Recent reviews by beau

Came looking for a sequel to TSP, got a deconstruction of the concept of sequels and my own desire to see one instead. Just like TSP, this game isn't just a quirky romp through multiple endings, but rather a reflection on storytelling and the relationship between player and developer.
It certainly captured the concept of a Fallout 76 style sequel built to fulfill a loose collection of promises-
"Twice the endings", but half the endings are just rehashes of existing ones with bucket-related involvement. Random industry-standard additions like collectibles. A general feeling of caution in innovation out of fear that one may hurt the sensibilities of old fans due to losing the "magic" that the original had. All culminating in a dead franchise lampooned by critics, broken memories, and nothing more than rehashes of the original soullessly spit out again and again.
The narrator feels like an extension of the the developers themselves, as though they had deliberated for a long time over what they wanted to do with a continuation of TSP, and decided to make the new game about their own struggles with doing so.

That being said, the game is now built more like an elaborate commentary on the medium rather than purely the best gameplay experience or most faithful sequel they could come up with. If you're here because you loved exploring the countless endings in TSP, or want answers to the game's past mysteries such as the man walking behind door 425, or want the game to capture the same magic feeling it gave you back then, you may be sorely disappointed by Ultra Deluxe. The game cannot deliver the magic of the past, and it knows this.
But if you're looking for more commentary on games as a storytelling medium, TSP:UD doesn't disappoint.

TAX THE POOR!

By the Nine Divines! Assault!

The Dark Souls motto was actually referring to The Lost. "Prepare to die. A lot."

The game is stunted by its story but is still an unforgettable experience. I would reccomend completing the first two or three quests and then just treating the game as a sandbox from that point on.

Modding community is amazing. Please use mods.

My dream for starbound is an option upon creating a new character to decide between a sandbox progression mode and a story mode, and a lore revision. Lore changes would bring back old players too.