Have you ever been inside a whale? Most people would probably say no, unless they are part of a Pinocchio or Bible story. But I do! Not literally, of course – but I’ve been 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 dig into whether Everspace 2: Titans has something to offer.
Everspace 2 is an action-packed space shooter in which you pilot a spaceship in intense and thrilling battles in outer space. I really like the main game because it accurately captures the feeling I’ve been missing since Freelancer, another space shooter that’s very similar in structure and design. However, after finishing Everspace 2, I’m kind of left empty-handed. Aside from collecting cool equipment and making your ship more deadly, there’s not much left, especially story-wise.
Here is an ad:
The emphasis after the main game is on collecting “phat loot”, which is also emphasized in the free Incursions expansion pack that introduces the space rift. Here you can fly into rifts 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’ll be left with piles of materials that can potentially 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 peak, and then you’re stuck in a loop of searching for equipment.
That’s why I’m glad that the Titans expansion finally brings something new – a fresh story. The extension is divided into two parts. In the first part, you meet a female scientist who asks you to scan giant skeletons in different galaxies. It’s quickly revealed that the bones are from giant whale-like aliens, and you must then investigate further. That’s why the extension is named Titans. Eventually, you are swallowed by one of these giant whales and must wander around its body, completing various tasks while battling its “immune system.”
This is where things start to get exciting – until everything suddenly stops. Yes, you heard it right. After exploring and fighting inside the whale, you find a pearl to take 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 tiring.
Here is an ad:
Fortunately, another part of the expansion provides even more depth. Here you are contacted by a mysterious agent who wants your help investigating a giant spaceship that has been hijacked by a gang of gangsters. Your mission is to protect the ship’s cargo before it wreaks havoc on neighboring planets. Together with a fleet of other spaceships, you must ensure that the spacecraft does not go out of control. This part of the story feels more exciting and is easily reminiscent of the epic story in the main game.
But again, expansion can trip up on itself. After several battles with large ships, you keep encountering the same situation where you have to solve two or three missions and be rewarded with loot. Just when you think the story is going to take a turn or reach some sort of climax, it all comes to a screeching halt with no real ending. It leaves an empty feeling, as if the game doesn’t really 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 some extra levels or new progression for players who reach level 30. As it stands, there’s little new for experienced captains, making the expansion rather weak. Another disappointment is the lack of new gameplay mechanics. The only thing new in Titans is some legendary weapons and gear, and admittedly, they’re pretty cool. But there’s a catch: You can only equip your ship with two legendary weapons at a time, which means that once you find something you really like, you’ll rarely want to switch it out. This took some of the thrill 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 for us experienced players. I know Rockfish Games is a smaller studio, but I had hoped this expansion would give us something more. Personally, I think Titans should be free, and a truly rich expansion should offer players something more substantial.
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, of which there’s already a lot in the game.
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 some new music to complement the game’s already strong atmosphere. The voice acting is also very good and the little stories are all delivered with conviction and quality.
But overall, it’s not a big win for the Titans. If you’re considering purchasing 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. Let’s hope future expansion packs offer more.
