It seems like all we’ve seen so far from developer Hello Games’ galaxy-hopping space sim No Man’s Sky is brief yet enthusiastic snippets at E3 each year, so it’s nice to get the chance to see a little bit more of what the game has to offer.
Eighteen minutes of gameplay, to be precise. Courtesy of IGN, the demo sees Hello Games founder Sean Murray take us on an extended trip through space, showing us how the game works in the process.
Every time you zoom to a new planet, or discover a new species, you can upload your findings and receive some cash. This can be spent on new weapons and ships, which in turn allow you to venture further into the depths of the galaxy.
Kill too many creatures on a planet, and you’ll soon draw the attention of security drones and vessels. Amusingly, it works a bit like the wanted levels from Grand Theft Auto – there’s a bit where Murray shoots a goat, and the Sentinels (who are kind of galactic police robots, tasked with protecting life) quickly take their revenge.
It’s all very nice to look at, and the basic mechanics look fun. My only concern right now is that a few of the planets I’ve seen look a little too similar. Given the scale and procedural generation at play here, that’s not exactly surprising, but I hope the game can provide a decent illusion of uniqueness for each new planet you visit.
No Man’s Sky still doesn’t have a release date yet, unfortunately.
