Have you ever been inside a whale? Most people would probably say no, unless they are part of the story of Pinocchio or the Bible. But I am! Not literally, of course – but I’m immersed in Everspace 2’s new expansion, called Titans. I love the base game and am excited to see if this expansion lives up to my expectations. So, let’s find out if Everspace 2: Titans has something to offer.
Everspace 2 is an action-packed space shooter in which you pilot a spaceship in intense and exciting battles in outer space. I really like the main game because it accurately captures the feeling I’ve been missing from Freelancer, another space shooter that is very similar in structure and design. However, after finishing Everspace 2, I’m kind of empty on my left hand. Aside from collecting cool equipment and making your ship more lethal, there isn’t much left, especially in terms of stories.
Here’s a hint:
The emphasis after the main game is on collecting “phat loot”, which is also highlighted in the free Incursions expansion pack that includes the space zone. Here you can fly into cracks and fight hordes of enemies for even more loot. While it was cool at first, it quickly lost its luster for me. Once you overcome the challenge, you will be left with piles of materials that could upgrade your ship. But for me, that’s not enough. When you reach level 30, there isn’t much left to explore or develop. The ship’s capabilities will be at a peak, and then you are stuck in a loop of finding equipment.
That’s why I’m glad that the Titans expansion finally brings something new – a new story. The extension is divided into two parts. In the first part, you meet a female scientist who asks you to scan a large skeleton in different galaxies. It quickly becomes apparent that the bones are from large whale-like monsters, and you then have to investigate further. That’s why the expansion is called Titans. In the end, you will be swallowed by one of these big whales and you will have to go around its body, performing various tasks while you fight the “defense system”.
This is where things start to get exciting – until everything suddenly stops. Yes, you heard it right. After searching and fighting inside the whale, you will find a pearl to bring back to the scientists. She clears it so you can get more loot, and then the story ends. It felt incomplete, like something was missing. The whole focus is back on trophy hunting, which I personally find a bit boring.
Here’s a hint:
Fortunately, another part of the expansion provides even more depth. Here you are contacted by a secret agent who wants your help in investigating a large spaceship that has been hijacked by a gang of gangsters. Your mission is to protect the ship’s cargo before it damages nearby planets. Together with a fleet of other spaceships, you must ensure that the spaceship does not go out of control. This part of the story feels more interesting and it’s easy to remember the big story in the main game.
But again, expansion can add up on its own. After several battles with large ships, you will keep coming across the same situation where you have to solve two or three missions and you will be rewarded with loot. Just when you think the story is about to take a turn or reach some kind of climax, it comes to a dead end. It leaves an empty feeling, as if the game doesn’t know where it wants to go. The lack of closure is even more frustrating when players have reached level 30 and seen most of what Everspace 2 has to offer.
All that’s left is to repeat the same scenario to get more loot, but honestly, it feels like a waste of time. The game’s developer, Rockfish Games, could at least add additional levels or a new progression for players who reach level 30. As it stands, there isn’t much new for experienced captains, leaving the rather weak extension. Another disappointment is the lack of new gameplay mechanics. The only thing new in Titans are some legendary weapons and equipment, and admittedly, they are pretty cool. But there’s a catch: You can only equip your ship with two legendary weapons at a time, which means that when you find something you like, you rarely want to throw it out. This took some of the fun out of collecting new gear, as I found myself keeping the same weapons throughout the expansion.
It’s a shame that Everspace 2: Titans doesn’t offer more to us experienced players. I know that Rockfish Games is a smaller studio, but I was hoping that this expansion would give us something more. Personally, I think Titans should be free, and a really rich expansion should offer something more substantial to players.
I finished Titans in about four or five hours, and there wasn’t much else to do after that except collect loot – and 99% of that loot was useless anyway. It’s a bit sad, and I really hope that future expansions will provide more content for those of us who want to take our mighty spaceships to the next level. I want to be able to improve my ship in ways that go beyond just collecting new equipment, and there’s a lot of that in the game already.
However, on a positive note, I will mention the graphics in Everspace 2: Titans, which are just as beautiful and atmospheric as those in the main game. The expansion includes several new planets and new music to add to the game’s already strong atmosphere. The voice acting is also very good and all the little stories are delivered with conviction and quality.
But overall, it’s not a big win for the Titans. If you are considering buying the expansion, I recommend waiting until it goes on sale. There simply isn’t enough content to justify the price, which is a shame. As a fan of the main game, I’m disappointed, and I think others who have spent a lot of time playing Everspace 2 will feel the same way. Hopefully future expansion packs will bring more.
