No Man's Sky

 PlayStation 4
User Score
4.8

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 5473 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2,123 out of 5473
  2. Mixed: 648 out of 5473
  3. Negative: 2,702 out of 5473
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  1. justmark
    Aug 10, 2016
    9
    I've only got a few hours in on the game thus far, but I'm quite enjoying myself. I haven't experienced any frame rate issues that some people are complaining about. The game has been running smoothly (I do have a very fast internet connection.)

    I can see why this game might not appeal to some people. I enjoy exploring and upgrading things. Perhaps this might get repetitive at some    I've only got a few hours in on the game thus far, but I'm quite enjoying myself. I haven't experienced any frame rate issues that some people are complaining about. The game has been running smoothly (I do have a very fast internet connection.)

    I can see why this game might not appeal to some people. I enjoy exploring and upgrading things. Perhaps this might get repetitive at some point but I'm sure that there is a lot that I haven't seen yet, and that new content will get added on a regular basis.

    The media hype on this game was too much... and expectations were too lofty

    UPDATE: I'm now about 6 hours into the game. I've increased my score from 8 to 9. I'm absolutely fascinated by the game and the depth. I've been to several planets now, two space stations, and have met a few different races (one of which was uber unfriendly to me.) The game is certainly geared towards exporation type players. My biggest gripe thus far has been the lack of inventory space. It is extremely limited.    … Expand
  2. Pixel_Fuzz
    Aug 9, 2016
    9
    The game is beautiful and very fun to play. It's not a competitive, action, fast paced game with some narrow missions... don't expect that.
    No Man's Sky is what Sean Murray told us, an exploration game, with million planets and lifeforms to explore, and some well hidden secrets. Put your fantasy for a while inside the game and make your own space story!
    And if you want some action, get a    The game is beautiful and very fun to play. It's not a competitive, action, fast paced game with some narrow missions... don't expect that.
    No Man's Sky is what Sean Murray told us, an exploration game, with million planets and lifeforms to explore, and some well hidden secrets. Put your fantasy for a while inside the game and make your own space story!
    And if you want some action, get a fighter ship and go destroy some freighters (then deal with the sentinels).
    Does it worth 60 dollars? Maybe not, maybe yes... it's all about taste. I have bought AAA games for 60 dollars and I play them about 5 - 10 hours only, and games that costs 10 - 20 dollars and I play them for months.    … Expand
  3. Rebllz
    Aug 9, 2016
    9
    I truly am amazed how stupid people's expectation are of this game. It seems like they expected some kind of realistic universe simulator. Instead of the survival exploration game with resource gathering & trading elements that it was told it would be.

    It's as if you told them, "I'm going to sell you this candy bar", and they expect that you throw in the candy factory as well. People    I truly am amazed how stupid people's expectation are of this game. It seems like they expected some kind of realistic universe simulator. Instead of the survival exploration game with resource gathering & trading elements that it was told it would be.

    It's as if you told them, "I'm going to sell you this candy bar", and they expect that you throw in the candy factory as well.

    People are entitled to their own option. However silly they may seem to me. So I wouldn't rule out any of the negative reviews you will come across. The game is not without its flaws, and I would be lying if I said I didn't have a bias towards the game. Furthermore, this game type is not for everyone, which is what I believe causes such a wide range of the mix reviews that are out there.

    Some small annoyances the game have are:

    - the lack of changing your POV

    - the widescreen display shot that happens often which you have to wait for it to go away until you can start doing things again

    -the inability to change the controller scheme (seriously who presses R3 instead of L3 in order to sprint!?)

    -a few bugs that can take you a little out of the immersion

    Nevertheless even with those issues, which I hope they fix, the game is absolutely amazing. The ability to completely loose myself in this game as I run around finding many new points of interest, flying in or out of the atmosphere, finding new star systems to explore, and simply learning the language in order to understand the different NPC's they have in the game. The progression feels real as you unlock more slots to your suit, find new and better ships, and new multi-tools which make it easier to gather resources.

    I think if you are on the fence about NMS, and watching a gameplay videos of someone playing doesn't appeal to you, then this is just not your game. It doesn't make it a bad one, simply one tailor for a certain kind of person. Then again that is just one man's opinion.    … Expand
  4. Shaky2236
    Aug 9, 2016
    9
    I honestly love this game, so much time and effort has gone into making this and it really shows. Please do not be put off by the negative reviews on here, there is a lot of trolling from rival console users and members of **** Wait for the pc reviews or for actual game review websites. It truly is a marvel
  5. Extrarius
    Aug 9, 2016
    9
    No Mans Sky is a universe sim heavily focused on exploration and discovery for gamers who want to unwind and not be forced into a linear story line. I've been following the development, the interviews, the hype, the delays, the videos and finally had the chance to play it for a few hours this morning. It's a beautiful game that's living up to what Sean Murray has said in his interviews.No Mans Sky is a universe sim heavily focused on exploration and discovery for gamers who want to unwind and not be forced into a linear story line. I've been following the development, the interviews, the hype, the delays, the videos and finally had the chance to play it for a few hours this morning. It's a beautiful game that's living up to what Sean Murray has said in his interviews. No, it isn't for everyone but not every game is or should be designed with that in mind. Hello Games has created the game I've been dreaming about for a long time and I'm very pleased with the results so far.… Expand
  6. MechaMan
    Aug 9, 2016
    9
    No Man's sky isn't a game for everyone, but for those who enjoy exploration, trade and survival you would enjoy the game. If you prefer combat, story driven missions, the game isn't for you.
  7. Hopper7
    Aug 9, 2016
    9
    I have only been able to spend about a half hour playing this game, due to work, and adult responsibilities having to take priority. But I can already tell that I am going to spend a lot of time playing this game. I have high hopes for the exploration aspect of this game. I played Freelancer for what feels like years. Easily one of my all time Favorite games. If the trading, space combat,I have only been able to spend about a half hour playing this game, due to work, and adult responsibilities having to take priority. But I can already tell that I am going to spend a lot of time playing this game. I have high hopes for the exploration aspect of this game. I played Freelancer for what feels like years. Easily one of my all time Favorite games. If the trading, space combat, and exploration is anything close to Freelancer, (which is over 10 years ago and still no sequel) than I will be one happy explorer. Cannot wait to play it more.… Expand
  8. AndrewDane
    Aug 9, 2016
    9
    RUS:Очень понравилась. Люблю данную тематику. Но 9/10 из-за не очень хорошей физики. А так очень понравилось!
    ENG:Loved it. I love this theme. But 9/10 because of not very good physics. And so very pleased!
  9. bilferty
    Aug 9, 2016
    9
    I think it is unfair for anyone to give the game a 0 or 1 because they think it is boring. This game was NEVER sold as anything more then an exploration game. All of those trailer NEVER showed anything besides exploring, naming, basic shooter combat, trading, and space combat. What were people expecting? The Devs never lied about anything (to my knowledge) that is missing. It is exactlyI think it is unfair for anyone to give the game a 0 or 1 because they think it is boring. This game was NEVER sold as anything more then an exploration game. All of those trailer NEVER showed anything besides exploring, naming, basic shooter combat, trading, and space combat. What were people expecting? The Devs never lied about anything (to my knowledge) that is missing. It is exactly what It looked like. You find cool trippy looking planets, befriend cool trippy looking creatures who you give trippy names, and you harvest trippy plants and minerals. Then there are also cool little word puzzles to solve to get you better gear to get closer to the center. I love this game. Meditative fun exploration and survival. If you are looking for grand space sim or a grand story look elsewhere, but even still the game does not deserve a 0. What is has it does well, a 0 would be a broken game. I can't give it a 10 based on the same logic, a 10 is a perfect game, and no one thing in this world is perfect, but No Man's Sky is damned close.… Expand
  10. Madkracker84
    Aug 9, 2016
    9
    It's definitely not for everyone, but exactly what i expected. It's a survival adventure game based on space exploration. Good functionality, awesome scenery and I've only seen one solar system. Inventory is a little small to start and keeping up with life support and fuel is a minor nuisance, but other than that no complaints. People hyped themselves up to much for the game and made theirIt's definitely not for everyone, but exactly what i expected. It's a survival adventure game based on space exploration. Good functionality, awesome scenery and I've only seen one solar system. Inventory is a little small to start and keeping up with life support and fuel is a minor nuisance, but other than that no complaints. People hyped themselves up to much for the game and made their own assumptions, but that's their fault. For an indie studio of about 10 people, amazing job.… Expand
  11. lucaz20
    Aug 9, 2016
    9
    Some people might get bored, but I'm not one of them. I'm not exactly sure what I was expecting, but what I got was a really fun exploration and survival game that I've played for about 8 hours today. The thing that bugs me the most about the game as it is today are the texture pop/pixel-ins that you get when flying close to a planet.
  12. anommona1
    Aug 9, 2016
    9
    This game makes you feel so overwhelmed from the get go, but it is a good thing. I feel a rush whenever I'm cruising through space. Everyone is mad because they set their hopes up too high for video games. They are also mad because they're too broke to dish out $60. Most of the people giving this game a low score are losers with no lives. I didn't write this little review for you all toThis game makes you feel so overwhelmed from the get go, but it is a good thing. I feel a rush whenever I'm cruising through space. Everyone is mad because they set their hopes up too high for video games. They are also mad because they're too broke to dish out $60. Most of the people giving this game a low score are losers with no lives. I didn't write this little review for you all to find it helpful, I'm just giving you cynical nobodies a reality check.

    Time to get back on the game and have fun because I ENJOY IT!    … Expand
  13. MegaMissLex
    Aug 10, 2016
    9
    What an amazing job 'Hello Games' have done with this; it is not perfect but then nothing is. The amount of detail and playablity is far better than most games. I can understand the fustration of needing to collect reasources and only having a tiny amount of storage space. However! This improves as you progress in the game otherwise it would be too easy and I would board very early on.What an amazing job 'Hello Games' have done with this; it is not perfect but then nothing is. The amount of detail and playablity is far better than most games. I can understand the fustration of needing to collect reasources and only having a tiny amount of storage space. However! This improves as you progress in the game otherwise it would be too easy and I would board very early on. Consider how much better is this than other games out there and that it is a major debut from a small team.… Expand
  14. DiarrheaKing
    Aug 10, 2016
    9
    Gaming has come along way. From appealing to super nerds to becoming an incredibly popular source of media consumption. With mass media consumption, sometimes the most popular things can get reduced to the lowest common denominator. Thankfully, the gaming industry, in particular indie developers, can still take risks and produce unusual, creative video games that happen to also to beGaming has come along way. From appealing to super nerds to becoming an incredibly popular source of media consumption. With mass media consumption, sometimes the most popular things can get reduced to the lowest common denominator. Thankfully, the gaming industry, in particular indie developers, can still take risks and produce unusual, creative video games that happen to also to be marketed to the masses.

    While I am not too far in the game yet, No Man's Sky has been an experience that is rather unique. It borrows ideas from many open-ended, exploration games (like Minecraft), but has a clear direction of the type of game it wants to be ~ a game for explorers, not achievers, or multiplayer show-offs, or min-max competitive gamers. People often forget that other people not only have different tastes but also have different personalities, and these different personalities will want different types of experiences. Because of mainstream gaming trends over the past two decades, gaming has produced a certain mainstream audience. This mainstream audience creates a cultural dogma that expects certain characteristics to qualify a game as a "good" game.

    If you want to go in expecting some crazy AAA title experience, don't get the game. If you are expecting deep systems such as complex yet derivative crafting and battle systems that you can get in hundreds of other games, then don't get this game. If you want another linear yet rich experience just like Journey or Abzu, be careful about getting this game. Watch videos and read critic reviews when they come out. The game is pretty much what I expected from previews and I am not disappointed as a whole. Yes, there are many issues in the game, but I've also had many moments of wonder, moments I would not have in most other games.    … Expand
  15. italoipo
    Aug 10, 2016
    9
    it's uncharted 4 all over again. bad hater reviews.
    it's a interesting game, not for everyone with a quit high learning curve.
    but it is that what i like about it.
    kind reminds me of early minecraft. it will improve alot over time...basebuilding on its way etc...
    only thing is the lack of coop
  16. Bears_Wear_Hats
    Aug 10, 2016
    9
    This is a survival game and should really have been marketed as such from the beginning. It works because there's always something 'just over there'--whether it's a resource to farm, something to fight off, or something awesome and character advancing, like a drop pod or alien base. You just never know what you're going to find when you go. The systems are logical and progressive andThis is a survival game and should really have been marketed as such from the beginning. It works because there's always something 'just over there'--whether it's a resource to farm, something to fight off, or something awesome and character advancing, like a drop pod or alien base. You just never know what you're going to find when you go. The systems are logical and progressive and provide a lot of depth. Be aware of what you're getting into and you can have a lot of fun here.… Expand
  17. iAmJager
    Aug 10, 2016
    9
    This game offers many great qualities. The audio and sound is immaculate, the visuals are gorgeous, and the worlds seem unique. The universe feels great, some planets are dead and desolate others teaming with life. I feel at times I am a super hero with worldly powers and then I can die in nearly an instant. This game is challenging and fun and offers a very different take on game. Its aThis game offers many great qualities. The audio and sound is immaculate, the visuals are gorgeous, and the worlds seem unique. The universe feels great, some planets are dead and desolate others teaming with life. I feel at times I am a super hero with worldly powers and then I can die in nearly an instant. This game is challenging and fun and offers a very different take on game. Its a bleak reality of how alone we sometimes are even if we feel that we are not. Only thing I am holding back on giving this a 10 from is that friends are almost discouraged to be able to find.… Expand
  18. Erickingo
    Aug 10, 2016
    9
    Been waiting for this game for a long time, people that say it's repetitive don't quite get the message of the game IMO. You are there to explore! That's the point of the game, there is some discrete plot behind all the grinding/exploring they just seem to ignore it. Anyway this game started out GREAT and I know it will get better. Please have in mind that only a handful of peopleBeen waiting for this game for a long time, people that say it's repetitive don't quite get the message of the game IMO. You are there to explore! That's the point of the game, there is some discrete plot behind all the grinding/exploring they just seem to ignore it. Anyway this game started out GREAT and I know it will get better. Please have in mind that only a handful of people developed this beauty! Kudos to Hello Games!

    I'm giving it a 9 because I want to be able to see other players in the future, at least people in my own party, that would be awesome.    … Expand
  19. mitharus
    Aug 10, 2016
    9
    What can I say, but this is the game I expected and was hoping for.

    It's not perfect by any means, and many people will not like it. The game, as a pure Exploration/Survival game with other elements thrown in, surpassed the expectations I had from the interviews and trailers. The game does not have a story, it starts you off with little hand holding and expects you to make your own    What can I say, but this is the game I expected and was hoping for.

    It's not perfect by any means, and many people will not like it. The game, as a pure Exploration/Survival game with other elements thrown in, surpassed the expectations I had from the interviews and trailers.

    The game does not have a story, it starts you off with little hand holding and expects you to make your own way in the game world. There is an over arching goal of "Get to the center," but you can ignore it if you wish. I spent a total of probably around 9+ hours on my first planet before forcing myself to move on, and I'm sure I didn't come close to finding everything there was to be found.

    There is a ton of lore spread about though. This gives you more insight into the prevalent alien species that is about. The language mechanic, while annoying in some aspects, does give a nice push to continue exploring to find the hidden knowledge portals, and a good way to help interactions as you become tied more with a specific species.

    There's also what appears to be a ton of free-form "quests" that pop up. Say, you're in space and you see a trade convoy being attacked. You can join the pirates or the convoy. If you choose to join the convoy ships and protect them, you'll have a small free-form quest/task pop up after you start attacking giving you what needs to be done (i.e. how many attackers are left).

    There are of course down sides...

    * The PS4 still has very noticeable pop in during terrain generation (hopefully this is greatly reduced, or gone, on PC)
    * If you're looking for it, you can start to see the different parts that make up the creatures
    * Creature animations don't always work 100% for the creature type
    * To much information in the free-form task/quests
    * You will be doing the same thing constantly

    The first three are more technical, and in general art, than anything else and could possibly be fixed over time, the fourth is a personal opinion, so I'll focus on the last of my personal down sides...

    "You will be doing the same thing constantly"

    The main game play loop is basically: Explore, Mine, Upgrade, Move on

    That's it. That is the whole game in a nut shell. If doing that basic game play on procedurally generated worlds doesn't sound interesting to you, then I'd stay away from this game. It probably isn't what you're looking for.

    If it does sound interesting, then I would most definitely suggest checking the game out. So far, in the probably over 20 hours I've played since release, this has met, and exceeded, the expectation I had for it. Being I'm still on my 2nd system, I can see my self spending a huge amount of hours in this game over time.

    This is honestly, the type of game I've been waiting on. I'm sure I'll get bored of it eventually, lose interest, or the next new shiny will come out, but as of this point in time, this is a great game if you didn't have unrealistic expectations about what it would be.

    -M    … Expand
  20. lm6d
    Aug 10, 2016
    9
    This game has many flaws. It is far from perfect, but above all highly overhyped : that's why some people are extremely disappointed about it.

    I could write down whole paragraphs of what No Man's Sky is lacking, or even doing wrong, but that would be pointless as it would still deserve a 9. Why that, might you ask... For a simple reason : no game is even remotely close to what this game    This game has many flaws. It is far from perfect, but above all highly overhyped : that's why some people are extremely disappointed about it.

    I could write down whole paragraphs of what No Man's Sky is lacking, or even doing wrong, but that would be pointless as it would still deserve a 9. Why that, might you ask... For a simple reason : no game is even remotely close to what this game achieves. The only pieces of software that accomplish only parts of No Man's sky are titles like Space Engine, Starbound, Minecraft or Dwarf Fortress.

    No Man's sky is a huge step forward in the direction of the game we all dream of : a huge fresh world to explore.

    That being said, the game in itself is really good.

    First, very moody : music and design come together to immerse you in alien nature. It can be really gorgeous, if you forgive its rough edges.

    Gameplay speaking, there is always a feeling of rushing forward that I find extremely enjoyable, even when painstakingly scavenging ressources. Why not leave this planet you just began exploring ? Why not fly to the next ? Unlike other scripted games where you're tempted to look into every corner of every room in search for the littlest power up or secret, in No Man's Sky the world is so vast that you can choose what to explore and what to skip.

    To sum it up, I think despite its shortcomings, this game is so unique it really stands out. Nothing is like it. I can't wait to play it again.    … Expand
  21. Estus_Recovery
    Aug 10, 2016
    9
    Think of No Man's Sky in musical terms. Many expected it to be an intergalactic opera, full of riveting drum beats and rock solos. Instead, No Man's Sky is closer to Trance, an experience which is as calming as it is rewarding through the pioneering player's are bound to partake in.

    No Man's Sky was, unfortunately, bound to disappoint certain players. After nearly 4 years of hype, this    Think of No Man's Sky in musical terms. Many expected it to be an intergalactic opera, full of riveting drum beats and rock solos. Instead, No Man's Sky is closer to Trance, an experience which is as calming as it is rewarding through the pioneering player's are bound to partake in.

    No Man's Sky was, unfortunately, bound to disappoint certain players. After nearly 4 years of hype, this small development team ultimately had to answer to expectations which were not properly checked.

    At its core, No Man's Sky is an exploration and survival game. Most of the story is implicit, something sorely lacking in modern gaming, and which is in this case, gracefully executed. You begin with a crashed vessel, which you must repair before taking off into space, and the story is told through your inevitable desire to survive, to analyze.

    There is NO handholding in No Man's Sky, again, a refreshing deviation from AAA gaming in 2016.

    Exploration is done gradually, usually incentivized by the discovery of a faraway marker, or alien "monolith". Through these discoveries, you learn the languages of the various races of the universe, making it easier to communicate with them, understand their requests, and solve their racial puzzles.

    There will be some combat during your journey, either against space pirates, or the "space police" which monitors your acquisitions from a planet. More diverse fauna and flora means tighter policing, an interesting nod to real-world preservation techniques. Yet combat takes a hard back seat in this game, and players should be aware of this.

    There are some drawbacks in the early hours, to this exploration mechanic. The lack of inventory space early on means you'll often have to make return trips to Outposts in order to acquire that which you ultimately really need. But the system taunts you with bigger ships, more space, and in that sense your gradual assent from young explorer to inter-galactic merchant is rewarding, if not often steep.

    Ultimately this is an ode to discovery, a relaxing intergalactic journey where the acquisition of resources is meant to take up most of your attention, not hi-speed chase sequences out of the Star Trek universe.    … Expand
  22. daggre
    Aug 10, 2016
    9
    In my opinion people are being way too hard on this game. I think expectations were just unrealistic. Of course it's not for everyone, but for those that like to explore and don't like boundaries it's a fun journey. Now, I've only played about 6 hours total and yes I could see where the novelty won't last forever but I'm having fun and still have lots to try. I actually like the alienIn my opinion people are being way too hard on this game. I think expectations were just unrealistic. Of course it's not for everyone, but for those that like to explore and don't like boundaries it's a fun journey. Now, I've only played about 6 hours total and yes I could see where the novelty won't last forever but I'm having fun and still have lots to try. I actually like the alien lore stuff and the language discovery. Sure I want more variety in planets and life forms but honestly I'll bet that comes in patches and DLC later.

    It compares most directly with Elite Dangerous. That game is ultra-realistic in flight, but you can't really do anything interesting on planet surfaces. NMS has arcade-like flight but you can land and walk around. Both games are good in their own way, but even if the two developers combined their experiences it still wouldn't be for everyone. If this isn't your type of game, just don't play it.

    I rate a game's value based on the cost divided by the number of hours I enjoy playing it. A theatrical movie costs about $12 and I get 2 hours of enjoyment so that's $6/hr. I'm just scratching the surface on NMS and my $60 @ 6 hours has cost me roughly $10/hr so far. By the time it gets old it'll probably be pennies an hour, so in my book that's a "good deal".

    I will say this is exactly why review embargoes are a BAD idea. With a highly hyped game it encourages SOME people to get the game sight-unseen and then hate it and rant. If reviewers had received their copies a couple of weeks ago they could have published reviews explaining that it IS a resource gathering game and that the gameplay is simplistic compared to something like Elite. Then people who aren't into that sort of thing could have decided it wasn't worth their money. As this was handled though, a lot of people are going to feel burned (thus the review backlash).    … Expand
  23. VindicationDay
    Aug 11, 2016
    9
    No Man's Sky is a lonely game. To me, that's what makes it so brilliant.

    There's no multiplayer in No Man's Sky. The universe you'll get to explore is truly universe-sized, which means the odds of running into another player are practically slim to none. There are creatures that roam the planets, but your presence is largely inconsequential to them, as it is the ecosystem as a whole.    No Man's Sky is a lonely game. To me, that's what makes it so brilliant.

    There's no multiplayer in No Man's Sky. The universe you'll get to explore is truly universe-sized, which means the odds of running into another player are practically slim to none. There are creatures that roam the planets, but your presence is largely inconsequential to them, as it is the ecosystem as a whole. The various alien NPCs you'll occasionally encounter speak in languages that, at least initially, are impossible to understand. You have to survive on your own. There's no map to tell you where you are, and nobody will come to rescue you if you get lost. You're completely alone. And if the thought of any of this unnerves you, then this may not be the game for you.

    But there's something amazing about being alone in this universe that Hello Games has created. Personally, I find it amazing that the planets I've discovered and the species I've encountered have never been seen by any other player. There's something almost trance-like about flying your spaceship over a mysterious new world, finding a spot to land, and trekking through caves and valleys in search of your next adventure. While some may be disappointed in the lack of base-building (and an overall lack of high-level interactivity with the world,) I find that this actually helps with immersion. You are a stranger in this universe, and your only place of refuge is your ship. It's your only lifeline; it's your shelter during a massive dust storm, your escape plan when you're outnumbered and outgunned, and your only true companion on your journey to discover just what lies in the center of the universe.

    And while the trek to the center is the ultimate goal of the game, there's no narrative to tie you to that. If you want, you can spend all your time exploring without any purpose at all. At the beginning of the game, you are offered a choice--would you like occasional objective markers to help guide you through your journey? Or would you like to abandon all guidance and find your own way? The latter option makes the opening hours of the game much more difficult, as you must figure out how to repair your craft and venture out of the solar system on your own. But for players who want to take their time and avoid any hand holding (of which there is very little in the first place,) the option is there.

    The gameplay ultimately boils down to mining for resources to keep you alive and upgrade your craft so you can continue further and further into the universe. Each planet has it's own ecosystem, making certain elements difficult to come by in certain areas, which ups the stakes and encourages preparation. Do I have enough fuel to venture to this new planet? What will I encounter when I get there? If it's barren, will I have enough fuel to liftoff again? Maybe it's a lush planet--perhaps I should stop at this space station and trade some of my goods afterwards. Is my suit capable of keeping me warm once night falls on this frozen planet?

    In addition to all of that, this is a game about discovering the lore of the universe. While there isn't much of a traditional narrative, bits and pieces of history and inklings of alien languages can be discovered at mysterious structures dotted around the universe. That's all I'll get into about that, to prevent heavy spoilers.

    It helps that the presentation is absolutely jaw-dropping. Every randomly-generated galaxy, planet, cavern, ocean, forest, and animal shares a high-contrast, highly color-saturated design that never gets old. I've visited about 10 planets so far, and all of them have been beautiful in their own right. One planet I visited was full of snow-tipped mountaintops that glimmered in the light of the setting sun. Another was almost completely barren, yet there was something beautifully haunting about it's mysterious purple surface that spurred me to investigate. The soundtrack also deserves special mention--it's a moody and contemplative score that ups the ante at just the right moments. It hasn't grown stale and adds an immense amount of atmosphere to an already incredible game. And of course, if you don't like it, you can always turn it off, or opt to listen to your own music (on PS4 via Spotify) instead.

    The only things that didn't wow me were the lack of variation in planetary outposts, as well as the less-than-stellar design of some of the NPC Aliens you speak and trade with at these outposts. But considering the massive scale of this game and the high level of quality throughout, these are relatively minor issues.

    No Man's Sky is a game about you, your starship, and the universe. It's a game about discovery, atmosphere and immersion. It's unlike anything I've ever played before. If you want to take a break from the fast paced AAA shooters and lose yourself in a gorgeous, essentially endless universe, you'll be hard pressed to do better than No Man's Sky.    … Expand
  24. Tinglebob
    Aug 11, 2016
    9
    A great game for anyone that likes open world freedom to explore and discover things and follow leads to objectives, but if you are the kind of person that wants everything handed to you and explained in a simplified linear style story this is not for you. For me though this is a great game that is only going to improve with the updates that are coming
  25. Osaii78
    Aug 11, 2016
    9
    I have been playing this game for a few days and I think it is stunning, intensely immersive. The negative reviews on here i would seriously question the motivations or the mental capacity of those leaving them...
  26. spoons100
    Aug 11, 2016
    9
    I understand all the criticisms against NMS, and even agree with them, but even so, I can't stop playing this game. It's one of the most engaging games I've played in a long time.
  27. thecreativegun
    Aug 11, 2016
    9
    Good luck travelers on your journey of convergence to the center. If you are a fan of science fiction, and are looking for a Space Exploration simulator that is lighthearted with a sense of wonder and hope. No Man's Sky is the game for you.

    The slightly skewed reviews that some of these people are leaving makes you just want to shake your head in disbelief. Read all the 0 and 10    Good luck travelers on your journey of convergence to the center. If you are a fan of science fiction, and are looking for a Space Exploration simulator that is lighthearted with a sense of wonder and hope. No Man's Sky is the game for you.

    The slightly skewed reviews that some of these people are leaving makes you just want to shake your head in disbelief. Read all the 0 and 10 reviews. Makes me want to vomit. No This game is not a 10. No this game is not a 0. Its not a 3 or 4 or even a 5. The game is a Solid 7 and half, 8 or 9 in my opinion. And just to sway the critics I am going to give it a 9. Here is my reasoning.

    First starting with negatives:
    Yes the game was largely over-hyped. Yes the combat is pretty basic. Yes there is no story or its hidden within the game and I need to learn the language to uncover it. The movement kind of is slow when on foot.

    Now lets move to the positives.
    But once you get into your spaceship and can fly from place to place, it gets much better. Your spaceship is your home, kind of. So be sure you don't go too far from it. You store everything there, once your suit runs out, and it helps you find Alien Artifacts, Trade Outposts to buy new Ships, and just helps you travel Space and Explore.

    No Man's Sky is actually quite enjoyable. Once I got through slight learning curve in the first few hours. Flying from one point to another. Naming different animals, which are surprisingly well animated and have different behaviors and vary largely in size and color. I met this huge animal of about 15 feet long thing that looked like a Lion with a Cone head that was amazing. I took many pictures and videos of it, and sent them to my friends. The thing was freaking huge, and I gave it good it then it was happy and started to follow me around. So real, it felt real. I felt as if I was there.

    The game world is very ascetically pleasing. And I must stress this, the world in a word is beautiful. The Space is also quite pleasing to the eye. This is not a realistic space sim. This game is a story book space sim. Like traveling to another Universe, sort of. And exploring it is truly a Unique experience unlike any I ever experienced in any game.

    From the start. What I did was I spent 12 hours on the first planet to make sure I got everything catalogued before moving on to the next planet. To the people saying each planet environment is not varied are truly wrong. My first starting planet had mountains, peeks, valleys, grass, different colored sky. I named my first planet Ferdinand 1, and my Solar System Magellan after the famous explorer. I plan to name all the planets I see after famous explorers and ships of history. The next planet I named Isabella after the Spanish monarch.But back to Ferdinand 1. Ferdinand 1 And it was the kind of place I would want to spend many years in. I cannot figure out how they made the game world look so unique.

    Props to the development team on this game. Just ignore the negative and reviews and focus on the positive. The game needs some work, but I am sure future updates will add many requested features.far as just what we have at launch, its an extremely playable and enjoyable experience.

    Two things I would fix are the interface, and the movement. Maybe add some land vehicles. Walking and flying shouldn't be the only ways to travel. Some type of Land rover or car would be great.

    This is kind of a first impression review as I only have spent maybe 12 hours in the game, so as I play more of it, I am sure I will discover things such as learning Alien language. The mystery of the Atlas. And try to get to the center of the Universe, but right now I am just too busy exploring my own Solar System, before I even think about going further.

    Good luck travelers, and don't let these 0 star reviews get you down. They are wrong, or people who did not even play the game. Or the type of people that play a game till end, and return it. If you are that type of player, that is looking for a story driven game, stay away from it. If you are looking for an enjoyable game you can play for many days, months, maybe even years and like Science Fiction. Then this game is for you.

    Even though the graphics are a bit dated, the beauty of the environments overshadows the graphics and just makes you want to explore and find new things. The first hour was tough, but once I figured out the mechanics. I think this game will hold me off for a long time.    … Expand
  28. oldboy76
    Aug 11, 2016
    9
    Damn, this game is awesome and quite the achievement. It may be too big, but a gripe like that is akin to saying, "this steak is too tasty." If you didn't like this game, you're probably a spoiled child with no job that listens to Skrillex and drinks at least three Monsters a day. Of course you're not going to like this game because it went over your head. Lazy people lack imagination andDamn, this game is awesome and quite the achievement. It may be too big, but a gripe like that is akin to saying, "this steak is too tasty." If you didn't like this game, you're probably a spoiled child with no job that listens to Skrillex and drinks at least three Monsters a day. Of course you're not going to like this game because it went over your head. Lazy people lack imagination and have to have their entertainment spoon-fed to them.… Expand
  29. MrQbit
    Aug 12, 2016
    9
    Here is the deal, I was NOT hyped at all for this game, because my expectations where (as other have stated) big & shallow, won't keep me engaged.
    Now, for a few years to be honest almost no game has kept me engaged for more than a couple of hours, then I get bored and drop it, I am not what you would call a "serious" gamer (although I do end up with quite a large collection).
    Second    Here is the deal, I was NOT hyped at all for this game, because my expectations where (as other have stated) big & shallow, won't keep me engaged.
    Now, for a few years to be honest almost no game has kept me engaged for more than a couple of hours, then I get bored and drop it, I am not what you would call a "serious" gamer (although I do end up with quite a large collection).
    Second disclaimer, I own an Xbox One, it is my family system, we all use it, I bough a PS4 recently because I want to try out PSVR when released and I got it very cheap, not with any game in mind (except maybe Battlefield 1 later in the year). The PS4 is hooked up to a large monitor and no one else uses it, just me.
    So, finally, to the game, as I said, pretty much first PS4 game, not hyped much, but then I start seeing lots of negative reviews around and I though, you know what ? ,I am sure this game does not deserve these reviews, I know Devs have worked very hard on it and should get some unbiased reviews that don't come from fanboys (PS4 or XBO).
    I got the game from PS Store (deserves another review, how is it possible that the same credit card I JUST used to pay Playstation Plus now is not valid ?), installed fairly quickly, reported size is even less than what I had been reading (3.6GB I believe was the download).
    I started the game in a random planet, did not see much of interest, walked around a bit, got attacked by bunch of animals, started getting bored, fixed the ship and took off.
    Space Station helped me build hyper-drive, so I started planet hopping, I have been following clues, I am hooked on the "ruins" thing, but I also know now how to be efficient with resources, I basically spend most of the time jumping back to or looking for new planets with gold, once I figured out what to look for I fill up my ship with gold and take off, I am able to get huge amounts of credits by trading it and buy everything I need (I would say I have pretty much become a trader).

    Is everything good ?, absolutely no:
    I have seen the issues, fish swimming in one inch water, a ruin located 1 mile underwater, clearly related to random generation, potentially fixable. I have also had crashes, twice, I do not like that (and the reason I took 1 point from the score), this should not happen at all in a controlled environment like PS4, also, I am sure, quite possible to patch.
    I do not like that I have 2 "trading" menus instead of 1 to buy/sell, also that I can only trade my exosuit content, that's a minor annoyance.
    Opposite to many of the other reviews I have walked quite far form my ship and there IS always a marker that shows you the way back, I guess it can be a bit trickier to find if you are underground, but I have never lost my ship nor do I see how you could at all.
    Still could not get the atlas pass, not that I have focused much effort on it.
    I wish I could get (maybe later in the game) some sort of bot built that will continue mining for me, even if I have to return to orbit to pick up the resources, even if the bot took a slot in my ship I think it would still be worth it.
    I would like to see some sort of multiplayer added, if I do happen to find other players I would like to be able to interact with them better (trade, maybe travel together from that point, even if fighting is not an option I would not mind that terribly)

    I like the atmosphere overall, I like the music, It has kept me engaged for longer than any other game I can remember since God Of War 3 (I really think I have only spent more time in CIV right now).
    Maybe the fact that I did not have a PS4 and I did not get over-hyped helped, but I am truly enjoying the game and I hope devs will continue supporting it, adding content, etc.
    Others have focused in the resource gathering aspects, I have found it be easier to manage than other games I have played, and not so boring.
    Graphics are interesting, I like the palette, quality is adequate, better than you would get on an MMORPG, but not photo-realistic, you should not get the game if high-end graphics are key to your gaming experience.
    I have heard some complains about FOV, I think it's fine, but I also notice the PS4 struggles sometimes to render everything as I fly over.
    It seems the price was another pain point, it was not for me, not because I have a lot of money, I do not, but the fact is I don't buy that many games, and as I said, other games do not keep me that engaged, so in the end if I have invested 50 or 60 dollars in a game and it only keeps me entertained for 10 hours I have wasted the money, on the other hand this game, I can see putting in a lot more hours (I am sure I am well over 30 hours already), so, in my case, I am fine with the price.
    I do suggest if you are on the edge that you wait, I am quite sure price will drop in a couple of months and I do not think starting first will give other players any kind of insurmountable advantage

    Overall, fun game, interesting, great looking, I am quite happy with it :)    … Expand
  30. slaphead99
    Aug 12, 2016
    9
    I *love* how this game is diving opinion- and *that's* partly why I love it. The game is meant to be (mostly) *relaxing* not (over)stimulating; never forget that. Visuals, music, auto-generated whatsits- all marvellous (reminds me of Halo). I even like the inventory and resource management design (reminds me of Metal Arms). Only get this if you understand that exciting games can also be relaxing.
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Awards & Rankings

2
#2 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2016
2
#2 Most Shared PS4 Game of 2016

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
71

Mixed or average reviews - based on 96 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 41 out of 96
  2. Mixed: 54 out of 96
  3. Negative: 1 out of 96
  1. GameCritics
    May 8, 2020
    80
    While I’m sure developer Hello Games is still tweaking things and perhaps even creating more content for No Man’s Sky, the current state of affairs is a strong one. This galactic opus still offers an infinite amount of content for those who want to lose themselves among the stars, but now also contains a concrete throughline that will satisfy a wider array of players. It can be irritating at times, but it’s also full of stunning moments and the satisfaction of building a virtual life among the stars. Four years after launch, it’s finally a journey worth taking.
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  2. BaziCenter
    Feb 10, 2017
    60
    The world of No Man's Sky is insanely vast and beautiful, but there’s nothing to do in it! There’s no goal, no destination, no ending, nothing!
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  3. Easy Allies
    Dec 1, 2016
    60
    While No Man's Sky is engrossing for the first few hours, repetition starts to set in and the proceedings grow dull. The developers stated that they plan to add significant features such as base building which could dramatically change the game for the better. There's a promising foundation present, so it's possible to envision a more substantial game down the line. As it currently stands, though, our excitement to cross the universe faded sooner than we expected.
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