I like games that make you feel victimised, and give you the opportunity to make it right. This one fits that broad definition: you're a convict, sentenced to life alone on a dead planet, you can earn your freedom by terraforming it into a vibrant Earth-like world. Alone. No biggie! 0.0

So, you start with pretty much nothing except a welding/mining multitool, and a tiny ejection pod with minimal supplies. Get your head in the game fast, or you're going to die. Well, die more - you're almost certain to do that a couple of times - running out of food/water/air happens. Especially air, at first. There are no alien monsters to rip you apart - just stupid ways to end yourself in a vast desert.

The start of the game can be quite confusing - there is no tutorial session, and nothing in-game to read about it. Persist and you will climb the vertical learning curve surprisingly fast. And if you really can't get handle on it, ask me about it.

Will you have fun? How would I know? Maybe. If you like survival games, then "yes, probably". If you like building things, then "yes, probably". If you need an eney to shoot at, then "nope, definitely not".

For me, this is a bit of a line ball decision. On the one hand, a lot of the game play is really good fun. On the other, there are designed elements that make me want to punt the 'puter out of the window. there is also no difficulty control - it's as hard or easy as it's ever going to be (barring future features).

On balance, I'm going to give it the nod. The points that annoy me don't seem to be an issue for my friends, so probably won't bother you either. And even if they tick you off to the same extent as they do me, this game is one I find myself playing without really intending to.

Honestly, this game is a lot of fun if this is your genre - if you liked Torchlight, you'd like this. Except that this one has some very complicated loot and crafting. Also, much of the text you encounter in opening screens is primarily in Chinese (? I don't know) with mostly good English subtitles.

So why the negative review? Because the game is apparently abandoned, before it even made it out Early Access. There are bugs and oversights and things which could be improved... And they will never be fixed. Also, the multiplayer needs an account and servers that aren't there any more. It still works for solo play though.

If you can pick it up on insane discount and the abandonware nature doesn't phase you, get it. Otherwise, maybe save your pennies for the next one.

At the time of writing, the game is still EA and has its share of bugs and questionable UI choices, so you might like to wait for actual release. However, even with the rough edges, I find myself having a blast.

If you liked the first instalment, you will almost certainly like this one - though maybe not just yet.

I don't know that I'm enjoying this game, so much as pasting on a grin and dutifully playing through some sort of Stockholm Syndrome.

In 40-odd hours (at time of posting), I've bug into the inside of station meshes, the insides of various large ships, had a save game entirely disappear (taking 20+ hours of progress with it), and suddenly found myself in the interior of one of my freighters which was suddenly docked even though it should have been outside autotrading - and the ship I was inside was nowhere to be found. (it appeared out of nowhere when I told it to fly to a spot in space from a menu.)

Speaking of menus... I've played X2, X3, and X Rebirth and all their DLC; four of the things Egosoft has excelled at with the X series is unnecessarily complicating things, appallingly bad UI, teaching new players how to swim by throwing them in at the deep end with their feet wrapped in chains, and horrifying character animations. Well, the animations are better. Not good, but...better.

There is so much potential for greatness here: fleet command, production chains, r&d of components, proper ship interiors you can walk around in while an NPC does the flying (and fighting!) for you... And it's ruined by stupid things like not easily being able to locate your ships beyond which system they're in (they can be BIG, and very busy), and notification not being recorded or accessible so if you're using the map and can't get back to the main screen in time you'll never be able to tell whoever that was not to go poke that Xenon K with a stick.

If you're one of the smallish group who actually liked XR, then this one might appeal to you. If you've never played an X game you're probably not going to like it much - and maybe need a new monitor after your current one 'fell' out of the window across the street.