Hey there! Here as your go-to guide for gaming stories and surprises. Today, I’m jumping into EVERSPACE 2 to see what’s hiding in its treasure chest. This game from ROCKFISH Games sends you into a handcrafted open-world galaxy. You’ll mine, craft, dodge lasers, and search for secrets. But is it a space adventure worth the ride, or just a shiny loot grind? Let’s blast off and find out.
Overall Impressions
I loved EVERSPACE 2’s pace. It blends single-player spaceship shooter action with RPG loot layers. Furthermore, the world feels alive, from derelict stations to lush alien outposts. Its nod to Freelancer packs nostalgia without relying on carbon copy clichés. Still, the enemy scaling sometimes turns foes into bullet sponges. You’ll grind credits to keep pace with AI upgrades. That design choice split players: some relish the challenge, while others curse their mounting bills. Overall, EVERSPACE 2 stands as one of the best modern space shooters, even with its occasional snags.
Gameplay Mechanics
The core gameplay loop is simple and tight. You jump into a new area, dodge enemy fire, collect loot, and power up. As you progress, mining and crafting add fun RPG depth that goes beyond just blasting foes. Moreover, you’ll adjust your loadout and hunt better blueprints, which adds a satisfying layer of customization and strategy. The feedback loop here is effective—each upgrade feels earned, and each mission leads to meaningful progress. Combat is smooth, with tight controls and a nice variety of weapons. Whether you prefer precision railguns or rapid-fire blasters, the arsenal keeps encounters dynamic and engaging. Overall, the loop encourages experimentation, rewards skillful flying, and keeps the action feeling fresh from one sector to the next.
Pros
The game stands out with smooth flight controls that keep things fun and fast, while still giving you plenty of control. Whether you’re an experienced pilot or just jumping in, the easy-to-learn handling makes flying feel good and easy to enjoy. Plus, finding new loot feels rewarding and helps you keep getting stronger, which adds to that “just one more mission” feeling. The mix of random and location-based missions also makes things more interesting, encouraging you to explore and keeping each session fun and different.
Cons
Despite its strengths, the game has areas that may frustrate players. AI scaling sometimes leads to inflated enemy health, turning combat encounters into lengthy slogs against bullet-sponge opponents, which can undercut the game’s pacing and fun. Moreover, the Vindicator drone’s pathfinding remains inconsistent, with jittery or erratic behavior that occasionally disrupts strategic plans or immersion. These issues, while not game-breaking, suggest room for polish in balancing and AI behavior to better support the otherwise compelling gameplay loop.
A fellow pilot noted, “Ships turn into bullet sponges and credits climb by the millions.” That nails the credit treadmill critique. Yet, when the lasers blaze just right, you’ll forget your wallets.
Story and Characters
The main plot thrusts you into a galactic conspiracy. ROCKFISH weaves in corporate warlords, rogue scientists, and mysterious artifacts. Characters range from snarky AI copilots to grizzled miners. Their banter leans into sci-fi clichés, but never grates. It keeps you curious about each world’s backstory. Voice acting shines—sometimes superbly so. You’ll hear depth in every clandestine briefing. One player called it “an excellent story with excellent voice acting.” I agree. The world-building feels rooted and dynamic. However, if you’ve guzzled too many space operas, the tropes may feel familiar.
Visuals and Graphics
EVERSPACE 2’s graphics impress. ROCKFISH handcrafts each planet’s surface. Asteroid fields shimmer with particle effects. Cockpits gleam under dynamic lighting. You’ll spot tiny salvage crates buried in alien dunes. The Unreal Engine upgrade powers high frame rates and crisp textures. Occasionally, planet geometry glitches appear at draw distance. They rarely mar immersion. Overall, the artistic style blends realistic ship models with vibrant sci-fi hues. It fuels your urge to explore every corner.
Sound and Music
The soundtrack hits the right notes. Pulsing synths fuel dogfights, while ambient tracks underscore silent voids. Sound effects crackle with weight—lasers hiss, shields hum, engines roar. Voice acting carries narrative weight without slipping into melodrama. You won’t find any ear-bleeding loops here. Instead, audio cues guide threats and treasure. One user even flagged “excellent voice acting,” proving audio elevates the experience.
Difficulty and Replayability
EVERSPACE 2 modes span from easy dogfights to punishing survival. Hardcore fans will face permadeath options and relentless enemies. Casual pilots can mellow out in story mode. The scaling concerns reappear if you chase maximum challenge. Yet the loot-driven progression lures you back. Optional puzzles hide rare blueprints behind planetary ruins. Side missions offer fresh encounters each return trip. I clocked over 30 hours before I felt satisfied, yet I still crave one more salvage hunt. Procedural events add unpredictability, and a New Game Plus beckons. In short, it delivers strong replay hooks.
Developer Trivia
ROCKFISH Games funded EVERSPACE 2’s early access through its community. They listened to feedback over two years and polished flight mechanics accordingly. The team built on the success of the original EVERSPACE, born from a Kickstarter campaign back in 2016. Their secret sauce? Balancing handcrafted levels with procedural elements. They even hired freelance speedrunners to optimize warp points and fuel mechanics. The result feels both curated and limitless.
If enemy health bars ever start resembling insurance premiums, remember: in space, no one can hear you negotiate.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
EVERSPACE 2 scores high for its fluid combat, robust RPG layers, and stellar audio-visuals. On the downside, it falters in its credit-sink difficulty spikes and rare janky drone AI. For space-sim junkies and lore hounds alike, it’s a must-play. Just stash enough credits for the next wave of upgrades. A galaxy this fun shouldn’t be free, but with ROCKFISH Games at the helm, it almost feels worth the price.
