Everspace 2 was released into Early Access on Steam in January of this year and has since added several major content updates. The most recent of which is Zharkov: The Vortex. So how is the game shaping up? and is it with jumping on Early Access?
In short yes.. very much yes.
Even in its Early Access state, Everspace 2 is an incredibly well polished machine.
A lot of people may have been fans of the first game and waiting for the right moment to jump into the second. While not in it's full release build just yet, I couldn't recommend this game highly enough.
For fans of Rockfish's first game there are a couple of caveats and changes to the overall game design, this isn't a copy/paste formula sequel.
The original Everspace was more of a roguelike space shooter, while Everspace 2 goes much further down the ARPG route. Characters environments missions, everything is far more fleshed out...think Diablo in space.
There's plenty to loot, plenty to shoot, plenty of missions and side quests as well as incidental discoveries, space combat and more than enough to keep you engrossed and entertained for hours.
The sheer diversity of activities on offer is remarkable. One moment I'm fighting off Marauders, the next repairing early warning beacons, then I discover space debris that leads me to a shipwreck I can navigate through, solving puzzles for rewarding loot upgrades.
Superficially, Everspace 2 seems like quite a simple game, especially when compared to games like Elite dangerous. But that accessibility is just the hook, after you scratch the surface, the level of customization and upgrade paths run deep; the claws of every ARPG, that keep you playing and keep you coming back for more and more.
Audio, visual elements are exceptional, the game looks and sounds simply amazing.
I was lucky enough to play it at max settings in 4K and it's breathtaking.
Playing on a gamepad I found the controls to be intuitive, responsive and accessible. Space combat features quite predominantly, however you don't have to be a flight Sim guru to be effective in battle. Combat is enjoyable and relatively forgiving; that being said you can always ramp up the difficulty and add HOTAS if you're a hardcore flightsim fan.
Everspace 2 is available now from Steam, despite still being in Early Access, it already feels like a quality finished product and is only going to get better.
If you're still on the fence about this one I'd suggest jumping off and going for it. It's well worth the current, asking price with plenty of polish and content with more to come.
If you're still not sure Rockfish have added a free demo to let you explore the game and decide for yourself. The new demo is content-gated, offering access to the first five main missions, two side missions and many random encounters, so players will have as much time as they’d like to explore every asteroid field and outlaw base in the first sector of the Ceto system. Save games will carry over from the demo to the Early Access version but your level is capped to 5.
Full details of the latest content update below:
In the fourth star system, Early Access pilots will encounter new and familiar alien life forms. Pilots who played the early Everspace 2 prototype can look forward to the return of the popular Shadow Creatures, whose mating rituals require a little help, for which they will show their gratitude by dropping valuable resources for the player in case of a happy ending. A variety of space stations and special locations in the Khaït Nebula await, where familiar gameplay elements are combined with new ones to offer experienced pilots new challenges without completely overwhelming less seasoned players. In addition to raising the maximum player level and adding a set of new player perks, the autumn update will also add several chapters to the campaign. This will not only reveal new essential secrets in the Everspace universe but will also put Adam Rosslin and his companions to the test, where their common cause is threatened by conflicting personal interests.
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