I've read a ton of good things about this game, so I started it this week. I'm a couple of hours in now, but all I'm doing is floating around in the little space ship so far, and respawning every so often when I do something dumb.
Without spoiling it for me, is this really what this game is about? Does it get interesting at some point (soon I hope)?
UPDATE 1 DAY LATER: OK, so, using my ship log helped and I found something amazing. So I think I've found my way now and will stick with it. Thanks @tetraodon and everyone – y'all rock!
It sounds like you’re a little bit into it. If at this point you are not curious about the Nomai or why you keep dying and finding answers to those questions, then you should stop playing. The game might not be for you. Because it tells a non-linear story and if you don’t care about the story then there’s nothing there for you.
That being said, my experience with the game was heavily influenced by recent loss in my life and playing it helped me process my grief. Naturally that is a highly personal experience. But there was one point in particular where I read one bit of text and the realization of the implications just made me sit there and cry until I died.
But I was fully invested in the story. If that isn’t important to you the gameplay alone isn’t going to carry it.