ΔV: Rings of Saturn
- September 21, 2018
- Koder
- 26h median play time
In ΔV: Rings of Saturn, mine for valuable minerals within Saturn's rings in 2273 while uncovering a mystery-filled story backed by real physics and science. The game is feature complete, with regular updates for bug fixes and additional content such as ships, storylines, and upgrades. Players praise the game's immersive atmosphere, with detailed ship interiors, atmospheric music, and a sense of adventure and mystery.
Reviews
- Engaging and fun gameplay loop centered around mining asteroids with realistic physics.
- Deep customization options for ships and equipment, allowing for varied playstyles.
- Active developer support with frequent updates and community engagement.
- Steep learning curve with a lack of clear tutorials and explanations for mechanics.
- Repetitive gameplay can lead to a sense of monotony after extended play.
- Performance issues and bugs can detract from the overall experience.
- gameplay426 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this space mining simulator is characterized by a solid core loop of mining asteroids, upgrading ships, and managing resources, all underpinned by realistic Newtonian physics. While many players appreciate the depth and customization options available, some find the repetitive nature of the gameplay and lack of dynamic storytelling to be drawbacks. Overall, the game offers an engaging experience for those who enjoy methodical, physics-based mechanics, though it may not appeal to everyone due to its simplicity and potential for monotony.
“The gameplay loop is just breaking up rocks for their ores but it offers many different ways to do it through extensive customization of each ship using different modules plus tuning those individual modules themselves.”
“A fantastic mix of realistic physics, stunning visuals, and engaging gameplay.”
“The gameplay loop is rewarding and fun.”
“User interface, font typo, controls, no customization at all, confusion everywhere, no explanations of mechanics or anything.”
“The game seems nice with a nice idea (a very repetitive idea just with one hour of gameplay), it's just the developer chose to do everything bad except his original idea.”
“While still a work in progress, the general gameplay loop lives up to the expectation: what if asteroids, but more complex?”
- story234 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 82 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story in "Δv: Rings of Saturn" is often described as minimal and fragmented, with many players noting a lack of an overarching narrative. While there are intriguing crew backstories and environmental lore that can be discovered through exploration, the game primarily focuses on mining mechanics rather than a cohesive plot. Players express a desire for deeper storytelling and more structured quests to enhance the overall experience, as the current narrative elements feel scattered and sometimes inaccessible.
“I think I replayed evo at least 3-5 times just because each story branch was so different and exciting with uncountable secrets and nuance.”
“The array of intriguing events and story elements, coupled with the focus on progressing through various ships and equipment, make for an exciting journey.”
“The story is so far interesting, your crew members being the actual center of the storytelling is a great idea, makes you attached to them and you don't see them as faceless pawns anymore!”
“The controls, ship systems, mining, is all good, but there is so little in the way of dynamic storytelling or world-building that all of the great mechanics fall flat without context.”
“There is absolutely no story here.”
“The story is drip-fed so slowly that it almost feels like there isn't any.”
- music138 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its immersive and atmospheric qualities, enhancing the serene and relaxing gameplay experience. Many players appreciate the dynamic soundtrack that adapts to different situations, creating a captivating backdrop for exploration and resource gathering. While some find the music repetitive or generic, the overall consensus is that it significantly contributes to the game's charm and enjoyment.
“The game's serene soundtrack and detailed space environment immerse players in a beautifully crafted universe.”
“The dynamic music score, crew interactions, and backstories all work to make the game really immersive.”
“The atmosphere created by the music and art choices in this game are amazing.”
“The music's pretty generic.”
“Man... I heard this track with the gameplay and immediately bought the game, to only find out that the rest of the tracks sound like generic 'spacey' music... well, now I have to make my own playlist to play this game to...”
“I'd like to have more/better music, but you can just mute it and put on space station soma or groove salad on somafm (not a paid promotion, just a fan) and thank me later.”
- graphics96 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received praise for their stunning visuals, coherent art style, and effective use of physics, creating an immersive experience that captures the essence of space exploration. While some users noted minor performance issues and a desire for more diverse art styles, the overall aesthetic is considered appealing, especially for a 2D game. However, concerns were raised about the quality of AI-generated portraits and optimization, which could detract from the visual experience for some players.
“For the price of this game, there are no other games that match it for quality of the graphics.”
“The game's stunning visuals and attention to scientific accuracy evoke a sense of wonder and curiosity that parallels the excitement I felt when I first embarked on my scientific expeditions.”
“The graphics are solid, the physics are fun, and there is a decent amount of depth to the play-style and progression.”
“And also the AI-generated portraits from the anime DLC, which are incredibly ugly. You could create a contest to have people draw you portraits or hire an outsourced artist, but you just fed the pictures to a neural network. Zero quality, zero aesthetics, and that's the reason why I won't buy it.”
“Currently, optimization is really bad. With a 3060 Ti and i7 8700K, FPS can drop really low when there's a lot of stuff happening on your screen, and with graphics like this, it's just unacceptable.”
“Overall, it feels incredibly unintuitive and graphically bland.”
- atmosphere78 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its depth, immersive qualities, and ability to evoke a sense of tranquility and tension simultaneously. Players appreciate the combination of atmospheric music, art design, and realistic space settings, which create a captivating experience that encourages relaxation and exploration. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered a standout feature, enhancing both the gameplay and the emotional engagement of players.
“Fantastic atmosphere, no pun intended!”
“This game is beautifully atmospheric and strangely addictive, considering that you never really seem to be working toward anything.”
“Fantastic mining simulation with a very somber, almost meditative atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere created by the music and art choices in this game are amazing.”
“Music and atmosphere are giving this dark and foreboding vibe while engaging and demanding gameplay is almost as addicting as a mobile game.”
- optimization70 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that despite frequent developer updates aimed at improving performance, issues such as lag and low frame rates persist, especially in crowded scenarios. While some users report smoother gameplay after recent patches, others still experience significant performance drops, particularly on mid-range hardware. Overall, while the game offers deep mechanics and engaging gameplay, it still requires further optimization to enhance the experience for a broader range of systems.
“The developer updates it regularly, making tweaks and changes to improve performance and quality of life, and even though you could probably 'finish' one or more of the main storylines in 20-30 hours of play depending on your style, you can just as easily take your time and end up spending over 100 hours and not complete it.”
“Super fun space mining game that's surprisingly deep, really scratches the itch for being able to incredibly fine-tune your ship and the ship's systems to eke out desired performance.”
“Managing power, heat, and performance of your modules is deeply satisfying.”
“Despite many optimization patches, the performance is still mediocre.”
“The optimization of the game is really terrible, and you may struggle to run it at high FPS even on modern hardware.”
“There is one major flaw and so far the only issue I have with this game: the performance is awful, FPS drops are the norm whenever you get more than just a few rocks on the screen or - heaven forbid - another ship.”
- grinding45 mentions
- 4 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 96 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight a mixed perception of grinding in the game, with some players finding it tedious and monotonous, while others appreciate the zen-like quality of the grind and the satisfaction of upgrading their ships. Many agree that the game is heavily focused on grinding for resources, which can feel rewarding for those who enjoy such mechanics, but may deter players looking for a more dynamic experience. Overall, it caters to fans of grind-heavy gameplay, particularly in a space mining context.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“I'm not grinding a single-player game for 40 hours or adopting some min-max, no-fun-allowed strategy to fly a ship named after Elon Musk.”
“So if you think about buying this, let me reiterate, the game you get is a grindy ore collection game that is honestly solved in the first 'dive' into the rings and then feeds off your willingness to grind out the different equipment configurations.”
“It's unfortunate that I tire of this game as quickly as I do despite the fact I can put 6000+ hours into the most boring, tedious games ever.”
“Unfortunately, this loop can begin to feel grindy, especially early on.”
- replayability13 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, with many players noting the freedom of choice and diverse playstyles that enhance the experience. Some users report spending extensive hours without reaching a conclusion, indicating significant long-term engagement, while others mention a solid replay value for achievements and casual play. However, a few players express concerns about potential limitations on long-term replayability.
“Super fun and the replayability is great!”
“The physics are incredible and the replay value is solid.”
“I've played this game for 122 hours and still nowhere near any semblance of an end, so it certainly has replay value.”
“Worth its price of 10 dollars and infinitely replayable.”
“This freedom of choice adds replayability and allows players to tailor their experience to their preferred playstyle.”
- humor11 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its quirky mechanics and playful interactions, such as ships making amusing noises and unexpected mishaps like regurgitating ore. Players appreciate the lighthearted tone, with references to real-world events and a community that enhances the comedic experience. Overall, the game successfully blends immersive gameplay with a whimsical sense of humor, making it both entertaining and engaging.
“My ship makes funny noises as the big spinal-mounted arm stretches out and grabs a rock.”
“The ship makes even more funny noises as I open the frontal beak leading into the cargo bay, accidentally regurgitate half my ore, and the big arm happily shoves its rock down the newly uncovered access point.”
“The game even includes diegetic representations of what happens in the real world, as seen by the $8 blue checkmark from the new blue bird app buyout, which was pretty funny.”
- stability8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is generally positive, with many users reporting a smooth experience and minimal bugs, especially after recent updates. However, some players have experienced video freezes that disrupt gameplay, leading to lost progress. Despite these issues, the developer's consistent updates and efforts to improve stability have been noted and appreciated by the community.
“Very fun flight mechanics; runs great without any configuration changes on install on Steam Deck.”
“The developer has obviously put a massive amount of effort into making everything bug-free (in my experience), and the atmosphere is fantastic.”
“The video freezes but the game continues to run, forcing me to close the game and losing progress up to just before that particular dive.”
“I don't know if it is buggy, but following the in-game tutorial doesn't seem to work; I still have no clue about the controls or what I'm supposed to do.”
“Buggy.”
- monetization4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Deltav is generally well-received, but players criticize its advertising approach, feeling it detracts from the experience. While the game is enjoyable and stands out among many cash-grab titles, the monetization strategy, particularly the frequency of ads, is seen as excessive and disruptive.
“Deltav is a decent game, but its advertising is kind of misleading.”
“I may never find all the things to discover in this game, but I'm going to keep coming back because I'm tired of the lame games out there that are just cash grabs and are using graphics I had when I was a kid.”
“Great game, but the playable time is less than that of an idle game with ads.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a deep emotional connection to games, often seeking experiences that resonate with their current feelings. "δv: rings of saturn" stands out as a title that reignites excitement and intrigue, providing a fulfilling escape when other games feel overwhelming or unsatisfying.
“I don't have the energy for a session of game X, and game Y has not been as fulfilling lately. I'm too sensitive and emotional to play game Z today... hmm, what should I play? δv: Rings of Saturn!”
“It truly made me feel intrigued and excited to play a game again.”