I haven’t played Everspace or ever space 2 in its Early Access phase, so I’ve submitted my review ever space 2 don’t know exactly what to expect. Viewing it through the lens of a newcomer to the series, I was excited to see what the space shooter RPG was all about. And to a certain extent, the game has piqued my interest and kept my attention.
However, there are some important things that apply ever space 2 Reluctant to leave its mark on the galaxy, and while it’s reaching for the stars, it doesn’t quite make it. There’s good stuff here that series veterans (and newcomers) will no doubt enjoy, but there are a few other things to know before jumping in the cockpit.
The ever space 2 The campaign follows clone pilot Adam Roslin as he escorts a group of miners into war-torn territory, only to be ambushed by outlaws en route. From there, you slowly uncover more information about his identity, threats from other parts of the galaxy, and how he fits into all of it.
Along his journey, Adam is accompanied by several companions, each with their own unique perks that grant unique bonuses to your ship. Dax and Ben improve their utility functions, offering benefits such as longer Tractor Beam coverage and reduced hull repair costs.
Hive, on the other hand, features the Autonomous Cargo Dispatcher, which sends excess cargo straight to your home base, which is immensely helpful when you’re running low on storage space. There is also Tareen, which increases your base camp and hangar.
Despite these special advantages, the characters – and the story – suffer from a lack of depth. The narrative isn’t particularly intriguing, and the characters mostly interact during cutscenes or scripted mission moments, each of which is a missed opportunity to truly capture the camaraderie among space renegades with a common goal.
Screenshot of GameSkinny
However, ever space 2 Success in combat, the beating heart of the game. The main idea here is to combine a ship’s class with primary weapons, secondary weapons, consumables, and gadget abilities to create not just a loadout, but a “build” of sorts. With that in mind, you’ll complete challenges ranging from story missions and optional encounters to high-risk areas and the endgame activity Ancient Rift.
A few hours into the campaign you’ll be treated to a small selection of ships, ranging from the speedy Scout to the versatile Striker to the massive Gunship. From there, you’ll want to mix and match the right types of weapons and gadgets.
Ship weapons and items are fairly basic and are equipped on your ships via the menu, giving you the right offensive, defensive and utility abilities. Primary weapons include the anti-aircraft cannon, which can hit multiple enemies at once. The Gauss Cannon increases your rate of fire and spread. And the Thermo Gun shoots out a long-range beam of searing heat.
These are supported by secondary weapons, such as EMP missiles that can blow circuits and stun opponents, shield-breaker and armor-breaker missiles that deal extra damage to defenses, and various types of mines, including ones that can interfere with enemy ship movement. Not to mention different types of modules and consumables.
Apart from these ever space 2 Ships can also be outfitted with gadgets that sit on cooldown timers like special abilities. This group of add-ons includes abilities such as kinetic boost, fast-shift teleportation, various repair effects, and countermeasures.
In short, you have a lot at your disposal and many different options to build a ship that suits your playstyle and mission objectives.
Screenshot of GameSkinny
ever space 2 has numerous regions for you to explore. In fact, there were times when I’d ramp up my jump drive to reach a distant point on the map, then resurface later and marvel at the sights. Science fiction’s greatest hits are here: wrecked flotillas surrounded by debris, thin rings of gas and ice, cracked planets with exposed cores, and mysterious structures leading to relay gates.
With decent performance (I was playing at 4K with an Nvidia RTX 3080 and Intel i9-10900K) and a basic photo mode feature, I stared in and out of enemy skirmishes in awe.
There is also a loot system ever space 2the deal with some action role-playing games such Diablo and various looter shooters. And while it works, it’s a bit hard to sell. On its own it’s passable, which has to do with the concepts of leveling up to get a chance at rarer loot, or gathering different materials to craft what you need. Having said that, I really don’t think every game needs to follow this sort of core component just to keep you busy and it can become an unnecessarily tedious process.
The biggest problem, however, concerns the companions – or the lack of any meaningful interaction. Barring a few instances, you mostly adventure alone, leading to a sense of enforced, unnecessary isolation in the void of space that is reinforced by the loot grind.
Such a setup works better for an atmospheric space title or horror game, but not for a space shooter ever space 2. Considering that you can’t hire mercenaries from factions either, the whole endeavor rests largely on your shoulders.
Screenshot of GameSkinny
Aside from the limited interactions, you mostly fly and shoot to a rather bland techno-pop soundtrack, Adam’s remarks that he’s “found some items,” and general baddies’ radio babble. Additional banter in the crew would go a long way in passing the time or fleshing out the characters even more, especially considering ever space 2 is a single player game without multiplayer features.
In comparison, other looter shooters either have co-op so you can have fun with your buddies, or employ non-stop action to keep you on your toes. Open-world titles, meanwhile, have locations for you to explore and discover at your leisure. some like Nobody’s heavenyou can also visit planets, but that’s not an option here either, as worlds only act as set dressing.
With that in mind, I sometimes found myself just listening to an audio book or dozing off unexpectedly. To be fair, you can build Spatial Bypasses that allow for fast travel, but this happens several hours into the campaign. Although the game contains puzzles, they are fairly simple, such as B. pulling a battery and taking it to a generator. Once you figure out some of the quirks, they will repeat themselves in the long run.
On the plus side, controls are essential for a game like this, and ever space 2are fluid and responsive. I charged at enemies with precious weapons, came in with cannons blazing, then rolled into a powered dive before shredding every ship. If I was ever surrounded, I would do my best to avoid enemy fire by hiding behind an asteroid or abandoned ship while waiting for the right time to attack. Some abilities are lifesavers, allowing me to survive long enough to complete an objective.
It is recommended to use a mouse and keyboard to play ever space 2. However, I chose to play with a controller as it felt more convenient. Unfortunately we couldn’t try HOTAS support during the review period.
Everspace 2 Review – The Verdict
Image via ROCKFISH Games
Advantages
- A vast galaxy to explore.
- A wealth of ship equipment and skills to choose from.
- Dynamic and exciting dogfights in space.
Disadvantages
- The lack of organic banter and conversation while exploring leads to boredom.
- Optional tasks and puzzles can feel a bit repetitive.
ever space 2 offers the thrill and excitement one would expect in any game built around dogfights and racing through the void of space. Coupled with loading and equipping systems that offer a wealth of weapons for building opportunities, good controls and a beautiful world, ever space 2 has some good things to offer. And those who played in Early Access or climbed into the cockpit in the game’s predecessor will find plenty to love.
Unfortunately, even if there’s a massive map full of scenic vistas to explore, there’s a sense of emptiness beyond the blackness of space. ever space 2 is lonely, leaving you to deal with most of the afterlife threats yourself.
[Note: Rockfish Games provided the copy of Everspace 2 used for this review. Featured image via Rockfish Games.]
