We’re playing: No Man’s Sky

It was an ordinary day on the outer sector planet of Aldera Prime. 2 years ago, I settled down in a town of Jemima’s Rose. I’d hung up my Multi-Tool, retired my fleet of starships and docked my freighter. I was done fighting the forever-war against the Sentinel menace, freeing the Arakeen system from their oppressive regime. I was ready to finally settle down, finally live my life in peace, become a bartender or a farmer…

That was until two weeks ago, when everything changed.

The guild of exploration had discovered a brave new frontier, a whole new type of star system that contained planets beyond anyone’s imagination, with new opportunities to make a name for any aspiring Traveller.

Sooooooo of course I had to check it out. And thus, a new odyssey across the stars began.

No Man’s Sky has been a favourite of mine for over 7 years, and it has changed SO MUCH. From what originally stemmed from a simple space exploration game has swiftly turned into without a doubt, the most immersive and beautiful of all sci-fi games. You can do anything, and I mean anything. It’s an infinite universe, with every planet and creature unique. From radioactive supermoons on the verge of collapse to the most exquisite of paradise planets, we’ve only scratched the surface to the endless frontier of space. Hopefully this article will give you some grasp onto just how vast this game truly is.

Keep in mind though, the universe is infinite so it’s technically impossible to explore every single planet. That’s why having a fellow Traveller by your side is so important. There is nothing better than sharing a cold drink on board an Aqua Skiff alongside your friend! You have battle-hardened privateers that prey upon the unwary to friendly colonisers who are always ready to lend a helping hand. There are SO MANY settlements, more than a few will blow your mind (and your taste buds). Seriously, if anyone wants a taste of the best RiceKelp sake South-East, follow the coordinates at the bottom of this article.

Sadly, not all is peaceful in this galaxy. Opposing empires evaluate each other’s limits daily, with war being common, particularly in the Northern Sectors. Unless you are willing to risk your life in glorious battle, approach an empire with extreme caution. Civilised space isn’t uncommon, with four intergalactic civilisations often staking claims to the frontier, the mercantile Gek, the scientific Korvax, the honourable Vy’keen and the nomadic Autophage. All have set up a variety of outposts and space stations alike, colonising worlds for profit and control. And with most core worlds civilised, many look to the outskirts of the galaxy for profit in all forms… though many do not make it back alive and those that do are forever changed.

Economy is ridiculously important in No Man’s Sky. The only thing that holds fleets and alliance together is the all-powerful intergalactic currency, units. Accepted by all cultures and creeds, this single currency starts and stops wars and encourages piracy. The core worlds take in the wealth gleaned from the frontier, with strong trade routes branching out across the galaxy. This does not come without a risk though as piracy, though rare, is a very real threat. Indeed, some systems have been completely usurped by outlaws and scoundrels alike… perfect for someone wanting to lay low from the law. Acts of piracy in civilised space will impact your reputation. Those respected by the law will gain many benefits, such as fighter support, reasonable prices and open arms wherever you may go.

But many pirates and murders alike will find themselves at the wrong end of the law, hunted throughout space by the notorious peacekeeping force known as the Sentinels. These mechanised drones are found across the galaxy, and all have a single goal in mind: to preserve the order across the galaxy, no matter the cost. These are the bane of colonists, violently attacking settlements that harvest too much of a planet’s resources. They do have their benefits, as local governments can contact Sentinel fighters in the case of astral conflict. They come in all shapes and sizes, from the commonly found peacekeeper drones that serve as local law enforcement to the corrupted Sentinels, whose programming instead is directed into the harvesting and destruction of worlds. Many, many wars were waged against these robots, some won, some lost. Throughout the years it has come to be known as the Forever War, a never-ending battle to rid the galaxy of the Sentinels. Some sectors have been liberated, but those living in occupied regions of space know not to overstep their bounds. Though with recent breakthroughs modifying Sentinel technology, the tides may soon turn in civilisation’s favour.

Exploring the universe takes a decent ship, and OH BOY does No Man’s Sky have ships. There are a variety of exploration-craft, shuttles, fighters, and frigates, all built to withstand the intense pressure of hyperspace and even the greediest of pirates. Even the lowliest piece of junk is capable of interplanetary travel, though I cannot guarantee comfort.

Although everyone dreams about being an ace pilot, every Traveller worth their money will always salivate over the all-powerful Freighters. These colossal ships are capable of housing fleets of merchants or trigger-happy pilots and are always at the head of every captain’s fleet. These command ships function as mobile bases, hauling vast swathes of cargo across space, though some items are questionable… like those illegal relics from Nova Roma, do not tell The Empire of Anomalies.

But where to sell the goods? That is where Outposts and Space Stations come in. Every local government sets up a Space Station in orbit of the main planet set for colonisation. Space Stations are a MUST for anyone, whether for repairs, trading, ship assembly or just pure relaxation. But what makes it even cooler is that each station has a resident guild member. Alongside the four major civilisations are three guilds, the Mercenary Guild puts bounties on Outlaws and troublesome fauna, the Exploration Guild looks for data on unique planets and the Merchants Guild controls the ebb and flow of economic output, aka they are rich. Outposts also offer trading services, though are often more prone to hazardous weather, fauna and Sentinels. Many such outposts are scattered across colonial planets, from colossal Archives, archaeological sites left over from previous colonists and towns that simply seek to get away from it all.

It’s a lot to take in (and a lot of alien words to learn).

There’s a reason why they call it the Frontier, as not all planets are forgiving… even the pleasant looking ones. Take it from me if you’re thinking about settling on that beautiful tropical paradise of a planet, I’ll bet you 1,000 Units that it has torrential rainstorms that reach 128 degrees. Time to move on I suppose… if it wasn’t for your crucial Exosuit! Equipped with life support functions, environmental protection and personal energy shielding. It comes along with an inbuilt scanner and jetpack for navigating treacherous terrain. Easily modified and customisable, the Exosuit is the bread and butter for all citizens of the galaxy, just don’t go into space without proper protection, it’s good but not that good.

Yet behind all this turmoil is a deep tale that deeply questions the nature of reality. The very reality that is No Man’s Sky is complex, but here it is simplified. A god, known throughout the universe as the Atlas created the universe to explore the variety of life. It created everything, including the Gek, Korvax, Vy’keen and Sentinels. The Sentinels were supposed to maintain the upkeep of planets but gradually became corrupted by their pointless existence. This led them to wage war against the galaxy. The only thing stopping them was the warrior race, the Vy’keen. The Galactic War waged for years, until the Vy’keen pushed the Sentinels to the edge of the galaxy.

Alas, when both sides were at their weakest, evil struck from the shadows. The froglike Gek had become a Tyrannical empire, known as the First Spawn. They sought to conquer the galaxy, and everything in it. This led them to enslave the Korvax, a technological race that existed in a technological hive-mind known as the Convergence, a repository of thousands of years of Korvax history. They conquered Korvax’s frontier worlds and annihilated the mineral rich Korvax homeworld, Korvax Prime. This resulted in the destruction of the Convergence, centuries of culture forgotten, blown to ash alongside the rubble of Korvax Prime. The Korvax were enslaved, their metallic bodies melted down for parts instead of being passed on to the next generation. In an act of self-sacrifice, thousands of Korvax reprogramed their blood (nanites) to be fed to Gek spawnlings, modifying their behaviour from aggressive warmongers to passive merchants, which resulted in the collapse of the First Spawn Empire.

The galaxy entered a new (relative) age of peace, the Sentinel hivemind becoming slightly more passive, the Vy’keen and Korvax recovered from the brutality of the First Spawn, with the Korvax creating a second Convergence. Unbeknownst to the galaxy, the first Convergence escaped the destruction of Korvax Prime, creating the material in its wake, Atlantideum. Disconnected (dead) Korvax found a way to transcend death through this path, using the power of Atlantideum to return to the universe. They became the nomadic Autophage, scattered across the galaxy in large groups, seeking enlightenment through the Void mother that gave them life. They grew to hate the Korvax, who they saw as arrogant, hiding themselves with advanced cloaking technology. However, this new era of peace has seen the arrival of the Travellers (you players) Though their purpose in this universe is unclear, each is a unique individual, expected by all species though utterly alien. Some appear human… others less so.

This universe has seen its fair share of legends come and go…

Will you become one of them?

Thomas C, Year 12