Prepare to experience a very different Siberia in Expedition Zero
We would all do anything to get out of a place where we are not comfortable. Especially when that place is Siberia and the environment is not as friendly as possible. This is what happens to the protagonist of Zero Shippingwhere you will have to complete a series of tasks and investigations that will allow you to escape the snowy nightmare who lives in a job Enigmatic machines y Tiny construction games which has already been released on PC (where we have been able to analyze it) but which will soon arrive on next-gen consoles. So go prepare a good stove and a good blanket, because soon it will be cold in the living room.
Where is the heating in this cabin?
Expedition Zero is a survival game where we must be alert to any danger that could end our existence. Not only will we have to contend with inclement weather, but there will be other issues such as monsters, radioactive clouds, and other mishaps that require an instant fix. And that’s why, nothing is more effective than preparing before each incursion into the Siberian forests.
What doesn’t kill… is good for DIY
In addition to being well dressed with the necessary equipment, you will have to go there with a good plan under your arm. Expedition Zero will ask us to investigate certain territories in search of clues that have led their population to total disaster. Newspapers talk about viruses, although there are traces of some religious cult or secret government investigations that could have led to this disaster. We will be the only “rational” person who is there, and we will have to move through all kinds of areas to complete these investigations, solve puzzles and flee from the zombies and creatures watching us from the trees.
Crafting will be a main part of the adventure. Thanks to the materials we collect, we can make new accessories that help us last longer on the snowy surface. Basically everything will work with three basic elements: metallic, plastic and electronic components. With this in our possession, we will be the luckiest survivors in the area.
Is there bluetooth in the middle of the forest?
There is one aspect that does not quite suit me, it is the way of creating the objects. All Expedition Zero have a realistic tint, in the sense that we have to look for wood to make a fire, the bullets of our rifle will be very rare, our inventory space will be very limited, etc. The houses also try to recreate this state of poverty in the region, and even other buildings such as churches or factories have a very characteristic style. Of course, in every location there is at least one 3D printer, and that’s what kills me.
All crafting is done through these devices, and only with the three materials mentioned. Make a flashlight helmet? Metal, plastic and electronic components. A gas mask? Metal, plastic and electronic components. A thermal liner for our wetsuit that works with electricity and regulates our temperature? Metal, plastic and electronic components. And that compared to the air of harsh survival found outside the shelter, well it hits.
Sounds that follow me wherever I go…
At all times, I talk about the survival virtues that Expedition Zero contains because they prevail over other aspects. Yes, At first glance, one might think that we are facing a survival horror to the first person, well… the reason is not missing in part. There’s little shortage of bullets, and sometimes running is better than engaging an enemy.
Guttural sounds and dark themes also accompany certain plot moments. But these moments of terror and fear are not the protagonists of the game. Everything goes hand in hand, and adds points, of course. That there’s an added tension to survival itself helps a lot to get into our character more.
blizzard makeup
Visually Expedition Zero does not reach the level of a large production game, but there isn’t much missing either. Almost all the scenarios are soulless due to the passage of time, the outer areas are still shrouded in darkness, with constant bursts of snow making it hard to see us and a large portion of the enemies are some sort of clone zombies or black blurs that even move at staggering speed.
Enigmatic Machines knew how to use its resources well, without extending beyond its real options. and the game went well for them. Moreover, this light “downgrade” the visual that we feel is even positive due to the theme it touches, with old-fashioned installations with a certain touch Balkan-Soviet. Life is tough and in these places there is no time for frills.
Conclusion of Expedition Zero
Enigmatic Machines and tinyBuild Games have managed to create a challenging yet accessible survival game for anyone interested in the genre. The beginnings can be a little confusing, but once you know how to manage your resources and know where to look, everything takes on a different color.
It may be that in such a harsh environment, there are things that collide, like the fear that can be felt in the game. We will rarely be with the tension that we feel in survival-horrors, although that the context that Expedition Zero offers can help us get more into the skin of the protagonist. If you want a title to fight against bad weather while completing missions that help us get out of this frozen hell, you’ve already found it.
Zero Shipping
Benefits
- Easy to handle, despite all the options
- Real feeling that the next step might be the last
- The game invites exploration and learning of its history
The inconvenients
- It has more survival than survival horror
- Visually it is a bit behind
- 3D printers and their use in the game do not convince me…
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