Lightyear Frontier Review (Alex)
I really really enjoyed this game on it's first release. I had been waiting for so long for it, and got it on launch. It didn't have a whole lot of content, wasn't finished in general, and the updates weren't as frequent as many would like but I saw all the genuine love and care that went into it, and I knew how great the game could become.
So I played when I could, I know I don't have as many hours as others, but I enjoyed walking around the handmade world, I enjoyed the companionship of PIP-3R, and then not long after I reached the end of the available content. But I was happy, so I waited, played the new updates when they dropped, build my farms bigger and better, decorating lots and was glad every time to see it and the game grow. And I do still think it's a well made game with an amazing team.
But, suddenly, the Shifting Gears update comes out. And it's no longer that little game I loved. The world is bigger, yes, but so bland and, at least to me, missing that love that went into the original map. The mountains in general just look... I'm sorry to say this, really, but bad. Not to mention the amount of clipping geometry I saw, directly from the new spawn too. You have more control over building with custom buildings, yes, but are so much more restricted on how much you can build with the new farm base system. In the time I've played the new update, progression in general seemed now far more tied to saying at the farm exporting goods rather than exploring and fabricating your upgrades like before, but I don't believe I gave it enough time to truly comment on that.
But honestly, truly, all of that I can forgive and forget! It's a major new update! It takes time to figure things out, and with community feedback things will be tweaked, and further built upon that you'd honestly ask yourself why you ever thought the old systems were better! Really, I would have come to enjoy it I know. Except for one change that truly, genuinely has hurt my enjoyment of the game to the point I don't think I can play anymore.
They removed PIP-3R, our wonderful companion and narrator. Our sweet and caring sentient satellite, with their adorable country accent. They gave so much life to the early-game before access to other NPCs, and truly made me feel like I was never truly alone on this planet, and like I always had a friend. And now all that's left is the most barebones comments that you have to toggle on in the menu. Not only that, they've remove narration as a whole for the main story, at least from my experience so far and their own comments on updates.
A bland new map. A weird shift in mechanics and gameplay loop. No narration. And no more companionship. It just feels so lifeless.
I truly hope it will improve, I do have faith in the devs, and I know they have their own plans for the future. I do think it is a well made game at its core, with a really solid foundation, but I just can't recommend it now that they're completely "Shifting Gears", because I can't tell how that's going to look in the future now. Maybe in a few months after some feature updates. After some more reworks and balancing. After several content updates. But not now. And even if I do for others, I don't know if it will ever be the same game I liked for me. The legacy branch is still there, but we know that won't be getting anymore updates, so that's probably it for me. I know there's several community polls that lead to all of this, so I know I'm the odd-voice out. But still, it's just no longer something I enjoy.
Thank you for taking the time to read this, and I do hope the game succeeds. This all comes from a place of love, truly. I hope if you do decide to pick up this game, despite my comments, you fall in love with it like I did, and that the new direction it's going in only increases that love. With all my heart, may you enjoy the frontier.