Elite: Dangerous Reviews
Elite Dangerous is a very compelling and adventurous game. It's a story you get to tell based on your decisions. This is more than just a game. It's an ever-changing experience you get to participate in. Elite Dangerous is not for the Casual Gamer, and it's certainly not for everyone. If you're thinking about buying this simply for the space combat portion, you may want to explore other options. It's much more complex than the typical shoot'em-up experience.
In the end, Elite: Dangerous isn't a terrible game, but I don't think it was made for mass appeal.
Elite Dangerous is not going to be the game for everyone, and in fact most are going to be turned off by all it demands from players. The fact remains though, that the game does exactly what it wants, and does it very well. It isn't here to please everybody, but those who it is for are going to have a good time.
Elite: Dangerous steps out of what we describe as a standard game. The developer prepared whole set of tools for fulfill player's wildest dreams in this beauty we call the galaxy.
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Elite Dangerous successfully takes the original game and turns it into a true 21st century revolution as you explore the furthermost reaches of the universe as you attempt assassinations, protect spaceports and search for those illusive credits in order to better yourself in this gaming world. The learning curve is a little steep and the controls can be at times fiddle some but overall, the developers of Elite Dangerous should be commended on creating a truly visual, immersive and memorable experience on the PC that not only pays homage to the original but takes it to a new level thanks to the MMO component and inclusion of the Oculus Rift DK2.
Elite: Dangerous is a superb game with plenty of room for growth and maturation.
To summarize, Elite: Dangerous is awe-inspiringly beautiful, but a time sink of galactic proportions.
Star wars that may leave you lost in space
Sure, learning the controls was frustrating and boredom crept in when transiting from one system to another but overall the thrill of exploration and discovery dwarf any grievances I have with the game.
The faint of heart need not apply
It's beautifully modelled, filled with colour, has incredible sound design, the sense of flight is exhilarating, and from time to time a challenging battle presents itself that gets your heart pumping
There's so much to see, do, and explore... if only you knew how.
With a fantastic sense of scale, attention to detail, great combat, and an ambitious vision of a shared universe make Elite: Dangerous well worth checking out. But its let down by punishing opening hours and tedious pacing. If you can stomach these, you'll find an entire cosmos begging to be explored.
Elite: Dangerous is still considered a "work in progress" and will be getting updates and new features implemented over time. In its current state, it does have nigh infinite amount of content due to the randomly-generated nature, so there is usually something to keep interest, even if players are spaced out by what feels like hours at a time. It can be immersive thanks to the methodical pacing, but in the end, it is still boring due to the exciting bits being so few and far in between, so it's is a mixed bag in terms of how experiences will vary, depending on who is playing. Elite: Dangerous has its obvious flaws, but the game itself is unique and is unlike anything else on the Xbox One, so for just being different it can be worth a shot.
The initial hours are a slog then, but for a game that requires months, maybe even years of play to get the most out of, that graft will be pretty small potatoes in the long run. Had Elite: Dangerous been published along traditional routes, such a steep learning curve would have probably been avoided by an industry that all-too-often likes to play things safe.
It sounds like I am harping on Elite: Dangerous, but it's a fantastic game and makes one wonder why space sims have been away for so long. For all of its polish in some areas, it has obviously unrefined aspects in others. For all the aspects that let you tell a story about the game, there's little to allow you to create in a story within it. During the first few weeks, the game will absolutely demand your free time, and you will gleefully engage. It just needs a lot more to sustain itself.
Elite Dangerous is a very cool, atmospheric experience with an outstanding presentation. The flexible gameplay and progression loop are two great reasons to keep coming back for more if the game's mechanics click for you. However, it is easy to see why some people might be turned off by its aimlessness, and with the lacking narrative contextualising what you're doing, you might be left with the nihilistic question of why you're bothering doing anything at all.
Even though there is currently a high learning curve and players need to do a little research on their own to get the most out of this galactic sandbox, Frontier Developments has so far demonstrated that they deliver on their promises. Compare that to the 'other' space sim Kickstarter that everyone has been talking about and I think the choice for your next space sim is an easy one to make I would strongly suggest if you are looking for a bit of challenge and want to get sucked into a deep, rewarding game that promises to only get bigger, pick up your Xbox One controller and give Elite: Dangerous a try. I think you will be pleasantly surprised.
In aiming for a slightly different market with this Xbox port, Elite: Dangerous could have fallen foul. However, it's testament to how strong its many different facets are that you can play the game like you're Captain Kirk or Captain Solo and have it work either way.
The content and gameplay of 'Elite' is much as it was during the Preview program, which is to say excellent. The technical issues are much improved, and the addition of CQC is a net positive. It can be a cold, uninviting experience for the new player, but it is a great spaceship game that should not be missed.