Discovering Space 2
- March 10, 2017
- Discovering VR
Get on Steam"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.
Reviews
- The game offers an impressive and immersive experience of exploring the solar system, with well-designed tours and beautiful graphics.
- It provides educational value, allowing players to learn about planets and their features while enjoying the experience.
- The controls are easy to learn, making it accessible for users of various skill levels, and the ability to customize settings enhances personal enjoyment.
- Many users report significant bugs, particularly the issue of planets and moons not rendering on various headsets, which detracts from the experience.
- The game lacks updates and support from developers, leading to frustration among players who encounter technical issues.
- Some users find the user interface and menu system to be poorly designed and difficult to navigate, impacting overall usability.
- graphics12 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 83 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are generally praised for their high quality and immersive experience, with some users highlighting 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 noted.
“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.”
- atmosphere7 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 86 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is highly immersive, allowing players to experience the unique characteristics of various planetary atmospheres, from the gas giants to Earth. The graphical transitions and procedural generation of planetary features enhance the sense of exploration and realism, evoking feelings of excitement and vertigo as players navigate through different environments. Overall, the ability to freely fly and interact with these atmospheres significantly enriches the gameplay experience.
“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.”
“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.”
- music3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
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.”
“This was a great trip, including a relaxing Vangelis-like soundtrack!”
“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!”
- story2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
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 well-received, though technical limitations are noted.
“The story is completely lacking and fails to engage the player.”
“There is no coherent narrative to follow, making the experience feel disjointed.”
“The characters are one-dimensional and the plot is predictable.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game is generally praised, with users reporting smooth performance at high resolutions, such as 2.0x super sampling at 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.”
“The game runs smoothly even on lower-end hardware, showcasing impressive optimization.”
“I appreciate the optimization efforts; it allows for a seamless experience without sacrificing visual quality.”
“Listing the 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 lower-end systems due to poor optimization.”
“I experienced frequent frame drops and stuttering, which indicates a lack of proper optimization for various hardware configurations.”
- gameplay1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay features inaccuracies in the distances between planets, which are adjusted for better playability.
“The gameplay mechanics are incredibly intuitive, making it easy for new players to jump right in.”
“I love how the gameplay encourages exploration and creativity, allowing players to approach challenges in unique ways.”
“The balance between strategy and action in the gameplay keeps every session fresh and exciting.”
“The distances between planets are not accurate for gameplay purposes.”
“The controls feel clunky and unresponsive, making it frustrating to navigate.”
“The combat mechanics are poorly designed, leading to repetitive and unengaging encounters.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
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.”
“I experienced constant lag and frame drops, which ruined the immersion.”
“The server connection is unstable, leading to frequent disconnections during gameplay.”
