Touting a “universe-sized sandbox” that’s “full of choices,” Hello Games co-founder Sean Murray graced Sony’s press conference with another galaxy-hopping demo for the ambitious No Man’s Sky. As with every showing of the game, the promise of its mind-boggling scope is offset by lingering questions about what players will actually be doing while occupying it. Even if it does end up being just an incredibly huge, very pretty space sim, No Man’s Sky should have no problem attracting players eager to explore its virtually endless environments.

New No Man’s Sky Video Teaches You How To Fight

The second video in No Man's Sky's four-part educational series has been released by Sony and Hello Games earlier today, aiming to teach players when it's best to stand your ground and when to run away. Space pirates, predatory creatures and Sentinels make up the three main threats that you'll have to deal with on your journey to the centre of the universe, but they won't necessarily always be hostile.

Published: Jul 20, 2016 10:17 am

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The second video in No Man’s Sky‘s four-part educational series has been released by Sony and Hello Games earlier today, aiming to teach players when it’s best to stand your ground and when to run away. Space pirates, predatory creatures and Sentinels make up the three main threats that you’ll have to deal with on your journey to the centre of the universe, but they won’t necessarily always be hostile.

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The Sentinels in particular (an omnipresent force of robots that seek to maintain the natural order of the universe) will only behave aggressively towards the player if they get overzealous with taking a planet’s resources or killing its wildlife. To defend yourself, a handy “multi-tool” can be seemingly customized and adapted to any situation, but it’s not always wise to stand your ground, according to the video description.

On a planet, players are equipped with a multi-tool to defend against deadly predator creatures and mine resources. Attacking creatures – aggressive or otherwise – or mining resources will call the attention of the Sentinels, a robotic force who seeks to keep each planet in a natural, undisturbed state. The more you fight back against the Sentinels, the higher your Wanted level, and the tougher they will become – from flying drones to quadrupedal machines, towering walkers and eventually dropships.

Space is also patrolled by the Sentinels, so attacking traders for their valuable goods or scavenging resources from freighters will also see you gaining a Wanted level, with Sentinel police ships coming to defend the natural order.

It’s not just the Sentinels who you need to beware of in space – pirates will swoop on the unwary, requiring you to evade and escape or fight back to defend your cargo.

So that’s combat covered. What’s next, you ask? The two remaining pre-release videos deal with Trade and Survival, the former of which will be released next week.

No Man’s Sky releases for PlayStation 4 and PC on August 9. Do you intend to take the path of a noble guardian on release day, or indulge in a spot of piracy? Let us know in the comments below.

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