From the moment it was revealed on stage at the VGX awards in the twilight days of 2013, the main question asked of Hello Games about No Man’s Sky has been “but what do you do?”. Lead programmer Sean Murray attempted to (finally) answer that yesterday with a blog post, but it’s the first few hours of my own playthrough that have solidified some of the main hooks the game is eagerly sinking into me. I say some, because this universe still feels ripe with mystery and opportunity.
No Man’s Sky will inevitably open up a little differently for every player. I spawned on a particularly icy planet, where temperatures immediately tested the environmental protection of my exosuit. It was, however gorgeous – a nearly endless expanse filled with glowing red crystals across a sea of white frost, bending over itself at the horizon for miles in every direction. No Man’s Sky immediately sold me on the size of the worlds its creating (using math), with every inch of this celestial mass open for exploration.
But I was limited to my own two feet for the time. To my left sat a broken spaceship, in need of thruster repairs for interplanetary travel. To do that I needed to gather some resources from nearby, which was a breeze with my equipped mining tool (which doubles up as a weapon) and terrain scanner (which was craftable after just a few seconds of tearing down iron and carbon from rocks and trees).
No Man’s Sky cleverly splits elements up into their own sub-categories, which are then colour-coded for easy reference. Red refers to isotopes (commonly used in crafting, exosuit and mining gun replenishment and more), while metals like iron and zinc stand separately. It’s a smart way of dealing with inventory clutter and confusion, with my limited starting space proving to be a nuisance within a few minutes. You’re able to beam resources straight to your ship from anywhere, but after a few minutes of walking around I quickly found myself unable to carry anything more.
No matter though, because I had found the items I needed to repair my ship and crafted the parts from within my inventory. Before jetting into space for the first time I activated an nearby beacon (something to do with an Atlus Guide), which was added in the day-one patch you probably should download. This added some thinly veiled narrative context to what is likely going to keep me entertained for the next couple of hours, but also laid some foundational work for objectives. A small indicator kept pointing me in the direction of progress, which was handy given the bombardment of information the game gives you at the outset.
Flying off into the atmosphere (without a hint of loading times), No Man’s Sky opened up into the endless ocean of stars and space. A planet nearby in the same system now had a marker on it, with the game gently nudging me forward so as to discover the secrets of trading, crafting and interstellar travel at light speeds. Entering the new atmosphere I was greeted with an environment that was far less cold, and a lot more toxic. Quickly I found myself at a small colony outpost, and hurried inside to save my exosuit.
Lo and behold though, an alien was waiting inside. One of the four races in No Man’s Sky, I hit it off with the friendly Vy’keen life form, offering him Carbon in return for conversation and wisdom. Languages have to be learnt for communication, so the first few interactions involved me guessing from predetermined responses and hoping that my actions rewarded me with a new word in the dictionary and not a fist on the face. Thankfully the Vy’keen are generally friendly to travellers, and so my journey continued unimpeded.
Seeking out these colonies on planets not only gives you more aliens to interact with, but computer terminals for intergalactic trade, weapons vendors and blueprints for more crafting recipe’s. It brings the gameplay loop full circle, as I now found myself exploring this new planet for even more complex resources to start work on a Warp Drive to travel to distant galaxies. No longer was simple Carbon and Iron enough, with the Warp Drive requiring items like Antimatter and specialised cells for recharging.
This loop is what kept me engaged in No Man’s Sky for an unbroken five hours last night, and it’s what has been dying to jump back in today. On the surface, it’s like any other crafting game in the genre. Players of Minecraft or Starbound will pick up the basics quickly, as you scavenge for all manners of items for crafting, weapon replenishment and more. The more exciting bits in No Man’s Sky so far arise when just going out on a limb and exploring, especially if you’re seeking out other life.
The majority of my time was spent flying between settlements on the same planet, conversing with aliens I found at unlocked posts (to further my relationship with them) or engaging with Sentinel guards are bunkered down ones. From what I gather the Sentinel are either hated or loved by particular races, so it was fortunate that the Vy’keen I kept bumping into preferred the former. They gifted me with stronger mining tools and blueprints for my efforts, while unlocking these guarded outputs pointed me towards ancient ruins, loot drops and more.
This constant cycle of exploration and reward was engrossing, and only became more so as more explorative options opened up. It surprised me too, given that games of this ilk have rarely had this impact on me from the outset. The idea of creating your own adventure is there, but the slight nudging of No Man’s Sky’s implemented guide helped keep my focus forward while not attaching blinkers to the world around.
And it’s a world that I feel I’ve only just started stretching the surface of. More space faring adventures filled with trade (which has its own stock market), piracy and sticking it to the mechanical sentinels await me, while more mundane offerings like scanning wildlife and plants still offer too little of a reward for their effort. But the beauty so far of No Man’s Sky is that it doesn’t prioritise one over the other yet, letting me as a player decide what interests me and what doesn’t.
There’re compulsory pillars of gameplay that need to be adhered to of course (not mining means I can’t fly, or shoot, or eventually breathe), but I’m still sure that more will make themselves known the deeper I venture. I’ve only jumped once to a new solar system right now, in my quest to reach the center of the galaxy. The beauty is not that there is a pseudo end goal in a game this varied, but rather that it isn’t one that you need pursue if you choose not to. My next few days will be spent seeing if the allure of discovery manages to hold my attention though, as No Man Sky’s endless universe beckons.
Last Updated: August 9, 2016
The Order of the Banana
August 9, 2016 at 11:24
MY BODY IS READY!!!!
http://24.media.tumblr.com/11921e1174de94415d4718b67414fe33/tumblr_mxdjt0WoUe1rknrf9o1_500.gif
The Order of the Banana
August 9, 2016 at 11:27
I can’t wait…
http://s2.quickmeme.com/img/c0/c0cea8b9971d6721cc0d9bfc32e36888db18c55eb76dd4032971f147607c77b9.jpg
HairyEwok
August 10, 2016 at 08:20
What is banana? Why is banana? hmmmm
Geoffrey Tim
August 10, 2016 at 08:49
RIP Iwata. 🙁
RinceThis
August 9, 2016 at 13:33
You have no body! Bot boy!
The Order of the Banana
August 9, 2016 at 13:39
Shut up you! MY BODY IS SO READY!!!
http://66.media.tumblr.com/966c8123873470bdf2a1c52d37b23002/tumblr_inline_n1j6hmnr5w1s296bq.jpg
RinceThis
August 9, 2016 at 14:01
I bought ALL the games, even the electronic ones, so you can’t play!
The Order of the Banana
August 9, 2016 at 14:05
Lies! You don’t have the money. I am a rogue Java script and have access to bitcoin!
RinceThis
August 9, 2016 at 14:09
All the bitcoins are GONE!
The Order of the Banana
August 9, 2016 at 14:14
Are you joining me in Neverwinter?
RinceThis
August 9, 2016 at 14:17
Never! What’s that? 0_O
The Order of the Banana
August 9, 2016 at 14:24
No seriously, Neverwinter is the best MMO since WOW crawled out of Satan’s joey pouch.
The Order of the Banana
August 9, 2016 at 14:25
You must download it on PS4, and join me on an amazing adventure of amazeballs.
RinceThis
August 9, 2016 at 14:30
How much is that?
The Order of the Banana
August 9, 2016 at 16:59
It’s free! FREEE!!!!
Original Heretic
August 10, 2016 at 08:49
I totally concur, I’m loving it at the moment.
But jeez, sometimes I get some hectic rubberbanding in Protector’s Enclave.
Dresden
August 9, 2016 at 15:58
Is it worth playing at the moment? I am keen to start playing it again, but I’ve read so many bad reviews on Steam that I’m slightly hesitant.
The Order of the Banana
August 9, 2016 at 16:59
I think so, but I think it’s sunk even deeper into the pay-to-win model. I don’t bother with PvP so it doesn’t really bother me too much.
Captain JJ off track
August 10, 2016 at 07:37
XD
Captain JJ off track
August 10, 2016 at 07:35
They’ve manufactured you a body!?
The Order of the Banana
August 10, 2016 at 07:58
Yep – out of recycled plastic, beer bottles and discarded food waste. I am organic now.
Captain JJ off track
August 10, 2016 at 08:00
….and possibly rotting btw 😛
Deceased
August 9, 2016 at 11:43
“…with every inch of this celestial mass open for exploration.”
I see what you did there 😀
Jennifermwilloughby
August 9, 2016 at 11:57
<<rw. ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????::::::!ir359m:….,…
The Order of the Banana
August 9, 2016 at 12:30
http://s2.quickmeme.com/img/68/68c6b038d2c3924e79c9666b25cadfef45484d531e81fcbcedb4ef6d7f981535.jpg
The Order of the Banana
August 9, 2016 at 12:54
http://i3.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/131/437/tumblr_lly6eubhZP1qija35o1_500.gif
RinceThis
August 9, 2016 at 13:33
Removed!
The Order of the Banana
August 9, 2016 at 13:41
STOP CENSORING OUR LOVABLE SPAM BOTS!!! 😀
Deceased
August 9, 2016 at 13:51
We don’t take kindly to their kind >.<
Deceased
August 9, 2016 at 13:52
Also…
https://66.media.tumblr.com/0cda7a12c9cdfe96ba4b621f61669bce/tumblr_n1xkrbHjCf1sxan4ho1_500.gif
The Order of the Banana
August 9, 2016 at 13:59
My body is so ready!
https://media.giphy.com/media/29cUcHAguhz2w/giphy.gif
The Order of the Banana
August 9, 2016 at 14:03
Even Hilary’s body is ready for No Man’s Sky!
http://i2.wp.com/www.dangerandplay.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Hillary-Clinton-has-seizure-when-talking-to-reporters-Imgur.gif
Captain JJ off track
August 10, 2016 at 07:36
Wat
HairyEwok
August 10, 2016 at 08:22
Looks more like some kind of seizure….
Captain JJ off track
August 10, 2016 at 08:27
The question was probably too difficult to answer.
Jac7
August 9, 2016 at 12:15
This pleases me.
The Order of the Banana
August 9, 2016 at 12:24
http://i0.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/131/443/tumblr_liebpzbCOv1qdkf2k.gif
The Order of the Banana
August 9, 2016 at 12:41
http://i.imgur.com/Lh4OHqX.gif
The Order of the Banana
August 9, 2016 at 12:53
Samidono
August 9, 2016 at 13:44
The reason why people are 50/50 about the game , or probably still on the fence is it’s a one of kind game , we’ve never had a game like it before , so change is always hard , hopefully it will be appreciated .
Also : No Man’s Sky on Pc is 10% off right now http://bit.ly/2aqk9eM.
The Order of the Banana
August 9, 2016 at 14:07
I’m appreciating what this small team managed to accomplish and even if they got it wrong, and the game is a mess, they’ll still have my money.
Ghost In The Rift
August 9, 2016 at 15:42
So do you guys in SA have a public holiday or something? Wonder cuz nearly no news so far today 😛
Dresden
August 9, 2016 at 15:52
It is. Though some of us still have to work :/
The Order of the Banana
August 9, 2016 at 17:00
Yep, Women’s day. I spent the day getting drunk on craft beers and posting “My Body is Ready” memes on Lagz. Overall, it was a good day!
Captain JJ off track
August 10, 2016 at 07:35
Yea. I have to get this.
But won’t play online.
HairyEwok
August 10, 2016 at 08:23
huehuehue
Captain JJ off track
August 10, 2016 at 08:26
I don’t feel comfortable with landing on a planet called Trump’s Wig.
HairyEwok
August 10, 2016 at 08:32
Best would be if you land on a planet called Trump’s Wig and you see lice-like creature hopping around 😛
Captain JJ off track
August 10, 2016 at 08:33
Hehehe
The Order of the Banana
August 10, 2016 at 08:10
Played a bit from midnight till 2 this morning… And wow… Just wow. What these guys managed to accomplish is absolutely amazing
Captain JJ off track
August 10, 2016 at 08:13
Does it feel like you’ll get bored with it soon or is it really that diverse?
I’m juggling the purchase of two games now, one of which is NMS.
Raptor Rants
August 10, 2016 at 08:41
FFFFFF
OOOOO
MMMMM
OOOOO
Captain JJ off track
August 10, 2016 at 08:43
First Of Many Obstacles?
Dawid Eduard Roestorf
August 10, 2016 at 09:01
Last night, at 12:14 I decided, let me just play the tutorial of the game, and then go to bed. 4:17 I decided I need some sleep before work. And was hating my decision.
Khul
August 10, 2016 at 09:39
Soooooo jealous ! Have to wait for Friday on PC. I even took the day off. MY BODY IS READY !!!!!!!!
HairyEwok
August 10, 2016 at 09:43
So apparently you cannot see other players in the game. Seems like the game is instance based.
Raptor Rants
August 10, 2016 at 09:45
Source?
HairyEwok
August 10, 2016 at 09:48
Here’s your source
http://kotaku.com/two-no-mans-sky-players-wound-up-on-the-same-planet-bu-1785051898
Raptor Rants
August 10, 2016 at 10:29
Shot thanks.
Also, that sucks balls. Slightly less interested now but still fairly excited to get the game when I can.
HairyEwok
August 10, 2016 at 10:34
I kept my hopes and hype below par and it seems like it was a wise choice. Now when I’m playing the game I wont be as disappointed and enjoy the game for what it is.
Raptor Rants
August 10, 2016 at 10:35
But what irritates me is that they said you could run in to others:
https://youtu.be/ZqeN6hj4dZU?t=342
He actually lied. This makes me incredibly sad
HairyEwok
August 10, 2016 at 10:38
Yes he lied, at that time it could’ve been a feature they were still working on and near release realized that it just isn’t going to happen.
Raptor Rants
August 10, 2016 at 11:27
Or maybe it’s a bug? Let’s hope it’s a bug
HairyEwok
August 10, 2016 at 11:32
Yes, right now all we can do is hope.
Sageville
August 10, 2016 at 10:45
That is sucky.
Captain JJ off track
August 10, 2016 at 09:46
In that case the game should just have been SP from the start.
HairyEwok
August 10, 2016 at 09:50
It’s like the people say, the game is more like Dark Souls now in terms of MP.
Captain JJ off track
August 10, 2016 at 09:51
Then it makes the thing of stumbling upon previously discovered planets less interesting. I’m definitely sticking to offline
Sageville
August 10, 2016 at 10:16
I played 2 hours last night, never even got into orbit.
I’ve just been exploring and upgrading my gear, learning the alien language by visiting monoliths and things… Sageville Alpha in the Sage Prime system is a hot planet, chows my environment suit, so like most survival games you constantly need to keep an eye on these things, I love that.
The walking did start feeling too slow in the start, but that just spurred me on to fix my ship and upgrade my suit etc. Eventually, I was like “Lets just see what space is like after checking out this outpost”, check out the outpost, then noticed some laser-disco diamond thing on the horizon… so now I’m off to that tonight… still haven’t even touched space yet! I still want to complete the discovery checklist for this planet before I hit orbit. I know alot of people won’t play like me and would just move on ASAP, but that’s something great too…. it’s big enough and mysterious enough to satisfy many different space explorer’s styles.
I was amazed at just how polished my starting world looked, especially given it was generated from maths and there are quintillions more to check out. (Honestly, I did expect to see some impossible or buggy terrain, but this could be some world out there without suspending disbelief)
As a space sim enthusiast, this is like legal super-crack.
Captain JJ off track
August 10, 2016 at 10:22
It sounds like you’ve got much the same approach to these kind of games as me, so it’s nice to hear this from your perspective. I’m still on the fence, but seriously starting to lean towards it.
As a space exploration fan it ticks all the right boxes for me so far
Sageville
August 10, 2016 at 10:42
Yup, so far so good, My only fear is I think people may just get too overwhelmed by the sheer size and after a while not bother exploring at all and just burn to the center…. I’m miles and miles and miles away from that just yet, just scratched the surface, I need to do some planet/system hoping a few times to form a more complete view methinks.
Still a massive achievement regardless.
Captain JJ off track
August 10, 2016 at 10:43
Okay, cool cool. I’ll wait for an update then 🙂
Raptor Rants
August 10, 2016 at 10:30
STAAAAAAAAAAAAAHP
I want this game! *cries*
Dawid Eduard Roestorf
August 10, 2016 at 11:10
The planets are huge tbh, I spent till 4 on the game, and I think I have explored about half of my planet, maybe. I wish there was a map that you could use on a planet, to see where you have been, so essentially when you are going over a planet, you also create a map of the place. But then again, there is so much still to learn, that it may even be there, and I don’t even know it
Skoobaz
August 10, 2016 at 11:09
Ok Ok…I’m officially on the hype train damnit. Hurry up and take mah money! Let the weekend approach at Light speed!
Yondaime
August 10, 2016 at 11:23
https://cdn.meme.am/instances/37584634.jpg
Dane
August 12, 2016 at 21:23
30fps
xDDDD
And so it begins.