6 things I’ve discovered playing No Man’s Sky
The vast sandbox game is hot as a newborn star right now – and unlike anything else out there. The experience is so novel you might have to recalibrate your expectations of gaming, so here are six things to bear in mind
To say No Man’s Sky is ambitious is a galactic understatement. The massive video game (for PlayStation 4 and PC) places you in the role of space explorer, seeking out uncharted galaxies and unknown forms of wildlife.
The reason for the hype revolves around procedural generation, a process where the game employs algorithms to create the solar systems, planets and inhabitants at random. Developers at Hello Games have suggested no two players will share the same adventure.
Having uncovered several galaxies and explored multiple planets, here’s what I’ve learned playing No Man’s Sky so far:
1. This game is purely about discovery
It starts with the player near their ship, depleted of resources. As you wander, you discover the tools at your disposal, such as an exosuit, a jet pack and a mining laser you can later outfit with technology to turn it into a weapon. Not that you’ll use it often, but it’s at your disposal. The big draw of No Man’s Sky is exploring. You learn more about the planet you visit, the resources at your disposal and the life (or lack thereof) populating a planet. Players have a scanner to determine what lies on the planet, from alien life to abandoned shelters. There’s also an analysis tool to identify plants and animals. Players can upload their discoveries to the game’s online servers to earn credits, which can be used to buy items at trade stations or pick up new mining tools or ships.