April 4, 2016, at 8:30 p.m.
Hello Game’s ambitious spacefaring sandbox game No Man’s Sky is almost upon us. Set for release on all the major systems and PC on June 21st of this year, the game has made quite the splash in the time since its announcement. If you’re unfamiliar, then here’s a quick rundown of what you can expect from this upcoming galactic exploration adventure.
On the exploration side of things, Hello Games have promised a massive 18 quintillion fully explorable planets that, for the most part, are unique in one way or another. On your journey through the cosmos, you’ll discover new worlds, craft new items, and hopefully run into some people every now and then. And with such a massive scope, meeting people from the real world has been said to be both uncommon and enthralling.
Though No Man’s Sky will lack the in-depth building mechanics found in games like Minecraft, players will be able to get their hands dirty in creating a space that is fully their own. You also have first claim on any planet you touch down on first. One of the biggest draws for the game may be its MMO-style take on what you can spend your time doing while in the game. Some players might be less interested in scouring planets one after another, so NMS boasts a variety of cool side missions and tasks to keep you busy.
No Man’s Sky looks to turn the genres of sandbox and survival games on their heads. Unlike most survival games, No Man’s Sky isn’t playing by the rules. Players won’t have to spend most of their time running around on small islands and rubbing two sticks together for a fire (looking at you, Rust). Instead players will be dropped onto their own planet where the only objective is the one you create for yourself.
Not to say that NMS has no objectives. The main “quest,” if you will, is straight out of Ready Player One, where you and every player in the game must race to the very center of this virtual galaxy. Players who reach this end game will be thoroughly rewarded, though the team has been fairly tight lipped about the specifics of this aspect of the game. Managing director Sean Murray has dropped a few new ideas regarding it, as well as how combat with factor into your exploration.
According to Polygon’s brief hands-on with the game, the combat, though not the main focus, won’t be anything to scoff at. And players will have to bring their A game when confronting both NPCs and real life rivals.
So far, No Man’s Sky is shaping up quite nicely for fans of sandbox games, space sims, and even shooters. And with years of planned expansions, patches, and ongoing events, everyone is sure to find something to love.