![]() ![]() That would be a shame too, because once you do get a grasp on proceedings, this is an excellent and rewarding experience. That’s not the case here and I think if I wasn’t heading under the waves for review purposes, I may well have given up. You always know exactly what you are meant to do. Whilst I’m new to Subnautica, I’m certainly not new to the genre and in No Man’s Sky, for example, you are hand-held through the first few hours of the game. It transpires that one must mainly focus on the basics tools you’ll need for survival, and then go out exploring the world. In fact, right from the start I had to look online to begin to understand what should be my best course of action. My one main criticism of this great game is that it relies on you to have some knowledge of survival games or the Subnautica world to know what to do next. When you arrive in your underwater hub you are presented with a story quest that is slightly vague, leaving you with a marker regarding an emergency supply drop some 400m away. The story is great, highly intriguing in fact, and that’s thanks to the witty writing and fascinating telling of the lore of the Subnautica universe. Soon you’re on a mysterious journey where you discover an alien race – the Architects – and derelict dwellings that hold clues to the story through datapads and characters you meet along the way. You are searching for your sister who is believed to be dead, but you have other ideas that the megacorporation Alterra is hiding something. As she dives into the water, Below Zero begins to open up as she ends up in a little underwater base hub and we slowly get the chance to work out what is going on. She is a tough, fearless xenobiologist who starts the game running away from a meteor shower on a strange alien world. The story puts you in the shoes, or should I say fins, of Ronin Ayou. ![]() Please bear in mind then that this review comes from the point of view of a newcomer to the series rather than a hardened professional Subnautica veteran. I was fully aware of this amazing game though, in particular the universe that gamers have plowed hundreds of hours in to, creating underwater cities in the process. Subnautica proved that survival games do not require combat to be compelling, but the creators can do more with their non-violent premise to give the game variety, either through puzzles, minigames, or new core mechanics.I have to be honest with you – I never played the original Subnautica. It would be great to see more tools that introduce unique mechanics and effect change on the environment in new ways. ![]() While the new pieces of tech are cool, and some familiar pieces of technology have received extra functionality, the starting craft trees are nearly identical to those in the first game. That said, Below Zero is very stable after its 2 years in early access, especially compared to newer early access releases, and a much smoother ride than the original game as a whole. It should also be noted that rocky terrain can be perilous-especially when combined with jumping-not only due to fall damage, but some lingering collision detection bugs that can easily get Robin stuck. The addition of heat management mechanics manage to make overland travel interesting and challenging, whereas dryland excursions were more like breaks in the original game, but a heat gauge is fundamentally similar to an oxygen gauge, and does little to mix up the game's formula. Graphic enhancements abound and the narrative is unquestionably more ambitious, but there are very few features that fundamentally change the core gameplay. There is no denying Below Zero feels more like an expansion than a true sequel, though it would compete with some of the best DLC 2020 had to offer. ![]() That said, Below Zero has its heart-pounding moments. This feels like the right direction of evolution for the series, which has always prioritized organic discovery and scientific research over the rigid, linear storytelling and visceral combat of dedicated survival horror titles. Even the Alterra PDA's voice delivers more quips than in the original. On the whole, Below Zero's narrative feels more humorous and warmhearted than Subnautica, slightly dulling the player's sense of desperation, horror, and dread. The benefit of this trade is that mundane resource hunting runs-a frequent activity in Subnautica-are more memorable and enjoyable. The presence of voice could be considered a double-edged sword, as having a character comment on her environment as she explores 4546B's seas alleviates the oppressive sense of isolation that was present in the original game. The voice acting in Below Zero is expressive and sharp, and Robin is a determined, well-written character who will likely win over gamers with her relatable wit and kind nature. ![]()
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