This is a game with equal parts homage to scottish and welsh folklore and snarky humor. Most of the game is kept light-hearted, but are punctuated with some fairly sobering and dramatic moments. Content/Story Many of the villains and monsters found in old Scottish folklore are reimagined here, something that I personally enjoy. Also, you play a "bard", though you can play different classes. Every class has the same basic bardic abilities that help you solve puzzles, gain clues, and more. This has a good variety of gameplay. It's not just a murder hobo's paradise. There are plenty of puzzles and riddles to solve, some of which can be challenging. The gameplay is great in this regard. Puzzles often incorporate your basic bardic abilites. It gives you basic challenges at first, but then the complexity increases, often requiring you to use several of these basic bardic abilities to navigate various challenges. The story is great, and if you just want to focus on that, then you certainly can, but you'd miss out on a lot of fun stuff! Gameplay You can move in real time, but combat is turn-based. Combat teaches you some basic mechanics at first, but as you level up, you begin to see how these basic concepts work together. It's important to learn how various character abilities work together to get the most out of it. Graphics (running out of room!) In short, it's good, for what it is. It's a square grid-based system for that old-school feel, but within that context, they've created some compelling environments! The Bad (little room, so bullet points) - While classes are great, the level up mechanic sucks. Part of it relies upon you going to some 'council' of NPC's. Great flavor, but an annoying mechanic. - Save points. I mean...really? Let me save anywhere. - Crafting/cooking/alchemy/etc. - This may be personal preference, but this never really clicked with me. Sadly, it is somewhat necessary. Conclusion - is it worth it? Yes. It's fun. Time well spent.
Graphics 4/5 For it's art style & direction, these graphics are solid. The experience of going from a starbase or capital ship to planet - all without loading screens is technically impressive. There are still little glitches that I've no doubt will eventually be fixed. User Interface 1/5 They have improved the UI from vanilla. Unfortunately it is still horrible. NMS is one of the few games I've played where I actively HATE the UI. Seriously. I'm sitting here right now hating it. Here's why: 1. No simple "quality of life" controls. No way to search your items, no inventory filters, no way to auto-stack items. 2. There's no easy way to learn what materials are needed to build things. In other words, there's no "recipe" book, screen, or dialogue. Also missing is any kind of clue or information on whether or not an item CAN be crafted. Can you get this blueprint, or do you have to buy it? Who knows!? While I don't mind building the things I need, I don't like to be frustrated by not knowing how to get the blueprints I need to build certain things! Gameplay 4/5 The core game of exploration is good. Being able to own a fleet is pretty slick. Being able to build out rooms in your Freighter is also pretty cool. Multiplayer adds to the awesome, allowing friends to dock with your Freighter, and your entire fleet can go cruising wherever! The ability to build enhancements for your freigher - also cool. That said... 1. I bought a 2nd ship & chose to keep it rather than exchange it. Apparently I cannot recall it to my freighter? This seems counterintuitive. 2. Manually having to recharge my shields, life support, etc, etc. They should just let it automatically recharge as long as I have the right materials and/or items in my inventory! Summary 4/5 I give this game a 4 out of 5. The interface still needs a lot of improvement. If you like the simple pleasure of exploring, then this is the game for you. It's a galaxy-sized sandbox within which you get to play.
