Exploring Infinite Galaxies: No Man’s Sky - Interview With Grace Seijas

Imagine a galactic world of infinite possibilities. Each planet is vastly different from the other, and the conditions on each range from deadly to comforting. No Man's Sky offers this to every player. 

No Man's Sky is a space action adventure game developed by Hello Games, released on August 9th, 2016. No Man's Sky is available to play on PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, and Windows. Online multiplayer and cross-platform are offered. 

Personally, to me, No Man’s Sky is a lot; it has tons of different functions and pieces to it that makes it complicated and a bit overwhelming to play. However, once you get those pieces figured out and you're able to understand everything that's being thrown at you, the game is rather entertaining. I have played No Man's Sky for a good amount of time, but because of how vast and endless the game is, I wanted to get another person's view on the game.

So I contacted Grace Seijas, a close friend and No Man’s Sky enthusiast. Seijas has played No Man’s Sky for countless hours since she discovered it and considers the game a go-to classic survival game. 

What drew you into No Man’s Sky? What’s your favorite thing about it? 

My brother told me it was fun. I really enjoyed the infinite exploration and interesting graphics. My brother initially recommended it to me because of the pets. Since the pets are randomly generated, they always look very unique, so finding cool-looking ones is very engaging. 

The exploration is my favorite part of the game, but I've seen a lot of amazing bases that other people have made. I don't have the patience to make a really cool base (I'd rather be exploring), but some players enjoy creating very detailed structures. 

How has No Man’s Sky changed since you started playing?

I started in 2021 after the Companions update, but I know before that there was a large series of updates that improved the game since its disappointing initial release. Recently, No Man’s Sky received the Worlds Part 2 update which added new kinds of planets, stars, and a story. Worlds Part 2 changed the game’s universe generation, changing a player's overall experience greatly. 

How well do you think No Man’s Sky balances exploration, crafting, combat, and trading? What do you focus on while playing?

The balance of these elements is almost entirely based on the player’s preferences. 

I prefer to focus on exploration over combat. Honestly, combat is often avoidable (not always, but a lot of the time). I'm not playing No Man’s Sky for the combat, but when I do have to fight, it is easy enough. Ships have an automatic aiming feature, and fights on the ground are usually easier to avoid. 

I tend to keep my base small and functional. There are, however, a lot of players who make sprawling bases with intricate designs. That part of the game isn't for me, but the options for creativity are very well fleshed out. My main base is on a planet I affectionately named “Purple” and is very bare-bones. 

What’s your favorite environment you’ve discovered? Why?

Within my first ever Red System, I found a planet that I named “Bubbles” where all of the animals were rideable, quadrupedal robots. The ground was all red, and my screen was covered in particles that looked like bubbles coming from every surface. That is probably my favorite planet, because it was just so pretty, and I hadn't seen anything like it yet. When I first discovered it, Worlds Part 2 had just come out, so I wasn't used to the new variety of biomes and structures. 

What do you think of the different life forms? Which ones have stood out the most to you?

Any species that is on a planet is randomly generated, so the life forms are very diverse. The sapient species that you can interact with (i.e., trade, talk, employ, etc.) are diverse as well. They are called Factions and include six different kinds of beings. My personal favorite is the Korvax, a group made of sapient machines who often speak of science and exploration. You can personalize your character to look like any of these Factions and more. 

What do you think of the story in No Man’s Sky? Was there anything that caught your eye?

Personally, I initially abandoned the story almost immediately. I didn't pay attention to what was happening, and I'm still not clear on the narrative there. I started exploring the moment I could, but I'm aware I missed some of the experience when I skipped paying attention there.

Starting out, I was incredibly curious about what the NPCs were saying. It takes a long time to be able to read what they're saying because you need a translator to pick up new words quickly. Each faction also has their own language, so if you want to understand them, you have to either spend a lot of time near them in the game or have a great translator.

Since the difficulty is very forgiving, what challenges do you find most engaging? 

I am most engaged by finding new upgrades for my ship and exosuit. Basic good upgrades can be found on the Space Anomaly (a multiplayer space with shops, quest NPCs/items, and other relevant pieces of the game), but exploring different trading opportunities on different systems can offer more advanced upgrades. 

Upgrading your technology and ship allows you to gain resources more effectively. On each planet you explore, there always exists the basic resources you need to leave the planet so that you cannot softlock yourself. 

How does the endlessness and solitude add to your enjoyment?

The endlessness of No Man’s Sky leaves me feeling very free to do what I want. I never feel very lonely, though, because the Space Anomaly is never far away. You can summon the Space Anomaly from any system. This means that you can always enter a place where other players are hanging around. 

What do you think about the visuals, sound design, and music?

The visuals are beautiful in No Man’s Sky. The ships and other technology offer a sort of sci-fi feel. The creatures and generations on the planets often offer a more fantasy-based feel. Sometimes, I find myself pausing to just gape at the landscapes I discover on various planets. 

The music is very subtle and building. It creates a sense of anticipation. The sounds are well-placed, but I'll be honest in saying that I don't even notice them while playing. 

What keeps you coming back to No Man’s Sky?

I keep coming back to No Man's Sky because of the constant exploration and the updates. I really enjoy finding new places, and the new updates always leave me excited to see new features. Also, I would feel really bad if I left all of my pets alone indefinitely. 

Would you recommend No Man’s Sky? What tips would you give to new players? 

I would definitely recommend this game to anyone who enjoys exploration. The graphics and diverse gameplay options open the game to a wide variety of players. My favorite is exploration, but there is also the story, the stock market, base building, running a civilization, and many more ways to play. 

I would recommend starting with no information at all just like I did. Using the Internet can be very useful, but discovering things on your own gives you a more full experience. No Man's Sky has a theme of discovery, and I find that I have more fun when I have to figure out what I'm doing rather than just being told. 

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With how infinite No Man’s Sky is, every player gets a different experience. Seijas and I both approach the game differently. While she likes to focus on exploration, I lean more towards the combat of No Man’s Sky. It is definitely worth playing for anyone looking for a space exploration game. 

To infinity and beyond!