I wouldn't say it's copied and pasted. How do you think the perfect space simulator looks like? Do you think there would be a big difference between all the solar systems? I understand that space games are not for everyone - they tend to be "repetitive" and don't have a lot of action compared to CoD and other games which spoon-feed you rewards and thrill. Don't get me wrong, I too have a lot of questions for Frontier regarding Elite, but I am happy with this game in general. I haven't encountered a lot of bugs, and, having played Elite from almost its release date, I experienced problems with the server only 3 times. I feel that there's plenty to do in the game - whenever I feel bored of doing passenger runs, I take a trip to the centre of the galaxy (the views out there are amazing).
Yes, you can't walk around or do atmospheric landings, but I feel that these would eventually come. For example, if you setup the free camera correctly, and fly around the station, you can see all the detail - staircases, industrial zones, paths to landing pads - this indicates that Frontier kept space legs in mind while designing all of this.
I respect the ability to be free and go anywhere I like in Elite, and there is no forced storyline, I make my story myself. I agree with the OP's view of the game being underrated, but I predict that it will gain popularity - now that Frontier is focusing its updates on new players and introduction to the game. Good luck out in space!
1.
Actually Yes lol.
Solar Systems have a HUGE Variety in Reality.
Now for Fairness Said. This is the only Area where ED is not that Bad.
Mostly because they allow the RNG to really go to Town here.
But even so. The Options in the Game are Insanely Limited.
A.
The Biggest Issue with Solar Systems in ED.
Is that ED is absolutely Ignoring the Age of the Solar Systems.
So even in the Stellar Forge where Stars have just Formed.
The Systems are basicly completely Clean with Planets having Formed already and already being fully Round etc etc.
No Accretion Discs. No Debris Fields.
Normally these Systems should be Chaos and Filled with Debris and Dust which has not yet been fully Captured by the Gravity of a larger Object or has not yet been absorbed into an Larger Object.
Discs should still be rather Big and Chaotic and there should be alot of Objects not yet having Reached an Orbit around the Central Plane of of that Star.
In ED Unfortunately. Systems are always already in Stabilized State.
And thus do not have such Features anymore.
B.
Minor Issues are that there is a lack of Smaller Objects such as Asteroids and Planetoids.
Which only got a few thousand Meters in Diameter.
(We also got no Real Asteroid Belts for the Suns instead only having like 20-50 Floating Asteroids Scattered around in small Groups instead.)
As well as an lack of Events and Reminders of Events.
We dont have any Deformed Planets or Moons which due to lack of Gravity are not Rounded. We dont have any Planet Debris from Collissions in the Past or due to being Impacted by something bigger.
Even in the cases where we got Planets without Atmosphere which got Hit by an Asteroid as we can see from a Crater. We have not a Single Planet where this is displayed as having Happened within the last 10k Years.
Thus everything has Settled and Rounded up already. When in Reality Planets with no Atmosphere but High Gravity. Should most of the Time have alot of Fresh Impact Sites as they often get Hit several Times each Year by smaller stuff. And out of a Million of them At least one should have had a Large Impact lately. Leaving Huge Cracks and Debris Orbiting the Planet etc.
2.
I am mostly an RTS Player.
So I dont Crave Action.
Neither do I play Elite for Action.
But there is a Distinct Difference between a Game which Lacks Action Gameplay. And a Game which is Plain Boring because it feels the same after short while.
You can Laugh. But I actually found Counterstrike rather Boring after not even 10 Hours.
Because lets face it. You dont really have much Variety in what your doing there lol.
3.
I am not Complaining about things Announced to be Coming.
And I dont even need Space Legs.
Rather than that. I would actually like to get Bigger Ships like Frigates and Destroyers and the Ability to actually have NPC Crew Sitting in my Cockpit in the Spare Seats.
But thats a Different Story.
Atmospheric Landings and Planets etc is planned to Come. So I have no Reason to Complain there.
I am Annoyed by their Lack of Effort with the stuff we got.
(And I also Expect them to not be much better with the stuff that will come later. Likely Atmospheric Planets will also all look quite the Same.)
Because just adding Atmospheric Planets for example.
Will do very little for the Game.
When its the same as with non Atmospheric Planets.
Where if you Traveled to about 10 or 20 of them. It becomes boring because after the 10th you more or less have seen everything there was to See.
Ah but just to be Clear on this. I also have a Ton of Gameplay Complaints as well. From the Ridiculous thing with Conflict Zones that basicly Run forever. Instead of having Proper Battles with Limited Reinforcements. Down to the Stupid System of Travel where Traveling 20 Light Years to the Next Star is Faster than Traveling 500 Light Seconds to the Station inside a Star System.
There is also the Lack of any Variety in Combat. Thanks to all Ships effectively being Fighters with 100% Frontal Weaponry and thus without any real Difference in Playing.
They could Learn a bit from Dark Souls here.
Dark Souls got a Crabton of Weapons. All of which have roughly equal Stats and Values.
But each of which Plays completely Different.
Elite Dangerous the Opposite.
They got alot of Weapons and Ships with vastly Different Stats and Values.
But all of em Play almost entirely the same lol.
The Federal Corvette. Is called a Corvette. But its still just a Fighter.
All its Weapons are to the Front. And in any Fight its Priority is to try and get the Front Facing towards the Enemy while trying to Avoid being in Front of the Enemy.
Its the same for every Ship in the Game.
Doesnt matter if its a Sidewinder, Cobra, Viper, Vulture, Fer de Lance, Gunship, Anaconda or even a Cutter.
Usually. A Corvette should not be trying to get its Front towards an Enemy.
It would usually have more Weapons on Broadside than the Front.
Because its not a Fighter lol.
A Gunship should usually be trying to get the Front at the Enemy. But unlike the Fighters it should not have very Fast Speed moving Forward. It should instead have quite some Control Thrusters to the Sides so it can Sidestrafe at good Speed instead.
But well. As I said. That just on the side.
The Combat being Boring is a Different Issue.
And one I dont care that much about in the First Place.