The human race knows more about outer space than it does about the oceans on Earth. That staggering fact is explored in a unique way in Subnautica, an open-world game released by indie developer Unknown Worlds in 2018. Before its sequel, Subnautica: Below Zero, becomes fully available - it has been in early access for several years now, much like its predecessor was - it's worth diving back into what made the original so wildly popular.
The premise is simple. In an unspecified future, your ship has crash landed on a largely unknown ocean planet, leaving you stranded in an emergency life pod. Subnautica is a blend of survival, action and exploration. You'll need to gather resources and craft items to stay alive and progress the story.
That story, which won't be spoiled here, is not offered up easily. Elements of it are only unveiled through exploration and building, and for that you will need to get your feet wet. The open world of Subnautica is made up of biomes, each different from the other, and you begin in a relatively safe and visually stunning one. From the get go, the entire map is open to the player, but you will need certain bits of equipment to get to various places, namely to go deeper. Make no mistake, to finish the game you will need to go deep, very deep.
The first time you swim across the ocean floor only for it to suddenly end at a cliff's edge that meets the black abyss is unnerving and awe-inspiring. You’ll be left wondering what otherworldly creatures lurk in that darkness, before realizing that you'll have to go find out sooner or later. You might also wonder why they didn't just call this Thalassophobia: The Game. Virtually all of the flora and fauna in the experience can be interacted with, whether it's chipping off some outcrop for building resources or scanning a piece of the environment for more information on the extensive lore the game is steeped in.
The crafting mechanic is an essential part of the game. Players need to collect certain resources to create tools and materials for a base, which can be built anywhere underwater. While there are numerous threats in the adventure - some more daunting than others - the aim is not to fight or kill them, but rather to learn not to engage with them too much.
Though Below Zero takes place on the same planet to the original, the circumstances are much different, as are the creatures now inhabiting the map. The story is also centered on a different character, although the established lore from the original is still very prevalent. This makes Subnautica a unique experience, and one that neatly sets up Below Zero. With a narrative that can be followed at the player's pace and a vast world teeming with alien life to explore, Subnautica is a game fueled by curiosity and outwardly rewards it. Now, with a sequel on the way, there's a lot more to discover.
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