Kerbal Space Program 2 Review Summary

Overall enjoyable and engaging experience: Many reviewers express overall enjoyment and satisfaction with the game. They praise its fun factor, engaging gameplay, and potential, with many finding it better than its predecessor. Some note that the game is enjoyable even in its current state, while others highlight its appeal to both newcomers and veterans of the series.

Improved graphics and audio: Reviewers consistently praise the game's improved graphics, visuals, and audio quality compared to previous installments. The enhanced textures, realistic elements, and immersive sound design contribute to a more visually appealing and engaging experience. Some reviewers note that the graphics are so good that they enhance the sense of realism.

Enjoyable rocket/plane building mechanics: The game's rocket and plane building mechanics are a core element that many reviewers find enjoyable. The intuitive building system, customizable parts, and realistic physics contribute to a satisfying creative experience. Reviewers appreciate the ability to design and test various creations, from rockets to spaceplanes.

Significant bug fixes and improvements: Many reviewers note that the game has received substantial bug fixes and improvements through updates like the 'For Science' update. These updates have addressed initial issues, enhanced gameplay, and added new features, making the game more playable and enjoyable. Some reviewers specifically mention that the game now functions without significant issues.

Vast world for exploration: The game offers a vast world to explore, including the moon, Mars, exoplanets, and other celestial bodies. Reviewers appreciate the ability to construct space stations, land rovers on Mars, and embark on interstellar travel. The game's physics and attention to detail contribute to a realistic and engaging space exploration experience.

Abandoned; promises unfulfilled; waste: The game's development has been abandoned, with developers halting updates and failing to deliver promised features. This has led to an unfinished state, numerous bugs, and a sense of betrayal among players. Many reviewers now consider the game a waste of money and advise against purchasing it.

Extremely buggy and unoptimized: The game is plagued with bugs, glitches, and optimization issues, making it frustrating and sometimes unplayable. Many reviewers feel the game was released prematurely and lacks polish, with some comparing the bugginess to games like ARK: Survival Evolved.

Lacks features from predecessor: Compared to its predecessor, the game is missing core features, content, and modes, such as career mode, multiplayer, and interstellar travel. Reviewers express disappointment that the sequel doesn't live up to the original, with some suggesting the first game is superior.

Clunky and frustrating UI: The game's user interface is clunky and frustrating, making it difficult to perform basic tasks like editing maneuver nodes or targeting planets. Reviewers note that the interface is overly complex and lacks the precision of the previous game.

Time warp and pausing issues: The game has issues with time warp, causing it to lose track of its state or overshoot maneuver nodes. Pausing the game is also unintuitive, leading to accidental pauses.

More accessible, educational: The game is more accessible than its predecessor, integrating popular mods and simplifying complex concepts like orbital mechanics, making it an educational tool for new players.

Core gameplay: space simulation: The core gameplay revolves around realistic space simulation, tasking players with designing spacecraft, planning missions, and managing orbital mechanics to explore and colonize planets.

Resource management for travel: Interplanetary travel requires resource management, specifically mining ore and converting it into fuel to refuel orbital stations, which are essential for larger ships undertaking long voyages.

Research unlocks mission progression: The research ladder motivates players by unlocking new parts, which are essential for progressing further in missions and expanding the scope of their space exploration endeavors.

Limited scientific instruments: The limited selection of scientific instruments makes exploration feel restricted, hindering the depth of scientific discovery and experimentation within the game.

Freezes during VAB transitions: The game is prone to soft locks and freezes, particularly when transitioning between the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) and other windows or reverting flights. This can interrupt the design and testing process.

Glitches with complex vehicles: The game experiences graphical glitches when using multiple fuel tanks, and performance degrades when vehicles have more than a small number of parts. This limits the complexity of designs players can create without performance issues.

Optimization patches implemented: Some reviewers indicate that optimization problems were present initially but have been partially addressed through patches. This suggests that the developers are actively working to improve performance, but issues may still persist.

Excessive loading screen times: Players report spending a significant amount of time waiting for loading screens. This can disrupt the flow of gameplay and make the experience feel less responsive.

No native ultrawide/4K support: The game does not natively support ultrawide and 4K resolutions. This can be a drawback for players with high-end monitors who expect native support for these resolutions.

KSP1 is currently better: Many reviewers suggest that the original Kerbal Space Program is currently a better option than KSP2. They cite KSP1's lower price, better performance, more complete feature set (especially with DLCs), and thriving modding community as key advantages. Some even recommend specific mods or mod managers like CKAN to enhance the original game.

Do not buy; game is broken: A significant number of reviews strongly advise against purchasing KSP2 in its current state. They cite numerous bugs, performance issues, missing features, and the perceived abandonment of the project by the developers as reasons for their negative recommendations. Some reviewers even suggest the game should be removed from sale or that refunds should be issued.

Only buy on deep sale: Some reviewers suggest that KSP2 might be worth considering only if purchased at a significant discount. This recommendation acknowledges the game's flaws but suggests that a lower price point could make it a worthwhile experience for some players. However, many still caution against buying it at full price.

Hoping for future improvements: Several reviewers express hope that the developers will continue working on the game and address its current issues. They acknowledge the game's potential and look forward to future updates, DLCs, or community mods that could improve the gameplay experience. However, there is also concern about the disorganized development.

Recommended for space enthusiasts: A few reviewers still recommend the game, particularly to those interested in space, science, and engineering. They highlight the entertainment value of the game, even with its flaws, and express excitement for future features like colonization. However, these positive sentiments are less prevalent than the negative ones.

Publisher silence frustrates community: The publisher's silence and lack of communication regarding the game's status have significantly increased frustration and uncertainty within the community. This lack of transparency, combined with the game's unfinished state, has eroded trust and fueled speculation about its future.

Hope for revival remains: Despite the game's issues, some reviewers express hope that the project might be revived or that the community can keep the spirit of Kerbal alive. They acknowledge the developers' past efforts and wish for someone to eventually finish the game, or for the community to continue supporting the game through mods.

Demanding PC specs, difficult: The game demands decent PC specifications and a fast PC. The game is also difficult.

High anticipation, major disappointment: Many players were highly anticipating KSP2, driven by trailers and the success of its predecessor, with some even upgrading their hardware to play it. However, the game has largely failed to meet these expectations, leading to widespread disappointment within the community.

Modding community active: The modding community is actively working on expanding and improving KSP2, aiming to add new features and content to the game. This community support offers a potential avenue for the game to evolve despite the lack of official development.