But the game has a way of getting its hooks into you. To land on a planet, they also have to design a lander of their own.Īt first, “Kerbal Space Program” can be daunting, since a player is attempting to be a rocket scientist, astronaut and engineer simultaneously. Once players get into space, they must deal with the concept of manipulating orbits to reach other heavenly bodies, such as the Mun or Minmus, Kerbin’s nearby satellites. That’s when you hit the restart button, and change things up. In other cases, the Kerbals crash-land in a flaming wreck. Sometimes the launch goes well, and astronauts come back alive. After coming up with a design for a rocket, players test it out by performing science experiments. Most of the design work, however, is an endless loop of trial-and-error. They can check out YouTube videos that do a great job of explaining core principles, such as center of mass, aerodynamics and the concept of lift.
Apart from the few core tutorials it offers, players will have to study physics and rocket science on their own to figure out how to build a better rocket or construct a faster jet. For a novice, that’s a lot to take in, and unfortunately, “Kerbal Space Program” doesn’t hold your hand. They must perform science experiments to improve technology so the agency can build parts for more powerful rockets.Īll the while, different arms of the agency have to ensure its funding by completing contracts and various short missions. That means they must build and test rockets that can ferry astronauts into space. The program’s mission is to explore the stars, but players have to start from the ground up. “Kerbal Space Program” puts players in charge at a NASA-like agency on the planet Kerbin, which is inhabited by little green beings called Kerbals.
Players travel to different planets, but not at warp speed or while firing lasers at enemy vessels. Unlike most video games that take place in space, this is an effort rooted in science. The recent breakthrough reminded me of an indie title called the “Kerbal Space Program,” released in an early form in 2013 and in a beta version this year. It’s sure to spark interest in astronomy and ventures into space. Once considered the farthest heavenly body in our solar system, the dwarf planet captured our imagination as scientists showed off its ice mountains and wide plains. With the success of NASA’s New Horizons mission, the public got an up-close look at Pluto for the first time. Review: ‘Kerbal Space Program’ - challenging game rooted in science – The Mercury News Close Menu