Yes, There’s a Story
At first glance, it’s easy to assume that No Man’s Sky is just another one of those huge games that drops you into a seemingly endless sandbox to create your very own story. While that is entirely possible, what with the 18 quintillion worlds and all, there is also a deep story weaved between every star and planet. One that tries to entice you into following its threads to the center of the great mystery that is the universe.
No Man’s Sky’s narrative is not of the linear variety, though. It sends you on multiple chases, allowing your decisions to help mold your own, unique experience. But there are some constants that all players can expect when they dive into the adventure themselves.
There are some spoilers ahead. We’ve tried our best to avoid any major plot points, but if you’d like for everything in No Man’s Sky to be a complete surprise, you may want to turn back now.
Your Purpose in No Man’s Sky
What can a single soul in an entire universe possibly bring to the table? It’s one of No Man’s Sky’s most pressing questions as it thrusts you into its wild, merciless universe with little more than a Swiss army knife and a pat on the back. At first it seems like it’s the start of any other open-ended survival game. You’re to do with the world as you please, meeting new NPCs, reporting discoveries, and becoming an all-around space badass. But, after stepping off the first planet and helping out a few lone aliens, your purpose in the grand scheme of things becomes something more.
The players primary purpose is to explore and discover. That much is clear from the opening. There is so much information out there that the universe as a whole can benefit from, and you’re part of the movement to bring that knowledge to them. After that, though, there’s your personal mission to find the meaning in it all. After an introduction to Atlas, which we’ll cover shortly, it becomes a lot more introspective. Why does this universe exist? What change can you bring to it? Is it even worth it?
Through your travels and your interactions, or lack thereof, with the myriad alien races scattered throughout the galaxies you’ll bring light to these questions.
Atlas
Atlas is a sort of unknown in No Man’s Sky’s realm. In time, as you progress through the story and move ever closer to the universe’s center, you’ll come to understand just what powers this mystery and why it’s choosing to push you down the path of discovery. It’s one of the central elements of the entire game, so you’ll definitely want to pay close attention as you traverse through the world and learn from the many relics and monuments left behind by colonists long since gone.
You don’t meet Atlas immediately, though. After proving your skill out in space, helping others and seeking knowledge, you will become acquainted with this alien/entity/conglomerate/mind/thing. From there you will be offered a new path towards your goal, one that is all about embracing the unknown and unlocking pathways that would otherwise be locked to you. New technologies, resources, and a wealth of discovery are locked behind that weird sentient sphere.
The one thing that is very clear about Atlas, though, is that it has a direct connection to you on a primal level. Of all the beings you’ll meet, this one is clear at all times, speaking not out loud but to your very mind and soul. It knows what you want before you even do and it seeks to give you the tools to make those dreams reality should you decide to embrace your inner desires.
Sentinels
Of course, while you’re out exploring the universe, seeking the knowledge that will provide you the understanding you so desire, there are rules. One can choose to break those rules, but then that person would have to deal with the wandering Sentinels, the last line of protection the universe has against explorers who would destroy all for the sake of learning.
The Sentinels are tied to Atlas in some way, keeping order among the random chaos of evolution and destiny. They watch with a close eye as players move through each planet, mining, examining, and anything else they may get up to. If a player steps out of line by doing things such as:
- Needlessly killing wildlife.
- Mining a planet until it has nothing left to offer.
- Attacking innocent traders.
then they will trigger the wanted system. It works similarly to the one in the Grand Theft Auto series. There are five levels, and as you continue to break the rules, each level brings more powerful Sentinels and a lot more pressure. Outside of making sure you respect the universe, they won’t interfere. It’s interesting to see them roaming about, periodically scanning things for their databases as they maintain the status quo across the stars.
The Center of the Universe
Leading up to No Man’s Sky’s release, you’ve undoubtedly heard mention of the center of the universe/galaxy several times. It’s your primary goal in the game, and will consume a large portion of your time as you warp between star systems . Of course, this isn’t just some empty goal that serves as a catalyst for your exploration. In fact, the draw of what lies in the center of the universe will actually manage to pull you away from exploring what No Man’s Sky has to offer.
At the center lies the ultimate discovery, one that will change how you view your exploits and the universe itself. We won’t spoil it for you.
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