Everspace puts you in the pilot seat in this fast-paced single-player space shooter, where vicious encounters and brutal challenges stand between you and that next epic loot drop. Explore the war-torn star systems of the Demilitarized Zone of Cluster 34 - each massive handcrafted area is packed with secrets, puzzles, and perils to encounter. Annihilate your foes. Dodge, dash, roll, and boost guns blazing into frantic dogfights, leaving a trail of space scrap behind. Expand your private ship collection from a virtually endless supply of fighters composed of unique classes to optimise your build to perfection. Discover alien species, unveil mysteries, find hidden treasures, and defend your cargo against outlaw gangs in an exciting 30-hour campaign. Fire up your hyperdrive to discover more than 100 unique, handcrafted locations spread across seven distinct star systems and shape your legacy among the stars...

Everspace 2 is a totally different experience from the first game

I was a massive fan of the original Everspace game and a huge part of its appeal was that it was in VR. Now, whilst the developers have recently stated that it's very unlikely that Everspace 2 will get a VR upgrade in the future, we can but dream.

To be honest I loved this latest installment and whilst a VR update would knock the immersion out of the park, I was incredibly impressed with what the developers deliver.

First things first the tutorial, which is seamlessly integrated into the early stage of the game, is a little challenging. I had to tweak the controls to suit my playing style and getting used to some of the movement controls took a little time to get my head around... but once mastered it becomes second nature.

Whilst in the early stages it feels a little as though you're being shepherded around, this soon changes once the game starts proper. Gone are the rogue-like shooter elements of the first game. And in comes a more open shooter with a focus on looting. The graphics are great, the story is engaging and the gameplay is a lot of fun.

If you're a fan of dogfights, you'll find this rewarding

For me, the meat of the game game was in the dogfighting sections. Generally, you'll be out numbered and the odds will look insurmountable... But, stick to your guns, learn how to make your ship dance and you'll soon feel like you're totally in control. The aftermath of these battles is where you can pick up more loot to help you move ever forward in the game. And you'll want to do that as the ship you start with is good for dogfights and that's about all.

It's an impressive and addictive game that rewards the more you play. It's a beautiful game that you won't be able to resist returning to time and time again.

9

Darren Rea