izigame.me

Instead of reading this review, you should buy, download and play Subnautica. It is a fantastic single player experience that left me an emotional wreck, in more than one way.. Just dive in, you’ll see what I mean..
Still here? Well then, I’ll see if I can convince you to experience one of the best gaming experiences of the century.
Subnautica weaves an experience about surviving on an alien planet with a large ocean teeming with life. With nothing but the tools and gadgets salvaged from the wreck of the intergalactic cruise ship that your employer, a dystopian corporation that gives OCP a run for their money, you have to carve out a niche and find a way to get back home.. From brilliant narration at the start of the game you realise that you are down for the long haul, and with a brilliant example of emerging storytelling you are nudged into exploring further and further away from your lifepod to find out what exactly caused the crash landing and how you can get away from the planet with your life and sanity intact..
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3443838413
The core gameplay is a mixture of crafting and survival with food and oxygen being your two main resources to keep an eye on. The beginning of the game is rather serene where you end up exploring a large coral reef filled with alien flora and fauna. You begin the game with some basic supplies and a rudimentary crafting station that gets you started. Efter fixing the main systems on your lifepod you are more or less free to explore on your own, and the constant scanning of new creatures and flowers as well as seeing new and exciting biomes lends itself perfectly to the scientific style of gameplay that I really adore.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3443838805
This game is absolutely gorgeous.. Both visually as well as from a storytelling perspective. Now I might be biased coming from an academic background with studies in biology, but who in their right mind would not be enthralled by the thought of freely exploring an alien ecosystem in all its grandeur? On top of that the story that emerges from the deep is both compelling and refreshing with an environmental connection that really ties the narrative together. Everyone's first playthrough will be different and that in itself is part of the magic of this game. The early game might be a bit confusing if you fail to understand that the hand scanner is basically your tricorder filled to the brim with analyzing potential, and every coral and strand of kelp might hold untold potential if you are curious enough.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3443839358
To me Subnautica was an instant love story. I have a dear friend who told me ages ago that I would love it, and she was absolutely right. From the brilliant storytelling, the compelling gameplay and the near perfect sound design, this is a perfect example of how worldbuilding should be done. The only nitpick I have is that there are a few clipping issues and minor bugs, but never anything gamebreaking for me. And to those willing to explore, this is a smorgasbord of potential! Now there are moments of thalassophobia in this game, but personally this just enhanced the overall experience of being abandoned on an alien planet. So go in blind, and explore to your heart's content!
Highly recommended to anyone intrigued by survival, exploration and marine biology. A masterclass in emergent storytelling!