[Dr. Farnsgoth]

I kinda like it. It’s all about exploration and base building which are generally my favourite things in RPGs. I visited all of the optional planets in Mass Erect and only found out later that people hated them I can see the mining gun getting a bit old but for the most part I find the game pretty zen.

Why was it so poorly received? I heard that it has been patched extensively but what specifically did they change?

 

[Mista]

Because the developers lied when they released the game

They demonstrated features that were never there

I gave this game a try after it got "fixed" and I didn't like it

 

[DonDonDonPata]

I liked it and Platinum'd it when it was vanilla, prior to the first major content update. Like you said, it's a relaxing game. Dunno if there are other space exploration games with a similar relaxing vibe. Certainly I'd scratch Star Citizen, Elite, and the various dogfighting sims off that potential list.

It wasn't what was promised, but it was still grander in scope than anything else out at the time (and to a large degree, that is still the case). Combat and ship upgrading were awfully simple, like it was an alpha test for those features. That's the main knock against it because it devalued the resource-gathering.

The current version is a full game built upon the "bones" of the original release. The periodic table and tech trees have been added to and overhauled. There are more ship types/parts. You can buy freighters, make fleets, send expeditions. You can build bases (both land bases and inside your freighter). They added land vehicles and multiplayer. There was an update last year that added even more stuff and I haven't tried that yet.

 

[mcz117chief]

These two videos will explain to you why the game was universally hated upon release.

 

[Dr. Farnsgoth]

These two videos will explain to you why the game was universally hated upon release.

idk man I’m not really seeing the issues so far

 

[Dreamlord]

idk man I’m not really seeing the issues so far

That's because these were from over half a decade ago! The game has improved dramatically, but when it was released it was totally bare bones.

 

[Nymphae]

idk man I’m not really seeing the issues so far

If you missed launch Matt you simply don't get it. They sold the game as something it wasn't, and interviews/journo hype did not help, they made it sound like the second coming, and it was a boring ass walking simulator with almost nothing that was promised. The steam video which was left up for quite some time after release showed many features that were never present, it was one if the biggest launch fuck you's I've ever experienced.

I heard that it has been patched extensively but what specifically did they change?

AFAIK almost every system that isn't walking and basic mining was added in after the release. I cannot describe to you how barren and lifeless everything felt in that original release. The "narrative" that was presented was beyond garbage, insultingly so. You would need to watch a video of the game as it was at release to understand fully how little they released, in stark contrast to what they marketed.

And dude have you seen the ending? Maybe they've changed it since then, but it was something of a news story at the time, because you literally

Spoiler

get to the center of the universe map, and nothing happens, it ACTUALLY just kicks you back to the start of the map you just traversed. With no fanfare, just oh here you go I think you got misplaced lets just roll you back to square one. YES. That must have been changed because jesus fucking christ lol.

 

[Mirabilis]

As I didn't go in with crazy expectations I actually quite enjoyed it for what it was at launch. The idea that what was a 4 man team at the time was going to essentially redefine gaming was always an absurd idea. The game certainly had a lot of issues at the time, but that was then and this is now, and personally, I like to live in the now. It's been a few updates since I last jumped in (last time was when they introduced VR and was pretty blown away by that on the Rift S tbh) but it is a title that albeit I would struggle to really regard as a game as it's more akin to something like Minecraft, it can be quite a delightful experience if you just roll with it.

 

[Nymphae]

I would try it again now that they've completed development if it ever came to PS+

 

[Stifler's Mom]

And I still don't know what to do in the game.

(Like I always like to say about this game, I love everything about it except playing it. What a chore. But what a great concept.)

 

[John Day]

They over sold it, people overhyped it. It’s both camps’ fault. Bought it at launch and played it for a while, and have been coming and going every new addition.

It’s quite a zen experience, i love it. Then again, i play it for small bursts when i do. I can see someone binging on it and getting tired.

 

[Nymphae]

They over sold it, people overhyped it. It’s both camps’ fault

I find this common take to be insulting honestly, I didn't imagine a laundry list of features that never made it into the game for launch. I took them at their word and believed that the features they talked about would be in the final game, no part of what they released is my fault.

 

[John Day]

I find this common take to be insulting honestly, I didn't imagine a laundry list of features that never made it into the game for launch. I took them at their word and believed that the features they talked about would be in the final game, no part of what they released is my fault.

See, if the vast mayority of “complaints” on the internet back then were as half as honest as yours. I agree with you there.

But i remember a lot of dumb hot takes . I mean if 10 guys tell me they’re making the next coming of jesus, I ain’t gonna believe them.

People also never seem to mention those people had their offices flooded. Not sure how much that impacted their plans, but that can’t have helped.

 

[Nymphae]

But i remember a lot of dumb hot takes . I mean if 10 guys tell me they’re making the next coming of jesus, I ain’t gonna believe them.

For sure, there was a lot of whinging, though from my perspective a lot of it was totally justified. You don't get to promise the world, deliver next to nothing, and then play the victim.

Yeah some level of hype was generated by the community and games press that in retrospect was not at all warranted, but idk it's hard to blame people for getting excited about what they were being shown and told about. I've never felt more ripped off by a game, and yes ultimately I have no one to blame for making a day 1 purchase other than myself. I learned to be a little more skeptical about people promising the universe.

 

[Arc]

Matt, any more updated impressions? I love this game, and would love to see what you think?

 

[Zefah]

Bought this when it came out on GOG and have tried to get into it on like 4 separate occasions with their big updates. It seems like it would be right up my ally, but it hasn't yet captured my interest. One of these days...

 

[John Day]

Yeah i mean, the same! They even added a mode where you don’t need to grind for materials and still, it’s fun for a while but like there miiight be something missing, something that clicks??

I’m thinking it may be that this could have been entirely online from scratch? Like, discover with friends from the beginning?

I don’t know. Just musing here.

 

[Pumpkin Seeds]

As I said in the update thread, NMS is guuuuud. I paid $30 and have 500 or so hours in it.

Found a planet with one of the new research hubs on it. Was going to build near it, but somebody already did. Ending up creating a base a little ways away with a buried ruin and cave next to each other. Beautiful spot.



This is one of the last bases I built and finished. It's a pain to transverse all the stairs though. Need to update it with teleports.

 

[Test]

still haven't sank my fangs into this monstrosity but it's great to see a team committed to a pipeline of expansions and unstoppable succession of mechanics and systems

 

[Dr. Farnsgoth]

As I said in the update thread, NMS is guuuuud. I paid $30 and have 500 or so hours in it.

Found a planet with one of the new research hubs on it. Was going to build near it, but somebody already did. Ending up creating a base a little ways away with a buried ruin and cave next to each other. Beautiful spot.



This is one of the last bases I built and finished. It's a pain to transverse all the stairs though. Need to update it with teleports.

That looks wicked m8

 

[Dr. Farnsgoth]

Matt, any more updated impressions? I love this game, and would love to see what you think?

Haven’t been playing much. Life lol

 

[Nymphae]

I actually really want to play this again, I'm in the mood for a chill open world game, but I refuse to pay full price for it. Just holding out hope for ps+ or a good sale.

 

[Dr. Farnsgoth]

I actually really want to play this again, I'm in the mood for a chill open world game, but I refuse to pay full price for it. Just holding out hope for ps+ or a good sale.

I bought it a few days ago from PSN for half price

 

[Nymphae]

I bought it a few days ago from PSN for half price

I just checked today and it was 79.99 Canadian didn't appear to be on sale, must have missed it.

 

[Dreamlord]

I just checked today and it was 79.99 Canadian didn't appear to be on sale, must have missed it.

CDKeys have it atm for £15. Not sure what the price is in Canadian dollars. (I don't want to link, because I don't want to be seen to promote them. I've been buying from them for many years and never had an issue, but others might see that shop as a bit gray. )

 

[Dr. Farnsgoth]

CDKeys have it atm for £15. Not sure what the price is in Canadian dollars. (I don't want to link, because I don't want to be seen to promote them. I've been buying from them for many years and never had an issue, but others might see that shop as a bit gray. )

Nymphae is very woke. He will definitely report you.

 

[King of Foxes]

I appear to be confused, this was also the game that was talking about a huge universe with all planets being different and the goal was to travel to the centre right? But then it came to light it was all bullshit?

The bases are part of the fix? But the original games point was to explore not settle down?

Or have I mixed up two games

 

[Kadayi]

I appear to be confused, this was also the game that was talking about a huge universe with all planets being different and the goal was to travel to the centre right? But then it came to light it was all bullshit?

The bases are part of the fix? But the original games point was to explore not settle down?

Or have I mixed up two games

The principal storyline is about travelling to the centre of the universe however the game is as much about exploration, as anything else. With bases, you're able to set up research and build resources. There's a pretty robust teleportation system in the game that means you can set up various bases across different worlds that you can visit and revisit at your leisure, so it's the best of both worlds in that respect.

 

[Nymphae]

Yeah like in the original release IIRC there was no base building and no way to go back to older worlds except to traverse the same path backwards, you just had to keep moving on and looking at stuff.

 

[Mirabilis]

What I'd ideally like to see down the road is for Hello Games to build on the principles of NMS with a full sequel featuring planets with diverse biodomes. Albeit they've made leaps and bounds over the years, the planets still lack a differential in terms of regional change (think equatorial versus polar for instance).

 

[Pumpkin Seeds]

I didn't play at launch. I never go face first into big idea games. Hello Games shut up and kept quiet post-launch failure, sat down and worked hard to make the game what they wanted it to be. It was around the update with like 85% of the features showcased put in that I joined. What it didn't have yet was a good multiplayer, but now its a hub online game with a mode that is a collective fresh start and go online mode. I'm not sure the point of the new online mode other than it auto-throws you in with other players and creates a random new character for you.

I do like the Anomaly hub though. It's beautiful in HDR.

What the game has now as far as I can recall:

-base building
--underwater base building
--Ships, four wheelers vehicles, two wheeler vehicles, submarines and pilotable mechs. Living ships now as well.
--Ability to make race courses with the base building
--Added electrical systems to base building. Teleports, moving doors. I think there's programable pieces to with functions a la Minecraft. There's a lot that's been added that I haven't touched yet.
-Freighters and fleets. You can also build rooms inside your freighter. Fleets are mostly for sending on missions.

Also has farming and ingredient mixing, along with creature taming and breeding. Animals you tame you can ride. There's infested ghost ships you can land on and explore. Normally guarded by defense systems.. Game goes into a Resident Evil like mode when you hop in one. They tend to have good loot.

They added more biome types and greater extremes to biomes on planets. What they need is mixed biome planets. I burned out from doing the Living Ship quest, but now hopping back into the game to see what's new.

 

[Arc]

--Ships, four wheelers vehicles, two wheeler vehicles, submarines and pilotable mechs.

Really looking forward to finally making my way to these. Driving a ‘warthog’ around an unexplored planet is my vibe. Same for the submarines and underwater, which sounds amazing.

 

[Stifler's Mom]

But what's the game loop here?
I guess I am just not a "create shit in game like minecraft" person, since I can code, pixel and work on games anyway myself.

 

[Cryptek]

It's odd but I have no interest in the game. It's odd because I love space exploration games like Star Control. I love that it's available DRM free.

But everything I've seen about this game looks bleh. I don't even think there's any human NPCs and only a small handful of aliens? And locations all look the same-ish and boring. And there doesn't seem to be much mission variety.

Then I heard it also has one of those horrible "twist" endings.

Spoiler

Apparently the whole universe turns out to be a simulation in the in-game lore. Wtf is it with these kind of ending reveals lately?

I think I'd rather stick to Stardock's Star Control reboot. I really wish there were more space exploration games, though.

 

[Stifler's Mom]

When I bought the game like three years ago for my PS4, I enjoyed the first hour, when I had to survive on that shithole of a planet I was marooned on.
But the moment I as lifting off and flying away, it became just super boring.

And by god, I just hate running around on huge space stations to get from "interesting point a to interesting point b". In Wing Commander Privateer you clicked on "the lounge", and you were in the area where the people who gave you missions sat. Or you clicken on the ship shop, and got weapons and ships and stuff directly.

Why the fuck wants anybody to run around on that huge station that looks always the fucking same.

I don't get modern games. Don't waste my fucking time, you assholes.

 

[lock2k]

I tried it but it was way after it was launched, via Gamepass, and I loved exploring new planets.

I understand that it was a shitshow at launch, but it grew to something interesting later.