Subnautica: Below Zero Review (Camduke25)
The original subnautica is one of my favorite games of all time. I say this because I want to be clear from the start that Everything I say here comes from a genuine place of love for this series.
Below Zero is a fantastic game. I had this game for 2 1/2 years before I actually decided to hunker down and do it. My problem in all my previous attempts was that I expected just Subnautica: The Rerun. This game may be great, but it is very different. It took a while for me to accept those differences and recognize the beauty of this game.
I'll start with some objective positives. The visuals in this game are downright stunning. The creatures and areas you come across, especially in the deeper biomes, are some of the most visually interesting and pleasing I have ever seen. I will try to limit spoilers, but there is one creature in particular who is incredibly unique and you can even go into it to harvest resources. It is some of the most interesting sci-fi I have ever seen. If you enjoyed the unique creatures in the original, they only get better, and the graphics follow suit.
Another total victory on Below Zero's part is the music. The music and ambiance in this game is great. The music present in each biome sets a perfect musical tone for what to expect. The devs have also added in a few songs from fans of the original game that you can play. A nice little treat for the fans.
Now, one major difference between this game and the previous is what I will simply refer to as space. The original subnautica excelled at really exploiting the fear of what we cannot see. The game is really open and spacious There are plenty of points when you will look down and see nothing but blue or black. You have little to no idea of what will be waiting in the depths until you choose to go down, or you just constantly stick to the floor to always know where you are. It's very reminiscent of the real ocean.
This game is much "shallower" although I don't think that is technically the right word. There are very few times where you will look into the abyss and see nothing. There will almost always be a floor or rock or creatures not too far away. It is a very different experience. Now, it is less a fear of what you cannot see, but more of a fear of what you can. You are always seeing something that is a threat. The game also has a greater focus on enclosed cave systems and tight spaces, preying on one's claustrophobia, which is not helped by some massive carnivore circling above. It turns the game almost into a strategic board game, having to keep your precious truck out of harms way. It turns into a very different experience compared to the original. If you go in expecting wide open spaces like before, you may end up like I did and think the game is not good.
Overall, Below Zero is a fantastic game in its own right. There are plenty more good aspects I could mention. The seatruck (or as i call it, the Fjord F-150) for example is implemented great. It is not perfect, some things are hard to figure out naturally and some places are a bit hard to build in, but overall is a great experience. If you liked the previous game, love the ocean, love open world survival games, or all of the above, you will love this game. But, if you love the original a bit too much like me, give this game a chance to make the experience its own.
These games are both master classes in open world survival. They are different, but they go together.