Sad this game is not more like Freelancer 2

[Twotricks]

So first of this is not critique of the game. It is fantastic and probably this is why I am sad its not 100% fantastic but just 99%

At the moment this game is closest to modern version of Freelancer and even better in its action parts.

However I feel that if the game also embraced more of Fight-Mine-Trade trinity of space sims , and the sandbox like universe , the game would be so much more. And the shame is that its not really that far. Its only did not go that way because it was not planned.

But if the game had fleshed out trading, with ships that can be attacked by pirates while flying from space station to another. If there was lucrative mining again with danger of pirates. I think the game would be so much richer.

Basically if it was more like Freelancer.


... But whatever. Still great game and I enjoy it very much. Just wishful thinking :)

[This PC]

I personally think that what this game is missing is the connected open world freelancer has.

Everspace is more a collection of separate areas with a world map, but I also understand the structure of freelancer wouldn't appeal to the impatient modern gamer. I mean, it did take hours to traverse Freelancer's world, even with the trade lanes.

A consequence of this is exploration rewards like finding a starbase off the beaten path that sells unique wares hidden in a dust cloud in freelancer are replaced by awkward puzzles to open hidden boxes.

Still the closest we got to freelancer in the past 20 years.

[Eminy Frost]

Originally posted by jdtuggey:

I personally think that what this game is missing is the connected open world freelancer has.

Everspace is more a collection of separate areas with a world map, but I also understand the structure of freelancer wouldn't appeal to the impatient modern gamer. I mean, it did take hours to traverse Freelancer's world, even with the trade lanes.

A consequence of this is exploration rewards like finding a starbase off the beaten path that sells unique wares hidden in a dust cloud in freelancer are replaced by awkward puzzles to open hidden boxes.

Still the closest we got to freelancer in the past 20 years.

Agreed. The constant loading screens are so immersion breaking, its almost a dealbreaker for me. Whats worse is, they made no attempts whatsoever in hiding the load screens with some cool transitions in space screens or going through a wormhole or anything like that. Instead we get a black screen with 4 dots at the bottom whenever we go to a new zone. Seriously? If you're gonna charge AAA prices at least give a modicum of effort in simple things like these that dont make your game look like a 5 dollar trash bin offering.

[Army of Optimists]

Man, you're gonna be real disappointed in Starfield if loading screens make you that angry.

[Primal Feed]

Originally posted by Eminy Frost:

Originally posted by jdtuggey:

I personally think that what this game is missing is the connected open world freelancer has.

Everspace is more a collection of separate areas with a world map, but I also understand the structure of freelancer wouldn't appeal to the impatient modern gamer. I mean, it did take hours to traverse Freelancer's world, even with the trade lanes.

A consequence of this is exploration rewards like finding a starbase off the beaten path that sells unique wares hidden in a dust cloud in freelancer are replaced by awkward puzzles to open hidden boxes.

Still the closest we got to freelancer in the past 20 years.

Agreed. The constant loading screens are so immersion breaking, its almost a dealbreaker for me. Whats worse is, they made no attempts whatsoever in hiding the load screens with some cool transitions in space screens or going through a wormhole or anything like that. Instead we get a black screen with 4 dots at the bottom whenever we go to a new zone. Seriously? If you're gonna charge AAA prices at least give a modicum of effort in simple things like these that dont make your game look like a 5 dollar trash bin offering.

The term immersion is overrated and over used.

You want realism to some degree, meanwhile at the same time have all the legendary gear and releases a huge swarm of aggressive micro-bots that will consume everything in their way.
Surprised no has tackled the issue to make a Soundless space game, even though, you can just mute sound in the settings.

"I shouldn't have to go into the settings to mute while I'm in space, and turn it back during the story dialog"

[Rauckus]

I don't think I understand "immersion" people. Do you pretend like you're Adam Rosling or something? Do you talk out loud to HIVE?

[Army of Optimists]

Originally posted by Rauckus:

I don't think I understand "immersion" people. Do you pretend like you're Adam Rosling or something? Do you talk out loud to HIVE?

Immersion is more or less a state of suspended disbelief. Don't think of it like people trying to pretend they're the character. Think of it like watching a movie. While you're aware that you're watching one, the last thing you want in the moment is the movie to remind you that it's fake or stop the plot to show advertisements. Same thing in games - it's one of the reasons people hate the increasing encroachment of microtransactions. Nothing takes you out of the game faster than the game popping up a banner trying to sell you a $9.99 skin.

Anyway, no loading screens would be the ideal. Play a game with seamless transitions from planet to space and it's genuinely cool to take off, fly up, and see the surface shrink away from you in real-time. I just don't get upset when games don't do it because I understand the massive technical hurdle to overcome and it's not really important. In ES2's case, it barely bothers me because I don't think any of the loading screens last more than three seconds.

[[Slayer]]

Immersion is how much the world make sense for itself. Having the puzzles and random secure containers is kind of terrible for immersion. Instead, if we could somehow damage them to break open or somehow gotten a random encryption key to open them within a system that would make a lot more sense. Even waiting for a couple secs for the HIVE to hack them wouldn't be bad at all - so now instead of being happy to see secure containers I just feel a bit of dread because I might spend an uncertain amount of time looking for the thing to complete the puzzle - simply unfun. Decryption keys randomly dropping from outlaws or enemies types to open the containers or locked behind a mini-boss would be better than all these lame unfun time wasting puzzles. Or HIVE gets perks that can hack to open them or something.

[[Slayer]]

Originally posted by Twotricks:

So first of this is not critique of the game. It is fantastic and probably this is why I am sad its not 100% fantastic but just 99%

At the moment this game is closest to modern version of Freelancer and even better in its action parts.

However I feel that if the game also embraced more of Fight-Mine-Trade trinity of space sims , and the sandbox like universe , the game would be so much more. And the shame is that its not really that far. Its only did not go that way because it was not planned.

But if the game had fleshed out trading, with ships that can be attacked by pirates while flying from space station to another. If there was lucrative mining again with danger of pirates. I think the game would be so much richer.

Basically if it was more like Freelancer.


... But whatever. Still great game and I enjoy it very much. Just wishful thinking :)

X4 is pretty good, but its more like single player EVE.

[that damn guy]

I like this game just the way it is (admittedly a few tweaks are needed), but if you fancy Freelancer that much then I'd suggest you go play Freelancer! What's the point of Everspace 2 having its own identity if its just going to be a cheap ripoff of another game!?

[Kalil]

I would agree if this game was called Freelancer 2

[Army of Optimists]

Originally posted by Slayer:

Immersion is how much the world make sense for itself.

Just a linguistic quibble, there's actually a word that means exactly that. It's verisimilitude[www.masterclass.com].

[nakoda]

While not a literal definition, immersion is the effect of the narrative that draws you inside the fourth wall such that you forget the separation were there.

Video games have a far more complex relationship with immersion because of the ergodic (physically manipulated by player control) nature of the narrative.

[Twotricks]

Originally posted by Rauckus:

I don't think I understand "immersion" people. Do you pretend like you're Adam Rosling or something? Do you talk out loud to HIVE?

No nothing like that. Its just that you like that the game ( or film, book, whatever ) is consistent to the world its in.

For example you watch a film about ancient Rome, and suddenly a guy with a mobile phone appears. That breaks immersion

Same in this example space being collection of loading screens ( I personally have less problem with this, but its an example )

[Twotricks]

Originally posted by that damn guy:

I like this game just the way it is (admittedly a few tweaks are needed), but if you fancy Freelancer that much then I'd suggest you go play Freelancer! What's the point of Everspace 2 having its own identity if its just going to be a cheap ripoff of another game!?

I actually do play Freelancer. And if you manage to find it ( its not sold anywhere anymore ) , and patch it to HD , it holds to any modern game, and is just slightly inferior to Everspace 2 in combat gameplay ( and its like 20 year old game, imagine that )

Its not that hard to "rip off" Freelancer , in fact Everspace almost did it. It just did not run the whole mile. And its shame... thats all

[This PC]

Originally posted by Eminy Frost:

Agreed. The constant loading screens are so immersion breaking, its almost a dealbreaker for me. Whats worse is, they made no attempts whatsoever in hiding the load screens with some cool transitions in space screens or going through a wormhole or anything like that. Instead we get a black screen with 4 dots at the bottom whenever we go to a new zone. Seriously? If you're gonna charge AAA prices at least give a modicum of effort in simple things like these that dont make your game look like a 5 dollar trash bin offering.

Then we aren't actually in agreement, cause I don't mind the loading screens, and as far as I remember, freelancer had more loading. If you're offended by 2 seconds loading screen, and you're disingenuous enough to say this is AAA price, you're not arguing from a place of good faith, and from my perspective, this sounds like a you problem, not a game problem.

You're probably exactly the kind of person that would complain because traveling takes time in Freelancer. You're probably the kind of person that finds issues in everything, actually, probably not because there's actually issues, but because you're angry inside, and need to take it out. Clearly, you're not here to have a serious, constructive conversation and I feel like your arguments are trash bin offerings level.

Originally posted by Slayer:

X4 is pretty good, but its more like single player EVE.

I tried X4, and it felt like tedium to me. I tried reeeally hard to like it. ><

Originally posted by that damn guy:

I like this game just the way it is (admittedly a few tweaks are needed), but if you fancy Freelancer that much then I'd suggest you go play Freelancer! What's the point of Everspace 2 having its own identity if its just going to be a cheap ripoff of another game!?

I do fancy Freelancer more, actually, but I've played 2000+ hours of freelancer over my life, I know the story beats by heart, I know where the hidden stations selling the best ships/weapons are, and I have a path traced in my head through the game to get the best stuff I possibly can at all points through the story. There's just no point in playing freelancer anymore for me.

I'm happy everspace 2 has its identity, and I think it's a great game, I'm just lamenting the fact that the world feels disjointed to me compared to freelancer (Certainly not because of the 2 seconds loading screens). It doesn't make me hate everspace, but it's the closest we got to freelancer, and I wish we got a little closer.

If I wanted Everspace 2 to be freelancer, I'd also argue for the destiny-like progression/itemization to be changed, and for the finer control over ship devices we had in freelancer. I would also demand change. I'm not, I think Everspace 2 is fine the way it is and if I am honest, freelancer also had some issues that ES2 doesn't have, like the combat is even more easily cheesable on FL with a little bit of experience lol.

Everspace 2 is fine, really, please don't feel like I am demanding change, it's just a little bit of wishful thinking on my part. ;o