The universe is overflowing with intelligent life, and yet No Man's Sky grand sci-fi adventure is about discovery -- in the isolation of space, at the ends of the universe, everyone is searching for purpose.

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“ You could be the only human player to ever locate a specific set-piece location with an uncertain, untold story.

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Perhaps this is why we still have so many enduring questions about No Man's Sky. How do you explain a game about infinite possibility? What's out there to learn about, to hunt or escape, to claim for yourself? In a universe overflowing with intelligent life, why am I here?The truth is out there.As an intrepid explorer, you begin No Man's Sky with unremarkable but serviceable entry-level equipment. Your first starship isn't equipped to take down cruisers or take you to the mysterious center of the universe, but it's your first step to making your mark, making money, and visiting new planets unlike any you've seen before.Each planet is an opportunity and a risk. Ecology is your primary means of earning currency, and as you uncover unknown species, mine minerals, and record your findings, you'll gain access to infantry and aerial upgrades. Trading is core to No Man's Sky as well, although those with enough confidence and coin may opt out of give-and-take in favor of just take.Violence and other forms of disruption can be extremely lucrative. However, you make yourself a mark for Sentinels -- planetary protectors that remind you, quite aggressively, that this is not your world and you do not belong here. Provoke the guardians continually and they'll increase their effort to annihilate you. A Grand Theft Auto-inspired "wanted" system escalates alongside your destruction. Escape before Sentinels slaughter you, and you'll get out with the goods. Fall to their defenses and your unrecorded earnings on that planet die with you -- so try not to engage or upset anything too far from a Beacon, which uploads your discoveries to the Atlas database.Some planets, even if you discover them first, have a clear history separate from your Atlas records. Traditional storytelling doesn't exist in No Man's Sky, but flying over a crashed ship gives history to a particular place. Seeing structures in the distance indicates someone was here before. Where they are now, or if they even exist anymore, is uncertain.Beyond the systems of No Man's Sky, where you document your findings at Beacons and record them to the in-game Atlas database, the growth of video games as a social activity presents a fascinating new opportunity for shared storytelling. Playing a game has become a communal activity thanks to Twitch, and PlayStation's Share button has given every PlayStation 4 player the ability to instantly upload every discovery to a real-world database. You can broadcast your adventure, send your findings into the crowd, and have real people engage with it. You're alone out there, but you don't have to be.This isn't to say No Man's Sky is limiting or empty. Discover, document, kill, steal, trade, and fight how you want; it all contributes to your overall growth. The economy of No Man's Sky means you'll be increasingly ready to defend yourself on foot, harvest a planet for its elements, and take on traders, pirates, and other factions in space. Allies in the form of A.I. ships may aid you in certain battles, flying in formation alongside you and cutting down enemy starfighters en route to wherever you lead them.Your solitary quest to the center of the universe can earn you powerful friends and enemies, if that's how you choose to play No Man's Sky. Raiding ships is optional, of course, and pacifist players can find joy in simply seeking and sharing of information across galaxies. With a hefty amount of luck, another player -- pirate, soldier, scientist, or otherwise -- will happen across your discoveries and see the stamp you've left in your travels.Then they will know, without a doubt, that they are not alone in the universe.For more on this month's IGN First, check out Everything You Need to Know About No Man's Sky

Mitch Dyer is an IGN Editor. He's currently enjoying Blackbirds by Chuck Wendig. You can follow him on Twitter . Please share tips.