No Man’s Sky — One Year Later Review
Aug 26, 2017 · 4 min read
PS4 HYPE HYPE HYPE, disappointment? — A No Man’s Sky Review

No Man’s Sky released August 2016 as one of the most anticipated games of the year.
Nearly a year after No Man’s Sky hit stores, it was time for me to find out what all the fuss was about.
There has been a lot of negative chatter on the internet over the last year regarding the first-person survival adventure game No Man’s Sky. Studio Hello Games inc., has met the criticism and provided additional updates to the game post-release adding new content, missions and improved graphics/texturing.
What did you think of No Man’s Sky? Share your thoughts with me on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn!
Full Disclaimer: I am a fairly new PlayStation 4 owner and did not have an opportunity to play No Man’s Sky until Pathfinder 1.24, the 14th update. I have logged approximately 20-hours of gameplay prior to the latest Atlas Rises update, which added an additional 30-hours of story, and played about 5 hours post-Atlas update.
Due to the scale of content added and an overhaul to the graphics with the latest update, I decided to jump into the latest version of the game and share my thoughts.
Reviews at release — 2016 Steam Reviews

I didn’t have to own a PlayStation 4 to know people who bought the game at release were not happy. It didn’t take long for an angry mob of gamers to share their disappointment on Reddit and other social media platforms.
Studio founder Sean Murray took most of the blame and drew harsh criticism because while promoting the game he habitually implied features not available at release. Check out this funny compilation video “One Man’s Lie (Sean Murray Lie Compilation)” below.
What features were promised that were not in the game at release?
- Multiplayer — Traditional player to player interaction was not available during launch (and still technically is not).
- Faction reputation with meaningful gameplay impact
- Asteroid landings
- Space station and fleet destruction
- NPCs outside trading posts and other docks
- More…Read the full list put together by Reddit user Cymen.
Check out some of the bizarre creatures found in No Man’s Sky at launch below.
One year later — 2017 Steam Review

Plagued with bad reviews and negative buzz during it’s release last August, the game has since improved overall in the general public’s perception.

Updates since release have added
- Points of interest such as large structures and crashed freighters
- In-atmosphere battles
- Ship classes
- Teleport between stations and base
- & more
Find a full list of No Man’s Sky patches/updates here
My thoughts — after 25+ hours of game play
Overall this game is fun, but not everyone will find it so.
The Why
I understand why a lot of people were disappointed with this game. If I bought the game expecting a lavish cosmic adventure with excitement at each turn, I would have also been disappointed. I approached the game with tapered expectations and as a result was pleasantly surprised. No Man’s Sky is most enjoyable when approached as a casual exploration and chill mining game.
I jumped into the game after a year of updates and patches which I’m certain was a completely different experience from someone who played the first version of the game. The biggest changes I experienced in between the Pathfinder and Atlas updates, besides the added story missions, were light esthetic variations to the environment and creatures.
The beautiful environments, at times repetitive, were enough to keep me engaged as I mined for the resources needed to leave each solar system.
Traveling through space and mining asteroids can be almost Zen-like as you listen to the relaxing No Man’s Sky sound track. I did find the space battles a bit tedious at first, but quickly became a master of the skies.
The game was at its most enjoyable when traveling from planet to planet to explore new types of environments.
If you enjoyed Minecraft and you are looking for a fun sci-fi exploration and survival game, No Man’s Sky will fill your itch. But, if you are looking for a jam packed action adventure, No Man’s Sky probably isn’t for you.

Overall — 7.9 out of 10
If you can grab this game on a Steam or PS4 sale, I highly recommend doing so. If you are looking for a game to relax and explore while you listen to an audiobook, this game is for you. Otherwise, be careful when purchasing No Man’s Sky as you might be a bit disappointed by the lack of action.
What are your thoughts on the new No Man’s Sky updates? Share your thoughts with me on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn!

