It can be hard to comprehend what exactly No Man’s Sky is going to offer, and deliver, when it releases next week. Sean Murray, the creator of the game, has said there are 18 quintillion possible planets, a number so big I wouldn’t even know how to write it down. It is one of the most anticipated games of this year, and for very good reason; the vast size of the game, and the uniqueness it holds. The game is billed to be survival and exploration, in an infinitely generated universe according to the games website, whilst the end objective is to reach the centre of that universe, according to Murray. The game allows players to interact with each planet, which can then potentially be seen by subsequent player arrivals to that planet, if the interaction is on a large enough scale; we’re not sure exactly how much change needs to happen, but the implication is something along the lines or species extinction, or terraforming the landscape.
On deeper thought this is both a very scary, and exciting, insight into the gameplay. It would be unrealistic to believe that there won’t be players intent on destroying the planets they visit, meaning your own planet discovery, which you will get to name and do with as you please, is under constant threat from new discoverers, however small the chances of finding a fellow player in a universe that big may be. On reflection, this is very deep for a game, and leaves players with a big moral question they need to answer; will they do what they want to the planet they discovered, perhaps stopping future players from seeing the planet as it once was? Will they visit the planet to simply witness its beauty, in the hope that one day someone else finds their way to it to experience exactly what they did? We have seen some amazing games that give players real moral decisions to choose – notably Heavy Rain, The Witcher 2, Mass Effect 3 – however No Man’s Sky goes far beyond this, and gives players an open book of choices that not only holds them accountable in their own game, but also in the games of everyone playing.
The reality of the game is that you may likely never encounter another player, and are destined to travel deep space alone, with nothing more than your multi-function tool, your ship, and the resources you collect. Your tool is used for mining purposes, and can be upgraded to become a powerful sidearm. The worlds you visit will be inhabited with life, some of which may not be friendly. Aggressive creatures on land or deadly pirates in space pose a dangerous risk whichever direction you turn. Beyond these threats are the Sentinels; keepers of the peace in the galaxy, who pursue the balance of order, enforcing it against anyone who seeks to destroy the planets, by way of over mining resource to killing the planets inhabitants. Should you be lucky enough to come face to face with a fellow player, then that will leave you with the ultimate question – how do you act towards them in a world with no rules, and nothing to judge you. No Man’s Sky really does look to be a truly unique experience. Like many others, this is our most anticipated game of the year, and can’t wait to blast off on our own unique adventure next week. You can check out the “I’ve Seen Things” trailer at the top of the page, and GameSpots trailer commentary on what you can do in No Man’s Sky.
Video Source: Hello Games/GameSpot (YouTube)
By Matthew Timberake
