The game looks great, but the really confusing in-game menu system makes it difficult to identify and follow missions, identify sort or manage your fleet, or basically do much of anything efficiently, which for me significantly detracted from the entire experience. The galaxy map layout seems to force you spend a lot of time on autopilot transiting through and between systems; ships sent on trade, scavenge, or exploration missions require a lot of management to ensure they aren't sitting idle, circling in systems not doing anything useful, or getting shot down; flying your own ship is fun, pretty, but eventually tedious, and managing a fleet becomes basically a full-time management job. Autopilot seemed to kick in a lot by itself when i was trying to do other things, which caused a lot of frustration. I enjoyed X2 and X3: Albion much more for exploration, sandbox play, and overall immersion.

It doesn't have a plot, but it has a galaxy, in which I am don't needed. It doesn't have a breathtaking questlines, nor a global target.
But i want to return to it. To hum to main theme, to find some purpose, i.e. deter Xenids from Hatikva's Choice. It's feels like strong sci-fi here, and a whole mix of genres. It doesn't feel like a spontaneous purchase, I'm glad that I discovered it.

Great All around space game. Good story line and lots of play options.