The game has its moments and all but the rampant cheater problem is really discouraging. I think if the problems aren't resolved, the game will go the same way as Lost Oasis. Already I'm finding it nearly impossible to find anyone irl to play with me on this game since they all take one glance at the reviews and run for the hills. When you don't have a 2-3 man in solo sprint at Mach-Jesus across the other side of the desert to your face, ignoring several times fatal damage, remotely shutting down your reactor every 2 seconds, instantly repairing their damage, them still managing to miss every shot with a 12ga. At point blank, and you don't need to bribe someone with cuddle times on their couch at 1am just to play with you to get you out of solo... Then the game is actually really enjoyable ;)
I'd honestly rather play sea of thieves since it seems like people still play that game despite the years it's been out, though I do like Sand's dieselpunk aesthetic it has going on. When you're not being ran down like a wild hog by 1/3rd of the U.S. Military, you get to feel like a scared tugboat captain, surrounded by circling U-boats as you try to make a run towards extraction with 2 revolvers and some old napkins you found in a rubbish pile. The sights can be really pretty like the giant ominous gas giant looming over the horizon like some malevolent god, deaf to your prayers when a skill-less cheater blows up your reactor from 50 miles away like he had a rail gun.
The sound design for the mech and the cannons are really satisfying if you're into old style tech. Fights can actually get pretty cinematic if you can ignore the cheaters. Ngl though I've been more inconvenienced by Sand Cheaters than I have from when I was cheated *on*. Guy was strange looking anyways but imagine coming home from work at like 2am. You have a few hours left before the sun rises so you boot up your favorite game, AKA Sand, and you play carefully and skillfully. Just as you're about to extract and the irl sun is beginning to shine through your windows, you hear a noise so you turn around and it's like 5 tramplers when you're in solo queue. They all collectively fire 80mm which all land perfectly on your forehead and you explode.
If I was a masochist I'd recommend this game 10/10 but that's usually my boyfriends. I'd best describe my emotional state as being like that of a monkey stuck in a pinata, hoping the kids don't break through with the sticks.
