Posted August 16, 2016
First, the usual, apologies if this thread already exists, I searched around in the top pages and couldn’t find one quite like this but I have to admit, I did skim, so hope I didn’t overlook one.
Now, after almost 40 hours playtime (I really didn’t do much else this weekend) I really like this game, I really do. But I have to admit, upon further reflection, I like it for its potential more than for what it actually does.
Whenever I step onto a new planet, it just hits me how great this algorithm works. These planets look way better than e.g. the side mission planets from Mass Effect 1 and they had actually designers look at them. In NMS, it’s just the computer generating stuff and the fact that it still looks amazing and natural is a testament to the developers skills at mathematics. It’s amazing.
Now, the problem is what we can do with these worlds and this universe because … well, it’s not much. Yet! Because I really hope Hello Games realizes what they have got here and how little they do with it and as a result will enhance this game a lot going forward.
So here are my suggestions for updates that need to happen to make this game from a just a great technical accomplishment to something that actually is a lot of fun to really play, not just to look at:
First of all, the proposed update with base building doesn’t make much sense to me. What good is building a base if the main point of this game is to always travel forward. There is no backtracking in NMS, so why build a base to just leave behind? On the off chance that some other player comes by this one base on this one planet? No thanks. There are way more urgent matter that need attention.
Here is my top four: Feel free to add your suggestions:
1. Improve the shooter part: There is no need to fundamentally change the gameplay as such but what we need is way better enemy AI for the sentinels. Their Aggro system needs to be totally overhauled to make them a better challenge and they need to mve, take cover, etc. Also, right now, we have no reason to fight, the most efficient course of action will always be to run away. Make the sentinels guard particularly valuable resources, so it makes sense for us to attack and look for a fight.
Also, we need way more weapon types. Let us switch between the beam weapon, the bolt caster, a shotgun-like weapon or something resembling a flame thrower or a rocket launcher. How about sniper and scope upgrades? Ideally, you’d give us procedurally generated modular weapons/upgrades like in Borderlands (but that may be something for NMS 2 I guess).
2. Space needs to get livelier: Right now, there is literally nothing to do in space, except for sometimes fighting faceless hostiles. You have 3 space faring alien races, where are their distinct ships and stations. Why aren’t we picking up comm. Chatter, there could be trade routes, that are attacked by outlaws and pirates. Space stations, danger zones (like gas clouds or asteroid fields, don’t have those just everywhere). Basically, take a good look at Freelancer and copy as much as possible.
That said, not every system should be the same (as it is now). Make some more, others less populated. Also give us some completely undiscovered systems with no population whatsoever (space and planets), so that we can feel like real explorers).
3. Story DLC: You made a fantastic world with this innovative complex technology. Now fill it with meaning and motivation for the players to keep them going. The lore that you have is brilliant IMO and the Atlas path is fascinating but there could be so much more. Give us Story DLC that adds real NPCs beyond Nada and Polo. Ideally, give us some hand crafted unique encounters and maps/levels, that we come across at random (or progression based) points in our travels and that we play through to progress a real story line. IMO the combination of the procedural huge universe and some interspersed handcrafted highlights within it, that we can work and grind towards, that would be the ideal gameplay experience.
4. Let us screw up: The fact that we can’t really maneuver ourselves into a dead end is great for beginners but especially in the later game, give us more of a challenge. There should be planets that do not have plutonium and iron every 5 meters. This would strengthen the survival aspect of the game. Imagine being stranded on a toxic world, your thruster depleted and you need to set out on foot, to find fuel or a base or anything that will let you survive. I realize this includes the danger of dead ends, so to compensate, I suggest increasing the number of save to 5 or even 10 and deviding them up between the really save beacon restore points and the ship restore points. That should be a good safety net to be able to always reload if you really can’t make it anymore.
Also, I’d add to this that we need full control of our ship, including the “option” to crash it into planets. I hate the “snowspeeder” gliding, I want to try and fly through canyons or make really low passes. If we crash the ship, it should be damaged and in need of repair (just like the wreckage, that we can already find).
Now, I am not sure if all of this is feasible for updates and DLCs but IMO these changes, taken together (or even a subset( could elevate this brilliant foundation from what is right now still a bit of a niche title into a real blockbuster game.
Again, congratulations to Hello game on what they have achieved so far. I am curious to see where this journey will take us.
If you guys have more ideas suggestions, I am also curious to hear them.
Now, after almost 40 hours playtime (I really didn’t do much else this weekend) I really like this game, I really do. But I have to admit, upon further reflection, I like it for its potential more than for what it actually does.
Whenever I step onto a new planet, it just hits me how great this algorithm works. These planets look way better than e.g. the side mission planets from Mass Effect 1 and they had actually designers look at them. In NMS, it’s just the computer generating stuff and the fact that it still looks amazing and natural is a testament to the developers skills at mathematics. It’s amazing.
Now, the problem is what we can do with these worlds and this universe because … well, it’s not much. Yet! Because I really hope Hello Games realizes what they have got here and how little they do with it and as a result will enhance this game a lot going forward.
So here are my suggestions for updates that need to happen to make this game from a just a great technical accomplishment to something that actually is a lot of fun to really play, not just to look at:
First of all, the proposed update with base building doesn’t make much sense to me. What good is building a base if the main point of this game is to always travel forward. There is no backtracking in NMS, so why build a base to just leave behind? On the off chance that some other player comes by this one base on this one planet? No thanks. There are way more urgent matter that need attention.
Here is my top four: Feel free to add your suggestions:
1. Improve the shooter part: There is no need to fundamentally change the gameplay as such but what we need is way better enemy AI for the sentinels. Their Aggro system needs to be totally overhauled to make them a better challenge and they need to mve, take cover, etc. Also, right now, we have no reason to fight, the most efficient course of action will always be to run away. Make the sentinels guard particularly valuable resources, so it makes sense for us to attack and look for a fight.
Also, we need way more weapon types. Let us switch between the beam weapon, the bolt caster, a shotgun-like weapon or something resembling a flame thrower or a rocket launcher. How about sniper and scope upgrades? Ideally, you’d give us procedurally generated modular weapons/upgrades like in Borderlands (but that may be something for NMS 2 I guess).
2. Space needs to get livelier: Right now, there is literally nothing to do in space, except for sometimes fighting faceless hostiles. You have 3 space faring alien races, where are their distinct ships and stations. Why aren’t we picking up comm. Chatter, there could be trade routes, that are attacked by outlaws and pirates. Space stations, danger zones (like gas clouds or asteroid fields, don’t have those just everywhere). Basically, take a good look at Freelancer and copy as much as possible.
That said, not every system should be the same (as it is now). Make some more, others less populated. Also give us some completely undiscovered systems with no population whatsoever (space and planets), so that we can feel like real explorers).
3. Story DLC: You made a fantastic world with this innovative complex technology. Now fill it with meaning and motivation for the players to keep them going. The lore that you have is brilliant IMO and the Atlas path is fascinating but there could be so much more. Give us Story DLC that adds real NPCs beyond Nada and Polo. Ideally, give us some hand crafted unique encounters and maps/levels, that we come across at random (or progression based) points in our travels and that we play through to progress a real story line. IMO the combination of the procedural huge universe and some interspersed handcrafted highlights within it, that we can work and grind towards, that would be the ideal gameplay experience.
4. Let us screw up: The fact that we can’t really maneuver ourselves into a dead end is great for beginners but especially in the later game, give us more of a challenge. There should be planets that do not have plutonium and iron every 5 meters. This would strengthen the survival aspect of the game. Imagine being stranded on a toxic world, your thruster depleted and you need to set out on foot, to find fuel or a base or anything that will let you survive. I realize this includes the danger of dead ends, so to compensate, I suggest increasing the number of save to 5 or even 10 and deviding them up between the really save beacon restore points and the ship restore points. That should be a good safety net to be able to always reload if you really can’t make it anymore.
Also, I’d add to this that we need full control of our ship, including the “option” to crash it into planets. I hate the “snowspeeder” gliding, I want to try and fly through canyons or make really low passes. If we crash the ship, it should be damaged and in need of repair (just like the wreckage, that we can already find).
Now, I am not sure if all of this is feasible for updates and DLCs but IMO these changes, taken together (or even a subset( could elevate this brilliant foundation from what is right now still a bit of a niche title into a real blockbuster game.
Again, congratulations to Hello game on what they have achieved so far. I am curious to see where this journey will take us.
If you guys have more ideas suggestions, I am also curious to hear them.