'Subnautica': a Great Game!

Ok. I'm not a big gamer. In fact, besides the odd kick about on Fifa, I'm a bit of a 'noob' to most people's standards. I've always been much more into movies. But that's not to say I'm a stranger to the gaming world. There was once a time I had a PS2, and we all know how much fun a kid can have when they are left alone with GTA San Andreas. But as I got older, with less free time on my hands, movies were more convenient for me. I remember buying Skyrim on a recommendation and spent about 40 hours without sleep grinding it out. I needed to put it down. I enjoyed it way too much. What I loved most about Skyrim was the scale, and how cinematic each location felt. The attention to detail, besides the odd comical glitch, was a pleasure to behold. So that's my credentials. If you don't want the opinion of a 'noob' look away now.

I first heard about Subnautica a while ago when one of those viral, 'let's-play' videos, infected my new feed. I was treated to beautiful graphics and a hauntingly detailed environment. A survival game that actually looks good? I knew I needed to check it out.

The basic premise is, a craft crashes on an ocean planet. Its one survivor, must survive until he can be rescued or find his own way off world. At the time, the game was in early access, so I knew that it wasn't the finished product. Starting the game I was hooked. And the game has only gotten better and better over time. Like most survival games its a basic, gather and craft, format. But as you delve deeper into the waters and uncover the game's story, its so worth it.

The first area, or biome, is calm. No sense of any real threat or danger to the player. Just as well because I need to get used to these controls. This area is a chance for the player to grow comfortable with the controls and get to learn how resources and crafting works. Once you get going the crafting interface becomes second nature, but it does take some getting used to. You will discover as you go, more interesting areas. But to start, this area has most of the resources you will need to set yourself up.

In the distance, is the crashed space ship that the player was on. When I first played the game, reaching the ship was my main goal. But as time drew on, and updates came, not only are you able to fully explore the ship, but the ocean runs deeper than I ever expected it to, with new narrative threads that continue to grow throughout the game. With new areas in the final release to enjoy, this game is just awesome. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

The game stops you from progressing too quickly, with a radiation suit required to get closer to the crash site. Which means you have to explore deeper. This game gets more and more unsettling as you progress into the depths. There are areas that get visceral responses from me. That set me on edge. I get so immersed into the experience. Even more so if I enabled the VR setting. That's right. You can play it in VR. There are some areas you will just down right avoid (especially in VR) until you absolutely need to explore it. The above area (Blood Kelp biome) was aesthetically beautiful, but I couldn't stay there long. Grab a couple of blood sacks and hurry back to base.

There is so much to enjoy with this game, but it really comes down to the craftsmanship and dedication to the 'feel' of each area. Each area has a different level of comfort, or sense of peril. Some areas feel like there is no escape, others feel like Sebastian will jump out and sing "Under the Sea."

This. Game. Is. Excellent. And like Skyrim, its incredibly cinematic. This game had me thinking that Aquaman, may just be the film I've been waiting for. We were all excited when Gore Verbinski was toying with the idea of a Bioshock movie. Because hauntingly beautiful, underwater action, is what we all want.

Now I will say, this game shouldn't be played by anyone with a nervous disposition. Certainly not alone. It is very good at getting a response out of the player, and does it so well that I often found myself needing to take regular breaks, just to recover from the trauma that is the 'Ghost Leviathan' (above). And when three come at you at the same time, its enough to make you question all of your life choices.

Even the sky gets some proper attention by the developers. There is a day and night cycle, and there is wild life, fully animated and rendered in the sky. The possibilities of this game are endless. And if you get bored with dying all the time, no worries, just put it on experimental mode. Now you can do ANYTHING. No need for materials to craft stuff. Just get going. Build whatever you want. Explore wherever you want. Its always fun getting underneath the map in experimental mode. Somehow the Ghost Leviathans aren't as scary when they can't make contact with you.

If you can get through this game without making a mess of your underwear then I solute you. The creature designs are great, but terrifying. At least all the big boys. But if you've crafted enough gear, you can get yourself out of any situation.

And that's the beauty of this game. You are encouraged to not fight your way to the end of the game, but strategically get through it without dying. Confrontation is not something you look forward to in this game. The only weapon that causes damage is a knife. So if you want to kill a Leviathan, be my guest, but its gonna take a lot of your time up, and you'll need to get in close.

Different vehicles will help you with different play styles and environments. The 'Sea Moth' is an agile and fast vehicle that you will likely craft before any other transport. 'The Prawn suit' (above) you wont get until you've explored the crashed ship. But once you do, you can go deeper and deeper into the waters. You can also upgrade the suit to give you more maneuverability, efficiency, or combat capabilities. Once you get this you'll hit a new level of fun.

But probably the most important craft in the game, is the 'Cyclops." A large submarine, with slow movement. This guy, is essentially a portable base. As fun as base building is in the game, once you craft the Cyclops, there's no need. The Cyclops is sinkable however, so you will need to be careful of enemies large enough to cause it any damage. Should this ever happen though, you will discover one of my favourite features about the game. You will be able to go back to your sunk Cyclops and salvage all your supplies. I loved this feature. I was so ready to get upset at loosing all my stuff. Instead, it was a fun, extra mission for me, before I could progress. Or just leave it if its stuck in the 'Lava biome.' That place is too much to handle.

I don't want to give any of the story away. I'm trying to keep big surprises and spoilers out of this, and there are many. But the story is really satisfying. Especially if you take the time to find and listen to all the audio logs, or read all the written ones. There is some serious lore going on in this game. Enough for me to want a movie adaptation. There has been so much care put into this, and players are rewarded for their faith and patience with the developers, with a fantastic game.

But you better play it soon. An expansion called, Below Zero, is being released soon, acting as a sequel story to the main narrative. And by the looks of it, its going to be an ice covered or frozen part of the ocean planet. And an ice biome was an area I wanted (but never got) from the original. So even more to look forward to with this one.

Do yourself a favour. Play this game. Its simple, but effective. Great graphics, satisfying game mechanics, and a good narrative to boot. Enjoy horror games? Survival? Role play? Action? This game has it all. And with so much to discover, its certainly worth the money. Pick it up and get it completed before the expansion hits.

9.5/10. Not as good as Skyrim. But is any game?