overhaul, Unlimited Base Building, Command Freighters AND MORE! Minor updates on bug fixes, scraping with a toothpick ever bug that has been stuck between the teeth of the game, showing not only a denture but a clean, shiny and stable row of teeth and puts a smile on everyone's face. With updates like "The Abyss" and "Visions" gives it a more optimised feel. Beyond every measure is a possibility, speaking of which, the largest update of all:
August 2019: "BEYOND" update, further implementations, Vulkan update for VR support, alien encounters and dynamics and even MORE! MORE! and MORE!
November 2019: "Synthesis", Scrap ships, better inventory management, quality of life improvements and much much much more!
Okay, we are all very happy with these updates rolling left and right, I think we're all satisf-
February 2020: "Living Ship" because who the fuck wouldn't want to ride in a badass organic ship rimed with ecstatic visuals! You pleps better buy an egg at the space station!
April 2020: "Exo Mech", you're still on foot!? Roam the planetary planes with a highly armored powersuit with all pleasure! Enjoy!!
June 2020: "Crossplay", friends you have? Hop both in the game! Do missions, do something but TOGETHER! Have fun!!
July 2020: "Desolation", the "dungeon crawling" update were you discover detailed or randomly generated stories of dead in space freighters filled with mysteries and alien encounters. Come back home alive, but most importantly: Have fun!!
September 2020: "ORIGIN", new planets, binary and ternary stars, dramatic chances in the landscape and a spit-polished, splendid new user interface! What more could you ask for!? We got you!
October 2020: "Next Generation", I'm looking at you console players out there, waiting in anticipation for some next gen bombastic graphics, stunning visuals and pecker concealing 4K 60FPS!! We're done? Not at the slightest!
February 2021: "Companions", taming animals not enough for you? Now you can make them your companion too! Not too shabby on playing with friends or multiplayer? Now you can travel planets unscaved with your new animal friend! The pleasure is mine!!
March 2021: "Expeditions, pt.I Pioneers", seasonal missions, mission overhaul, target sweep mode, milestone and phrases! And more bug fixes!!
May 2021: "Expeditions, pt.II Beachhead", seasonal reward; the legendary SSV Normandy SR1 from Mass Effect easteregg for as frigate hire fleet for a limited time! And on top of that more bug fixes!
June 2021: "Prisms", reflections, new texture effects, more biome detail, improved lighting, new skies, new warp effects, creature fur! An visual overhaul for us to enjoy once more!
September 2021: "Frontiers", after the celebration of No Man's Sky's 5th anniversary it brings us to ANOTHER update! Settlement building, jawdropping nebulas, base building menu overhaul, enhanced multi-tool effects, Twitch campaigns, and so much more to name!
September 2021: "Expeditions, pt.III Cartographers", one week AFTER the Frontiers update comes the following update with more limited time offers for you to collect for the following 2 months. And even MORE bug fixes!
October 2021: "Expedition pt.IV Emergence", Titan Worms, Rideable Sandworms, Richer particle effects and you guessed it; more bug fixes! Also some exclusive official merchandise.
February 2022: "Sentinel", greatly improves the combat flow and feel, backstory about the Sentinels, Sentinel companion and a new Sentinel Drone enemy.
February 2022: "Expedition, pt.V Exobiology", one week after the Sentinel update comes ANOTHER seasonal Expedition journey for us to immerse into, with special rewards as always.

Conclusion:

And it doesn't stop there! It seems to never stop with updates that are FREE for us to download. Normally a game company would make us a DLC to buy separately from the game, but not in No Man's Sky! Back in August 2016 it wasn't as we hoped it be, but Hello Games stepped up and never gave up the hope. What started out as a small team has a thriving and flourishing full team of people with the same dream as Shawn: To make an exploration in space game to never forget and live in the experience. Bringing the people joy for their hard work.

9 / 10:

"It's not just a game - It's an investment."