NO MAN'S SKY - Will the "NEXT" update finally make it worth playing?

UNLIMITED SPACE EXPLORATION, NOW WITH FRIENDS!

 Released in August 2016, No Man's Sky was a HUGE disappointment, becoming the game with the largest number of negative reviews on Steam. Despite all of the harsh critics, the studio Hello Games didn't let go of the project, and worked very hard to improve it since then, and will soon release one of the biggest updates yet, which COULD potentially make this game hold its initial promise.

Here's a very informative video about 28 important changes coming with this update:

TIME TO REFUND THE REFUND?

  Almost 2 years after its first release, No Man's Sky will now get a so-called "Next" version, which will be in fact a huge update available from July 24th 2018, for all owners of the game. 

PC => CLICK HERE TO GET THE GAME ON GOG
PS4 => CLICK HERE TO GET THE GAME ON AMAZON
XBOX ONE (Available on July 31st) => CLICK HERE TO GET THE GAME ON AMAZON

  In addition to some noticeable graphic improvements(smoke, sand, and particle effects look much better now) and an enhanced planetary generation(still not convinced), "Next" FINALLY introduces a true multiplayer mode! 

  As you know, it was possible to play online in the previous version, but it was extremely limited and ridiculous: "players who run into each other in the vast, procedurally generated galaxy are able to see each other, but only appear as little floating orbs. Players near each other can talk over voice chat, but they can't interact in any other way and can only see up to 16 other players at a time"... 

  From now on, it will be possible to create a small group to explore a planet, share built bases or even run races on tracks that you have created yourself, and that you'll be able to share online as well! Also, you'll have the possibility to create your own fleet of frigates and invite friends for multiplayer missions.

Even using SweetFX, the game graphics are still absolutely atrocious, due to the worst color palettes ever seen in a game. They're supposed to be inspired by 50s sci-fi book covers, but it just doesn't work in a game, I guess. In 2000, Giants: Citizen Kabuto proved that it was possible to depict an alien world while still using gorgeous color palettes.

Here’s Hello Games’ original announcement of the feature:

The Xbox One game cover!

You’ll be able to explore the universe with your friends, or bump into random travellers. You can help friends to stay alive, or prey on others to survive. Your group can build anything from tiny shelters to complex colonies spanning planets, and everything is shared online for others to visit. Fight as a pirate or a wingman in epic space battles with friends and enemies. Race exocraft across weird alien terrains, creating race tracks or maybe just scenic trails to share online.

Ahhh the Sentinels... They give a new meaning to "you can run, but you can't hide". They find you ANYWHERE and appear out of nowhere directly behind you, even if you hide underneath 3 layers of rocks.

WILLY'S OPINION - Nope, still not convinced!

  Everybody complained during years about bugs, graphics, multiplayer, etc, but I'm afraid that they all missed the #1 problem: the game doesn't have a soul. You can fix it as much as you can, improve the graphics, and make a stable multiplayer mode, it'll never be as fun as any Star Wars game, for example.

No Man's Sky doesn't have:
- Memorable characters
- Landmarks (which is kinda normal, since it uses procedural generation, but still...)
- A coherent lore
- INCENTIVES... That's the biggest problem in the game. After a few hours only, I had zero motivation to just explore another planet which looked 99% like the previous one, just to get more material and kill random aliens with bad A.I..

  The whole thing just looks like a mess of averagely interesting ideas mixed together in the largest game ever made (uh oh... this is a bit like The Crew 2, then? lol), and it simply doesn't do it for me.

This video still cracks me up: