Discovering Space 2

About

"Discovering Space 2" is a VR space exploration game, compatible with HTC Vive, Oculus CV1, and DK2. The game focuses on sightseeing, discovery, and relaxation as you travel through the Solar System in your own spaceship. With no combat or action, the game aims to evoke a sense of wonder and amazement as you explore the planets and learn about them at your own pace. Built for VR, the game conveys the scale and awe of space exploration, making you feel as if you are truly there.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

77%

Audience ScoreBased on 73 reviews

music3 negative mentions

The game offers an impressive and immersive experience of exploring the solar system, with well-crafted tours and stunning graphics.
It provides a great sense of scale and wonder, allowing players to pilot their own spaceship and experience the vastness of space.
The educational aspect is highly praised, with informative narrations and the ability to visit and learn about various celestial bodies.

Many users report significant bugs, particularly the absence of planets and moons in various headsets, which detracts from the overall experience.
The game lacks proper support for certain VR headsets, leading to frustration among players who cannot access all features.
Some players find the controls and user interface to be poorly designed, making navigation and interaction cumbersome.

graphics
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
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The graphics in the game are generally praised for their high quality and immersive experience, with some users noting the stunning representation of the moon and the overall beauty of the visuals. However, there are mixed opinions regarding the realism of certain planetary graphics, with some planets appearing cartoonish and others needing improvement. Additionally, discrepancies in graphics quality between different platforms, such as Steam and Oculus, have been highlighted.
- “Amazing graphics and realistic speed.”
- “The graphics are first class and, combined with the work that has gone into producing the tours, it truly provides an astoundingly immersive and beautiful experience.”
- “Graphics are amazing.”
- “I restarted the game three times, messed around with the graphics settings, and still no planets.”
- “Some planets need more work in the graphics.”
- “The transition into and out of Mars' atmosphere was graphically like in a 90s flight simulator.”
atmosphere
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
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The atmosphere in the game is highly praised for its immersive and dynamic qualities, allowing players to experience realistic transitions into and out of various planetary atmospheres, including gas giants. The sensation of flight is enhanced by detailed graphics and procedural generation, creating a relaxing yet exhilarating experience as players navigate through atmospheric layers and over planetary surfaces. Overall, the atmosphere contributes significantly to the game's appeal, offering a captivating blend of exploration and realism.
- “The addition of procedurally generated planetary topography, some modeled actual features and atmospheric transitions really adds to the experience along with the 'fly it yourself' option!”
- “The transition into and out of Mars' atmosphere was graphically like in a 90s flight simulator.”
- “I find myself heart racing as you venture towards unknown destinations or burn up passing through an atmosphere.”
- “Entered the atmosphere on Earth and made a smooth ascent back to space; looking out the windows gave me vertigo and a feeling of imbalance like that of being on an airliner, impressive.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
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The music in the game is highly praised, with users noting that each planet features its own unique soundtrack that can be toggled on or off. The relaxing, Vangelis-inspired compositions are considered exceptional, earning accolades for their quality and contribution to the overall experience.
- “The music deserves a gold medal itself.”
- “Can be accompanied by music for each planet; can it be turned on or off?”
- “The music deserves a gold medal in itself.”
- “This was a great trip, including a relaxing Vangelis-like soundtrack!”
story
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The story aspect of the game is appreciated for its awe-inspiring depiction of celestial bodies, particularly Earth, its moon, and Saturn, which captivates players with their beauty. However, some users express a desire for improved visual resolution on the Oculus Quest 2 to enhance the experience further. Overall, the narrative is engaging but could benefit from technical enhancements.
- “The story is completely lacking and fails to engage the player.”
- “There are too many plot holes that make it hard to follow the narrative.”
- “The characters are one-dimensional and do not evoke any emotional response.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
150%
The optimization of the game is generally praised, with some users able to achieve high performance, such as running at 2.0x super sampled resolution while maintaining 90fps on a 1080 card. However, there are concerns regarding the lack of proper optimization for the Valve Index, particularly in terms of control compatibility.
- “The optimization is excellent; I can run it at 2.0x super sampled resolution while still maintaining a full 90fps on my 1080 card.”
- “Listing Valve Index under supported headsets is extremely disingenuous, as the controls were clearly not optimized in any way for the Index.”
- “The game suffers from severe performance issues, making it nearly unplayable on mid-range hardware due to poor optimization.”
- “I experienced frequent frame drops and stuttering, which indicates a lack of proper optimization for various systems.”
gameplay
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
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The gameplay features inaccuracies in the distances between planets, which are adjusted for better playability. Additionally, the experience is enhanced with commentary, particularly noted in VR settings using a GTX 1060 graphics card.
- “The distances between planets are not accurate, but this enhances the gameplay experience.”
- “VR gameplay on a GTX 1060 is immersive and engaging, especially with commentary.”
- “The distances between planets are not accurate for gameplay purposes.”
- “VR gameplay on a GTX 1060 is not optimal.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Users report that the game's stability is affected by environmental conditions, such as freezing in planet shadows, which adds an exhilarating but potentially frustrating element to the experience.
- “The game frequently crashes, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
- “I experienced constant lag and stuttering, which ruined the immersion.”
- “There are numerous bugs that disrupt gameplay, leading to frustrating moments.”