Still currently in development, Subnautica is an open world survival game created by Unknown Worlds Entertainment. Like most games of the survival genre, the success of the player lies in the ability to gather resources, craft tools and build shelters, but it's the game's environment that makes it truly spectacular and sets it apart from all others. Subnautica takes place in the alien oceans of a distant planet.
During a gravitational slingshot maneuver around the planet 4546b, the starship Aurora, is struck by an unknown energy pulse, sending it hurtling towards the planet below. As the ship plummets towards the aquatic planet, several escape pods are able to launch; the player is safely aboard pod #5. Upon emerging from the pod, the player must begin exploring the immediate area, studying wildlife and collecting resources. They must craft tools and submersible vehicles to explore the extreme depths of the alien seas, as they look for a means of escaping the planet...all while monitoring their health, hunger, thirst, and oxygen reserves.
The ocean of Subnautica is made up of many different marine biomes. The player begins in the Safe Shallows, a coral reef teeming with (mostly) benign creatures and resources, and relatively safe from the predators lurking in the deeper waters. As the player expands his search for resources, other surviving crew, and a way home, he or she will be driven to explore a multitude of different habitats. From kelp forests and hydrothermal vents to alien "koosh fields" and mushroom caves (and even the crashed Aurora) there is seemingly no limit to what the player can discover.
Despite the stunning beauty of these ecosystems, many players agree that the game feels more like a secret horror game. The early reef ecosystems and fish species are similar enough to those of Earth, and the peaceful setting is enough to make a new player lower their guard...usually a huge mistake. The oceans of planet 4546b are entirely alien and extremely hostile, with many predatory species lurking just beyond the safety of the reef. Using stealth, burrowing, electrocution, hypnosis, poison, ambush tactics, speed, or sheer brute force, the predators of Subnautica are incredibly dangerous at almost any stage of the game and the player is relentlessly hunted. Killing the predators is generally out of the question: there are no lethal weapons in Subnautica so more often than not, the best defense is a quick escape. In addition to facing these monsters, recent updates have introduced a new story line that contributes to the feeling of dread; an infection is spreading through the local fauna and you have contracted the mysterious disease. The player must search for a cure to the deadly infection and uncover the remains of a mysterious alien race, the Precursors.
My favorite aspect of Subnautica is the complex biology of the planet. Each biome is filled with a vast array of organisms filling nearly every niche of the ecosystem and local food chain. They display real behaviors seen in the animal kingdom and can interact among themselves as well as with the environment and player (for better or worse). Part of the player's job when exploring is to scan and analyze the local flora and fauna; doing so will display additional information about the species' evolutionary history and unique adaptations (further showing just how much work the developers put into designing the planet). Many of the vocalizations or echolocation of the creatures are created from recordings of aquatic animals here on Earth, and add to the authenticity of the underwater sounds, further immersing the player in the environment. The hunting tactics of the predators vary greatly between species, just as you would expect among our own native organisms; the different attack patterns also keep the player on their toes and the game from getting too repetitive or boring. The developers have created a very complete and authentic alien environment that is incredibly immersive, beautiful, and downright terrifying.
The game's reception has been overwhelmingly positive from the start. Ian Birnbaum of PC Gamer stated that "with an experienced developer at the helm and a limitless variety of the oceans to play with, it's going to take a lot for Subnautica to go badly wrong. As the toolbox gets deeper and the shape of the end-game gets set, Subnautica will be a unique example of the ways survival can be tense, rewarding, and fun." Many players also like the change of pace from many of the classic survival games that employ weapons to fight off enemies; Subnautica does not allow players to build any lethal weapons. The development team opted against the inclusion of lethal weapons (due to real life gun violence), to encourage players to think about "non-violent and more creative solutions to solve our problems" (the repulsion cannon pictured below can be used to clear wreckage or push away small predators). Charlie Cleveland, the game's director, described Subnautica as "one vote towards a world with less guns". It's a nice change of pace that adds new challenge to an already difficult game.
Whether you are new to the survival scene or a long time player, you absolutely cannot go wrong with Subnautica. With new updates and alien life constantly rolling out from developers, you are promised a game that is thrilling and challenging every step of the way. The games is currently available for PC and is in development for Xbox One; the full release is planned for September of this year.
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Good post. Upvote and I will follow you! ;)
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