DaRmaZat The year is 2153. On the edge of the solar system lies Yellow Station, a cutting-edge research facility tasked with pushing the boundaries of human knowledge. But one day, the station goes silent. No distress signals. No automated transmissions. No signs of life. The void swallowed its presence entirely. Responding to a faint and mysterious SOS signal, a rescue crew ventures into the unknown. As their ship docks with the eerily quiet station, a creeping dread sets in. What happened to the crew? Why is the station so deathly silent? And what is that shadow moving just out of sight?
In Hollow Space, you will step into the shoes of a desperate survivor fighting to uncover the truth—or a monstrous mutant hell-bent on ensuring no one leaves the station alive. At under 2 euros, Hollow Space might lure in curious gamers with its premise: a derelict space station, as if plucked from Alien, where players can face off as space marines or mutants in online PvP combat. Unfortunately, the execution is so riddled with flaws that even its low price feels unjustifiable.
Riddled with technical Issues
The technical issues are glaring. Characters frequently clip through objects, and movement is awkward, with bizarre zoom-ins and missing frames during running animations. Black screens occasionally disrupt gameplay, while a persistent bug requires players to press the escape button at the start of each session—an annoyance that feels emblematic of the game’s general lack of polish.
A general lack of polish.
Most of the sound effects are equally unrefined, often getting stuck in repetitive loops that grate on your nerves. Unfortunately, gun play and melee combat, the supposed centerpieces of the experience, feel stuttery and unresponsive, making encounters more frustrating than exciting.
A Dead Player Base
Perhaps the most damning flaw of all is the absence of online players. With no active player base, you’re forced to play in offline sessions against bots. While this workaround technically allows you to experience the game, the AI opponents lack the challenge and unpredictability of human players, reducing the already limited experience to a dull grind.
An extremely limited experience.
Despite its numerous shortcomings, Hollow Space does have glimpses of potential. The atmosphere of Yellow Station, with danger lurking at every turn in its tight, haunted corridors, and the overall concept are intriguing. The developer is also actively addressing the issues. However, these efforts don’t erase the fact that the game seems to have been rushed toward release. An Early Access launch might have been a better path, allowing more time for fixes and valuable community input.
Final Thoughts
Even at its budget price, Hollow Space feels like a hollow shell of what it could have been. Unless major improvements are made, it’s best to leave this wrecked station unexplored.
Additional Information
Release Date: November 24, 2024
Reviewed On: PC. Download code provided by the publisher and PR agency.
Developer: ZOJIN
Publisher: ZOJIN
Relevant links: Hollow Space on STEAM
