Originally around launch, and some months after, I recommended against the game with a thumbs-down. Not because of the content - I'm in a measly minority of players who actually ENJOYED the gameplay and atmosphere at the time - but because I didn't feel it justified the horrendously shoddy performance on most machines, my own included.

Well, I've recently been revisiting the game with it having seen a bounty of content updates and patches over the last few years - and myself having updated to a new machine. And it just didn't feel right to now be enjoying the game, and still have a negative review sitting around. Of course, we shouldn't by any means forget how appalling it was on release day... but my sentiments for No Man's Sky TODAY are a lot different.

If you hated the gameplay to its core at launch, it probably still isn't for you. The updates added extra depth - features that were missing, as well as those that expand on the base idea and just make sense alongside it. I'm mostly just happy that I can now play the game I always enjoyed, with extra bells and whistles, at 60 FPS in 1080p (even if the poor draw distances across its expansive vistas make the visuals pretty gnarly).

★★★★✰

Originally around launch, and some months after, I recommended against the game with a thumbs-down. Not because of the content - I'm in a measly minority of players who actually ENJOYED the gameplay and atmosphere at the time - but because I didn't feel it justified the horrendously shoddy performance on most machines, my own included. Well, I've recently been revisiting the game with it having seen a bounty of content updates and patches over the last few years - and myself having updated to a new machine. And it just didn't feel right to now be enjoying the game, and still have a negative review sitting around. Of course, we shouldn't by any means forget how appalling it was on release day... but my sentiments for No Man's Sky TODAY are a lot different. If you hated the gameplay to its core at launch, it probably still isn't for you. The updates added extra depth - features that were missing, as well as those that expand on the base idea and just make sense alongside it. I'm mostly just happy that I can now play the game I always enjoyed, with extra bells and whistles, at 60 FPS in 1080p (even if the poor draw distances across its expansive vistas make the visuals pretty gnarly). ★★★★✰