I have a love-hate relationship with exploring in this game.
The procedural galaxy is very well realized (not perfect, but very good) and the graphics are excellent in space. The game genuinely captures a feel of loneliness and immensity which is quite unique, and very much in the spirit of
Elite and the
Frontier games. I don't mind the repetitive nature of it because it is one area in which repetition really is part and parcel of the activity and I've never felt that exploration is "grindy" as such.
As for the oft-stated criticism that "it's all just the same and what's the point of 400 billions systems it should be small and handcrafted yadda yadda" - I just smile. Those people don't get it and never will. There is a sense of accomplishment when you reach a destination after many jumps, and a certain buzz when you head into a station for the first time in weeks after a long haul expedition - for a few seconds the "home again -
made it" feeling makes the entire game worth while. These are the good bits.
On the other hand I weep for the lost opportunities. Opening up the whole galaxy at gamestart was a big mistake, and we can't go back (although if they did take the very brave step of resetting exploration I'd be happy to do so). Exploration has very little tension - the biggest worries are some bozo attacking you in the last couple of systems when heading back, or accidentally losing connection at a bad time. There is never a sense of risk. No "should I press on just one more system, or will that be one step too far" feeling. Exploration needs to be a risk, but at the moment it is too safe.
Discovery tags - meh. I have a few hundred but in hindsight I think it was a bad move.
Handing in the data - doesn't bother me. I prefer to sell it slowly and maximize my rep with as many systems as possible rather than selling it all in one go (flying about inhabited space in open with a thousand data vouchers to hand in and the risk of constant ruin is as close to exciting as exploration gets
)
So I criticize it, and sometimes ask myself why I bother. Then I jump back into the ship and fly a few more systems, get entranced by a gorgeous ringed planet or excited by discovering a pretty earth-type (and wish to heck I could land!). It's still worth doing, and the galaxy simulation is absolutely brilliant. I just wish it was a bit more complex and dangerous. I want to feel like Amundsen, Mawson and Shackleton - not just a tourist.
