Premature Evaluation is the weekly column in which we explore the wilds of early access. This week, Fraser s hauling cargo across pirate-infested star systems in space sandbox Objects in Space.
It s so quiet I can hear the dog breathing as he naps in the hallway. I ve turned the in-game music player off, killed the power to every component on the ship and I m hurtling through space. I m completely blind, so I m relying on dumb luck to get me to the space station. There s no viewscreen, no HUD, just a bunch of dead monitors and me, waiting to see if I ll be hit by a torpedo.
I can t wait any longer. I pull the lever, the ship shudders and the monitors flicker to life. The torpedo-packing pirate is still close, but safe harbour is closer. I push the engine as far as it can go, and the ship lurches forward. A few seconds later, I see the alert: I ve run out of power, and systems are shutting down all over the ship. Piece by piece, she s dying. I m so close, though. If I can avoid blowing up for a few more seconds, I ll make it. Momentum alone gets me to sanctuary.