#Kerbal space program review pc how to
#Kerbal space program review pc trial

Then again, if you want to run the calculations, you certainly can. I say “would use” because you don’t have to actually be a rocket scientist to play, although a basic understanding of the terminology and simple orbital mechanics helps, it is not actually required to play. The math is spot on, the calculations you would use in real rocket science are the same ones you would use here. Things behave in space just as they would in actual space. The game uses very detailed Newtonian physics in the core game mechanics.

The graphics are pretty good and the sound is ok, but the physics engine…simply amazing. Now you are on your way to exciting adventures on other worlds.įor a game that is only on version 0.23 (at the time I write this), it really feels put together. Once you are happy with the result, just point your ship at a little blue dot on the navball and fire those engines until you reach the required velocity. Pull it a little for a small change or a lot for big changes like going to another planet. You can pull on any of the six directions to see how it will change your orbit. KSP gives you the Maneuver Node! Pick a spot on your orbit where you would like to do a maneuver and the node appears. Once you get into space, you are not completely left in the dark. The feeling of pride you get when that first Kerbal orbits the planet…priceless. You learn by pressing the launch button and seeing your ship crash…repeatedly… over and over.

#Kerbal space program review pc trial

The trial and error method of figuring out what parts do what and how they go together is one of the things I love most about the game. In fact, other than a “click here to do this” type of lesson, the game teaches you nothing about what it takes to build a rocket.

#Kerbal space program review pc how to

It really does not teach you anything about how to play. You may think to yourself “I’m not a rocket scientist, I better try the tutorial.” Well, good luck. When you start the game, you see that there is a tutorial. You have all the parts at your disposal and the stars above to shoot for. The sandbox mode is, for now, where it’s at. There are two modes of play, Career and Sandbox, but as the game is still early in development the career mode really only has a tech tree.

The tone is very light hearted (check out some videos here) and the Kerbals themselves are so darn cute. The basics of the game are pretty simple: Here are a bunch of parts, put them together and see what happens.

When I heard about a game that let me run a space program, I naturally jumped at the chance. I grew up and moved on to other things, but the love of space was always there with me, and gave me my love of science fiction. I read everything I could get my sticky little hands on that would have anything to do with space, the planets, rockets, anything. “That’s one small step for man…one giant leap for mankind.” – Neil Armstrong To infinity…or at least that planet over there.Įver since I was a little boy, I loved space…and dinosaurs…but mostly space.