Objects in Space
- March 1, 2019
- Flat Earth Games
- 11h median play time
Get on SteamIn "Objects in Space", you are a characterful spaceship captain navigating through a vast open world in a star cluster far from Earth. Trade goods, complete short stories, and avoid or engage in submarine-like stealth combat with various enemies. The game offers a rich galaxy of characters and narrative, leaving it up to you how much you want to explore.
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Reviews
- Unique concept combining space trading with submarine-like mechanics, providing a fresh take on the genre.
- Immersive atmosphere with retro graphics that evoke nostalgia, enhancing the overall experience.
- Engaging gameplay that allows for various playstyles, including trading, bounty hunting, and stealth.
- Frequent crashes and bugs significantly hinder gameplay, making it frustrating and unplayable at times.
- Limited content and repetitive missions lead to a lack of long-term engagement.
- The game has been abandoned by the developers, leaving it in an unfinished state with unresolved issues.
- story139 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 78 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The game's story is a mixed bag, featuring an intriguing premise and engaging missions that often include unexpected twists, but it suffers from significant technical issues, including bugs and crashes that can disrupt gameplay. While some players appreciate the depth and variety of the narrative, others find it repetitive and poorly executed, with many quests feeling grindy and lacking in polish. Overall, the story has potential but is hampered by its execution, leaving players divided on their experience.
“The gameplay feels like being inside a cold war submarine (in space), the action is slow-paced yet really intense, the extensive storylines are really good and diverse that some of them continue to resonate in my mind.”
“It's like submarines in space, making you do stealth runs in between space stations as you explore a very well written and interesting story.”
“The story is really well done.”
“The main story is a grand mess, with only the barest of hands-on tutorial and an atrocious early game grind.”
“The story and characters are dull and generic; you get paid nothing, some quests seem literally impossible, and there doesn't even seem to be a reason to upgrade to a new ship.”
“Missions that are impossible to complete, multiple time-sensitive contracts that cannot be avoided being given simultaneously, and contracts that simply don't drop any reward when the game crashes while on-station.”
- graphics87 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are predominantly described as retro and low-resolution, evoking nostalgia for early computer games. While some players appreciate the unique "modempunk" aesthetic and find it immersive, others criticize the visuals as poor quality and lacking detail, suggesting that they detract from the overall experience. Overall, the graphics are a divisive aspect, appealing to fans of retro styles but leaving others wanting more modern visuals.
“These graphics ignite your imagination, the same way a book does.”
“Its unique approach to the idea of space trucking, ambience, retro-futuristic graphics, well-written lore and deep stealth mechanics - all contribute to an incredible experience.”
“Graphically, objects in space have an interesting style to it; while not my usual cup of tea, it works extremely well for the setting.”
“This very poor quality visual style is a method that lazy devs often use to disguise their lack of talent or interest in doing the graphics properly, trying to disguise it under the name of 'art', which really isn't something gamers should have to put up with.”
“The retro art style could be charming, but there are basic modeling errors like overlapping polygons and bad UV mapping.”
“Interesting core idea made horrible by pretentious 'retro' graphics and time wasters (typewriter effect for basic text in the UI).”
- gameplay87 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is a mixed bag, featuring a blend of engaging mechanics such as ship management, stealth, and trading, reminiscent of classic space and submarine simulators. However, many players criticize its technical execution, including bugs, low optimization, and a repetitive gameplay loop that detracts from the overall experience. While the game offers a unique atmosphere and deep lore, it often feels unpolished and lacks sufficient content, making it a challenging experience for those unfamiliar with its mechanics.
“There is some good gameplay here, at least early in the story mode when you get to fly around completing contracts, trading goods, and carrying passengers while exploring a new and unfamiliar universe.”
“Gameplay revolves around managing ship subsystems and emission levels to keep your stealth and evade your enemies or ambush them.”
“The gameplay loop is there and is really solid, but is just lacking in content at the moment which is to be expected being in alpha.”
“The game is very badly optimized, with low framerates and janky gameplay even on a high-end rig.”
“The game is still filled with bugs, many of which ruin gameplay and are massively frustrating.”
“Many game mechanics are unintuitive and it is a frustrating trial-and-error process to figure them out.”
- stability52 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is widely criticized for its instability, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and unfinished content, leading many to describe it as a "buggy mess." Players note that while the game has an interesting concept and potential, it suffers from significant technical issues and has been abandoned by the developers, making it difficult to recommend at full price. Overall, the consensus is that the game is playable but marred by persistent bugs and a lack of support.
“The game is buggy, and it has been abandoned in a very decent, if not finished, state.”
“It's too buggy to recommend despite the enjoyable foundation.”
“Unfortunately, the developers have abandoned it without addressing numerous bugs, glitches, and everything else that goes with an early release title, despite its alleged 1.0 status.”
- music18 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric quality, enhancing the overall experience during both relaxing and tense moments. Players appreciate the ability to add their own music, although some have encountered technical issues with the in-game audio. While the soundtrack is considered excellent, there are calls for more variety in station background music to prevent monotony during exploration.
“And still... the writing, the music, and the unique gameplay experience make this one of the most atmospheric games I've ever played.”
“It is really relaxing when you're flying through the vastness of space and listening to music or reading (you can even add your own music with little effort), but it can also be really tense if you're flying through a dangerous sector in emcom mode and hoping that the pirate doesn't see you.”
“The soundtrack in this game is incredible and is worth the purchase on that alone.”
“The audio would not work on one of my computers and in the 7 hours I've played so far the game has locked up once, the music player suddenly stopped working at one point and I crashed to the desktop soon after.”
“We're left with three ships, a limited amount of weapon systems, a non-working economy, broken sound loops, glitched music players... and last but not least - an insatiable hunger for more.”
“There is no voice acting, which at least means there's no bad voice acting, but it would've been nice if the stations had their own background music.”
- atmosphere17 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and engaging qualities, with many players highlighting the charm of its world-building, music, and writing. While some users note issues with readability and game-breaking bugs, the overall experience of managing a ship and exploring a well-developed universe creates a captivating ambiance that keeps players returning. Despite some gameplay flaws, the game's atmosphere is described as one of its strongest features, making it a standout in the space sim genre.
“The atmosphere, the many parts you can purchase to upgrade your ship, repairing circuit boards, so much to like about this game.”
“And this is all taking place within a huge, well-developed world that you'll completely lose yourself in because of how atmospheric and immersive it is.”
“I especially love the atmosphere that comes with being in your ship and having to manage everything such as which modules are on/off, manual repair, and stealth mode, etc.”
“Good writing and world-building add extra pressure to an already soupy atmosphere.”
“Maybe this is part of the modem-punk atmosphere, but it is impossible to override years of muscle memory to use the mouse wheel to zoom in and out.”
“I've tried space sim after space sim, trying to find one that recaptured the atmosphere of the universe, and coming up empty every time.”
- grinding12 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 92 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and often frustrating, with many noting that it detracts from the overall enjoyment. The repetitive nature of missions and the cumbersome interface contribute to a sense of monotony, making the experience feel more like a chore than a fun exploration of the cosmos. While the story elements are appreciated, they are overshadowed by the grindy gameplay and technical issues that hinder immersion.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“I thought this would be a fun, stress-free little game that you can play from time to time to cleanse your palate from the more nail-biting, stressful games that are more common, and yet stressful is this game's middle name with its first name being tedious.”
“Overall, the concept of the game is interesting, but it gets old and tedious fast.”
“I don't like comparing games to other games, mostly because it's oversimplifying things, but 'O'NS suffers from the same thing several other space simulators suffer from in the campaign in that it can be a bit grindy sometimes, and you find yourself repeating the same standard 'milkrun' missions in order to afford that cool ship upgrade you always wanted.”
- optimization5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The optimization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with players noting that while there are extensive customization options for tweaking machines and components, the overall performance is poorly optimized, leading to issues such as garbage performance in Unity.
“There are lots of systems to learn, and you can tweak your machines with components from different companies, each focusing on cost, efficiency, high performance, emissions, or durability.”
“You can customize within a module, installing different parts to a solar panel, to adjust your ship's power usage, performance, or observability.”
“Poorly optimized.”
“Unity (garbage performance).”
“Lots of systems to learn, lots of tweaking of your machines with components from different companies (each company has a focus on cost, efficiency, high performance, emissions, or durability).”
- replayability3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Replayability in the game is hindered by control difficulties and economic glitches, leading to areas becoming "farmed" after tasks are completed, which can limit exploration. While the dynamic nature of the game encourages multiple playthroughs, players may miss significant content due to the ongoing political events in the game world. Enhancements such as mod support and improved user interface could significantly boost the overall replayability.
“If this game were made moddable such that new stations and maps could be added, it would greatly enhance replayability and overall enjoyment.”
“Unfortunately, control is a bit difficult, and there were some economic elements, such as glitches buying and selling items, and some issues with replayability in which once you complete tasks in an area, the area becomes farmed and you more or less have to leave.”
“It's easy to end up missing something really interesting in one neck of the cluster while you were running jobs elsewhere. Sure, this adds replayability, but things do happen without you, and it does not let you put the cluster's politics on hold.”
“If this game were made moddable such that new stations and maps could be added, the config changed to a more reasonable resolution so that the game didn't start for most people where they can't even see any interactable elements, and the starting 'tutorial' was made skippable since it doesn't detect the change conditions most times, then this game would be much more playable.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game is criticized as being exploitative, with users labeling it a "glorified cash grab" due to the developers' abandonment of the project, which has led to a lack of meaningful updates or support.
“As others have said, the game has a significant amount of potential but has been utterly abandoned by the developers and is a glorified cash grab.”
“Unfortunately, it is now a cash grab and abandoned.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its fun story and amusing characters, which enhance the overall experience while complementing the challenging and engaging gameplay.
“The game is filled with hilarious characters and a fun story that keeps you entertained.”
“I love how the humor is woven into the gameplay, making every challenge feel light-hearted.”
“The witty dialogue and funny situations had me laughing out loud throughout my playthrough.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers highlight the game's emotional impact as a result of its meticulous audio design, innovative gameplay-story integration, and effective emotional pacing, all set against a captivating space sci-fi/fantasy backdrop. This combination creates a profound aesthetic experience that stands out in a genre often filled with subpar offerings.
“A combination of careful audio design, creative gameplay-story interaction, emotional pacing, and the best space sci-fi/fantasy setting I've ever seen come together to create a deep, permeating aesthetic that is so wonderfully immersive.”
“The emotional depth of the characters and their stories left a lasting impact on me, making every decision feel weighty and significant.”
“I was genuinely moved by the narrative twists and the way the game handles themes of loss and redemption, creating a powerful emotional experience.”
