Why the mixed reviews?

[Snek!]

The game looks awesome, but why has the reviews dropped recently?

[Suzaku]

From skimming through the negative reviews, the main issues seem to be:
1) My specific HOTAS doesn't work
2) Game is too difficult
3) I don't like rogue-likes, but bought one anyway

[Snek!]

Oh... Well... Since i would use mouse and keyboard ( but can use a HOTAS, too ) would you recommend this? The main thing i am looking at is replayability and how repetitive it is. As in, is there enough enemys/events/encounters to keep you engaged after 20 hours?

[Suzaku]

I'd recommend mouse and keyboard. The increased precision is always a plus in any shooter.

The replayability really depends on just how much you enjoy the combat. All of the randomized elements and super smooth gameplay has kept me interested for just shy of 200 hours now, and I'm still looking to put more playtime into it between all of the recent Christmas purchases.

Worst-case scenario would be that you buy it, try it out, and refund it before you hit 2 hours if it's not to your liking. I absolutely love the game, so I'd be hard-pressed not to recommend it.

[Snek!]

Yea, i have played 15 min before on some one elses PC and the combat felt really, REALLY cool. Just doing spins and dodging missiles then getting on someones tail and bringing hell. I will probably buy to to do a test, and if i find exploration and combat is fun enough for me i will not refund it. Thank you for the help!

[Snek!]

By the way, what does the DLC add? Is it worth it?

[Suzaku]

It adds an extra ship, several new weapons and devices, a couple new enemies, new stations, and a whole bunch of extra npcs and side-quests to flesh out each run.

While the base game has plenty on offer, the DLC does add a fair amount of extra content. I feel it is quite worth it.

[Snek!]

Ok, i will probably also get the DLC but not right away. Thanks again!

[Demodulated]

My advice is to get the DLC ASAP. It adds some light story elements that make this amazingly great game even better. If it's replayability you're looking for then the DLC will add a lot of variety and depth.

[Evil The Cat]

Originally posted by Suzaku:

2) Game is too difficult
3) I don't like rogue-likes, but bought one anyway

Curse of the rogue-likes, sadly.

[Snek!]

Yea, i was thinking of getting the DLC bundle since that way you get encounters cheaper than if you bought them seperate. I do love hard games and have a fair few rougelikes of my own, so i do think i will enjoy this. Thanks!

[GlutenFreeGamer]

I would add that the game was recently on sale; people are less inclined to reverse-justify a purchase if they don't have quite so much invested in it.

(SOOO many people rated No Mans Sky positively when the price dropped and a new batch of players came in, but the ratings dropped like a rock about a week later when everyone realised just how poop that game really is).

[Dr.Doctor]

Yeah, a lot of the recent negative reviews are people who don't understand Genre. It's a rogue lite. It's clearly a rogue lite. It's like being upset at a dog for behaving like a dog... Yeah.

Anyway, mouse-keyboard is great. VR mode is great. And like any decent Rogue-like, if you know what you are doing, you can overcome the RNG and pretty much clear each and every run despite the loadout and starting conditions (I finally hit about 75% success rate)

200hrs in, this is my most played game on Steam!

[Snek!]

I just got it, and got to sector 3 on my third run without rushing. The combat feels really smooth and now that i am used to using lasers against shields and gatling guns ect against hull it is a ton of fun. My basic tactic with the starter ship is to take down their shields, fire a missile and finish them with th machine gun. Got the gunship on my fifth run and i find it odd that it doesn't start with the frontal shield ability.

[Snek!]

Also, with the energy bar, sometimes a portion of it is red and it doesn't charge up as much as it did at the start of the run. What is this?

[Suzaku]

Originally posted by Mr Snek:

Also, with the energy bar, sometimes a portion of it is red and it doesn't charge up as much as it did at the start of the run. What is this?

Red sections are parts of your energy being passively consumed. A portion is unavailable as long as the device is equipped. This is for devices with passive effects like shields, target decelerators, tractor beams, etc.