this post was submitted on 17 Oct 2024
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I'm worried it might be a disappointment. The first one was catching lightning in a bottle. Below Zer0 has put some doubts over their ability to do it again.
I'll be honest, Below Zero was... mighty fine?
It was super disappointing in many regards, sure. But only compared to the extremely lofty heights of Subnautica. Years later, Below Zero is still easily the second-most-atmospheric survival game I've played. It's huge problem - that the on-land sections don't work in how they were shown before release and were clearly intended because access to heat is way too readily available and easy to trivialize - cuts deep into it since it takes a huge chunk of atmosphere out (and the on-land part looks pretty bad, it was clearly relying on the terror of having to warm up again quickly). But, even with that, the water parts close the wound up. Deep Arctic is even worse thalassophobia than the crater edge in the first game!
Sure, it's disappointing and meh compared to the first game, but that's just a too high bar to clear. I'd advise to not expect this game to clear it, either. Like you said, Subnautica 1 was kinda lightning-in-a-bottle. Compared to a 100/100, even a 98/100 would feel disappointing. π‘
I dunno, there are plenty of valid criticisms of both games, but they were both great games. I played through both of them more than once and loved them. They were janky, glitchy, and the second game added a lot of new ideas, seemly at the cost of map size and polish.
Iβm buying the day itβs available, I know itβll have an issue or two but Iβll still love it.
Some configuration file tweaks and an m.2 drive had the first one run great for me. Just had a few areas with clipping issues but no real problems. Some QOL mods definitely made it an awesome game, so yeah; it definitely took some work to polish up, but the mystery and story and exploration is something that I think they could pull off again, and the technical side of things....well, they'll surely have a bit bigger employee count and can hire some talent.
I think the reason why the first one was such a great experience for me is that I got it much later after a lot of the issues with the bugs and gameplay were fixed and the story line was completed. I'm glad I did so. I might do the same with that one and wait a year before getting it, if reviews are decent.
I think Below Zero was made by a (mostly) different team, which could explain at least some of the differences. I wonder who will be working on this new one.
One thing that is very noticeable is that the sound/music design. The original designer isn't working at Unknown Worlds anymore after making some very regrettable comments on social media and I'm not expecting him to come back. As a result Below Zer0's sound design was OK but pales in comparison to the amazing atmosphere that was set in the original game. Unless they manage to find a very talented sound designer it might miss the mark again.
Yeah, that was a pity. I agree that guy did great sound design for the first game, but great art doesn't make up for the harmful societal views he supported. I don't think I would want to work with him, either.
Man, what is it with people being wholly unable to shut their trap on social media?
Below zero was still an excellent game. I don't think it was as good as the original, mostly due to the stupid snow Fox and must of the on land sections, but it doesn't deserve anywhere near the level of hate it gets. The story was way better and more interesting than the first, and the world design was a great attempt at a different form of world building. I hope they expand on both and we can get an experience that propels the format further. No other game let's me engage and chill out to anywhere near the same level.
Agreed, I loved Below Zero. It was very much a small step forward from Subnautica, and I think people were expecting a bigger step forward. But it was always a glorified DLC for the original. Knowing that, it's extremely enjoyable. I've played it through twice and I do love it in it's own right.
This teaser has me hopefully that Subnautica 2 will be a true sequel. More polished, a bigger improvement on the original. Maybe I'm naive, but I'm gonna choose to be hopeful.