The first thing we remember at Subnautica is to get off the boat and see the damage to our plane after the accident. The sea stretched in all directions and sparkled in the sunlight. We were alone in a small emergency pod and had to survive. It wasn’t necessary to build a raft like in other games, but to dive in and explore what these waters were hiding. When we released the first game in 2018, we found a fascinating, colorful world with incredible sound design. Immersing and experiencing the work of Unknown Worlds remains one of our favorite memories: the design and music exceeded expectations and the survival factor was successful. Exploring the water, food, and equipment was one way to balance the scales while also propelling that experience forward.
There are very few games with a world we fall in love with like Subnautica. So the question is how Subnautica: Below Zero, the long-awaited second installment, is coping with its predecessor and the competition. The answer is very good. In this new adventure you take on the role of Robin Ayou, a xenobiologist In search of his sister he disappeared without a trace.
The game begins in a rather tragic way that we think you should experience in the first person. The adventure begins as soon as you arrive on the frozen planet, and unlike its predecessor, where the scenarios from the water were small and rare, some of it takes place on land. To get by in these places, you have new vehicles like the hovercraft, objects to help you avoid anything you want to eat, and Spy penguins
However, spy penguins are great fun and are the only way to get close to certain living things without being eaten. To create a suit that will protect you from the cold, for example, you need to use the robot to get the fur of a very bad-tempered animal, similar to a wolf. To do this, you need to hide behind a rock in a secluded place and point the little penguin at the specimen to remove its fur without attracting attention. You can also visit real penguins and camouflage yourself under them. With this in mind, the word penguin should be grasped with tweezers as these robots have fangs and don’t look very much like their species. Either way, it’s fun to throw them in the air; We can’t justify it, but we think that throwing penguins is something very mythical in the world of video games.
Once the initial amazement at the beauty of this title is over, you will start thinking about how you will survive, for which there are new mechanics. You no longer just have to worry about water, oxygen and food, you have to worry about them too Take care of the cold: It is not a problem when you are in the water, but it is a problem when you surface. Hot drinks, food, and gear will help you cope with weather conditions from hail to meteor showers. However, we have found that underwater cold is not a major factor, so it is not considered when improving vehicles. It would have been nice to have to think twice about where we’re going and how we’re moving in the depths instead of feeling like it’s a mix of two different systems that doesn’t quite work.
We’re not complaining about the news: you bring something new that helps avoid monotony. In addition, this new property has its weight and offers you the opportunity to freely explore a varied and entertaining world. We’re not going to give much away as we want you to discover it for yourself, but on this adventure you will visit every corner, whether your focus is on history or exploration. To do this, you need a place to leave the objects: you have a computer where, as in the previous game, you can choose what to take with you and read Information about the creatures and plants you have scanned. This system works very well and you have the option to pause or resume the game from the menu while you are in it. You can also read messages that establish links between the two projects.
Below Zero is shorter than its predecessor, and although it was originally intended as an expansion, it was released as a standalone title. Having played other works of the genre will give you an idea of what it is about; The big difference is that in this case it is not killed in the same way. Exploration plays a very important role while a fairly clear story is devoted to the development of the game. Regarding the extent of the surface, it should be noted that it is not as extensive as in the previous title, but more vertical as the settings are more stacked on top of each other. We believe it is a success, although it removes the fear of being too far from the grassroots. Those of you who have tried the game above may remember what it feels like to be several miles deep in the unknown. If you get too far from the base, the option is yours Use the Seatruck as a submarine equivalent
Subnautica: Below Zero lasts between 12 and 40 hours, depending on what you focus on. For many people, aspects such as exploring and building the base will extend this approach even further. When we tested it, we found several flaws, but we accepted them with greater willingness than in the case of the previous work. If you are looking to immerse yourself in a new underwater adventure, this is what pays off the most for you. It’s close and airtight, with very interesting elements on the surface and plenty of swimming. The story is not the main course, although the game insists that you follow it: the real treasure is the first moments when you dive underwater and let yourself be fascinated by a unique and inviting water world with snow and glaciers.
