The galaxy is a large place. And in EVERSPACE 2, one gets to experience a small fraction of the ocean of stars.
Has any game or movie left you wondering what it would be like to soar among the stars? Jump into your fighter in EVERSPACE 2 and jump into Superlight for an adventure. Take on anything from a simple delivery job to transporting a package from one system to another. Engage with an entire group of hostile outlaw bandits or pick them off at a distance with the right weapon. From ROCKFISH Games comes a brand-new space adventure filled with secrets and wonder.
Possessing the memories of his clone ‘father’ and of his past incarnations, his mind is a multitude of experiences. Play as Adamin EVERSPACE 2, a clone pilot from a war that’s only recently come to an end. In the expanse of space, one will explore the expanse of Cluster 34. This region contains as many as seven systems with much more places to explore. Only time will tell how the clone pilot and his allies will fare against other freelancers. What future will you write among the stars?
Jumping into the starfighter in EVERSPACE 2 felt extremely fluid. Having grown up around a time when space shows were popular, there was little effort spent on the controls aside from basic movement. What other titles lacked in movement, this title added in the form of 6DOF, or Six Degrees of Freedom. This means forward/back, up/down, left/right, yaw, pitch, and roll.
Luckily for anyone new to this idea, the game introduces a comprehensive tutorial in the form of a lippy NPC. W and S controlled the back and forth, respectively. And the A and D strafing to the left and right. Q and E rolled Adam’s EVERSPACE 2 craft left or right. The mouse itself controlled where the ship’s reticle would be pointing. Using the mouse to direct one’s field of vision was extremely disorienting when the game first started, but it didn’t take long to get used to.
It’s important to learn all the EVERSPACE 2 controls and be very familiar with them. In most battles, outlaws won’t group up in more than threes. Having spotted this, one can simply list lazily to the left as they lose their volley on an aggressive enemy unit. Sure, it’s an easy tactic to use. But strafing will only work for so long, often leaving one open to attack from stronger units.
After figuring out the controls and getting used to the game’s movement, it was time to rocket out into the stars. The first order of business out the gate clearing the home base’s system of any outlaw pilots. Depending on the level and system they were occupying, outlaws might drop anything from simple scrap metal to Aethium crystals. While these crystals had specific places they formed, they weren’t so scarce that it was a source of frustration. Gathering crystals or other resources such as iron ore could be done one of two simple ways: hitting a crystal node ripe for the plunder or blasting the entire thing with a well-placed missile for every piece.
The outlaws’ smaller fighters were always more of a pain during battle. Larger command ships would remain stationary, but each one was often equipped with as many as six turrets. While slow firing, the turrets can make short work of an unaware Adam. Any main quest or side quest often had a whole fleet of ships, command vessels included. One could choose to eliminate the guns on a command ship, but just like Adam, enemies could repair certain damages to their vessel.
Defeated enemies often left debris to pick up. In addition to the occasional resource pick-up, weapons and upgrade for the ship could be acquired. One such useful item appeared to be a metal orb, which, when activated, would partially buffer one’s ship against enemy damage. Weapons such as the beam cannon had an excellent range of 1100m versus the 550m of a basic laser cannon. It is absolutely fantastic for getting a drop on a squad of enemy ships. The problem with the beam cannon, though, is the fire rate being about a .85. Range on the beam weapon was insanely satisfying. But it was not an ideal weapon for close-quarters combat.
It was truly a relief knowing that the ship could be upgraded. Besides modifying existing components of a given spacecraft, they could also be upgraded or have certain details about them changed. With the possibility of bandits hiding behind every asteroid and debris field, it’s important that cluster 34 have places to upgrade and enhance a ship. Additionally, when one recruited an NPC, they’d
Aside from main missions, traders at certain locations often offer discounts in exchange for finishing a job. One of them involved simply taking a package from one-star system to another, and that’s it. Of course, in true space-faring fashion, I had to relieve a bandit of their treasure and deliver it to its intended recipient.
EVERSPACE 2 is one of the most visually stunning space-themed games in recent years. Developers appeared to have done a great deal to create a believable region in space. As the rockets brightened up on the back of Adam’s ship, the rest of the environment became distorted, and the ship would jump to ‘superlight’ (the game’s equivalent of ‘hyperspeed.’) What was most endearing was the detail that came with light-speed travel. It’s extremely hard to imagine what that would even translate to visually. But ROCKFISH Games did an amazing job capturing the hypothetical method of travel.
The sounds of the game were as amazing as the visuals were. No two weapons ever sounded exactly the same. Whether it was Adam shooting or an enemy shooting, the noises were distinct enough, an attentive ear could notice the difference. Superlight travel was often accompanied by the sounds of techno music from out of a 90s space opera. Since it often took a bit of time to get to a place, the ‘driving’ music was a very welcome addition to the experience.
With the voice acting, it could be considered cheesy at times. But that seemed appropriate with the upbeat attitude Adam and his companions displayed. It did a lot to help the gargantuan expanse of the cosmos feel less empty. It was nice to hear voice lines that didn’t sound over-acted or forced.
Few games can promise the experience that EVERSPACE 2 has right out of the gate. The title has virtually everything a person can ask for in a space shooter title. The controls were near-perfect, switching out equipped weapons was no problem, and there were four different difficulty settings. With how comprehensive and fluid the overall game is, it would be a surprise to see the game’s rating be anything but positive.
If you’re looking for another space-themed adventure game, do yourself a favor and check out EVERSPACE 2. Jump into a new ship as Adam, the clone pilot, and soar among the stars of cluster 34. Take on as many jobs or as few as you wish, and find a place in the ocean of stars to call home.
