Yearly Archives: 2018

Subnautica Review (PS4): Leviathans in the Deep

by Jason Parker (Ragachak)

Subnautica Review -4

I can’t help but wonder what caused the crash.

Far too many survival games rely on cheap jump scares and run-of-the-mill horror tricks to throw people off. That’s one of the reasons I’m not a fan; it’s not real terror. It’s some kind of fake cheap thrills to make people jump or frighten them. But the notion of being stranded in the ocean, with no way out, and no escape, no one to talk to, just strange alien aquatic monsters. There is a need to fend for yourself or be consumed by the darkest depths of the ocean, and the entities that await there. That is exactly what Subnautica offers up. You crash land on an alien planet and have a handful of trinkets to get you through. Subnautica offers up real, sincere psychological horror for me, at the very least. I cannot think of too many real things more horrible than slowly dying in the ocean. Subnautica offers quite a few different ways to approach this world, from the ultra-casual Creative (no death, no need for food/water, can create anything anytime), to the ultra-hardcore … Well, Hardcore (one life, no o2 sensor notifications).

Subnautica Review -7

Aww. My AI pal is so sweet.

The story is fascinating, and you do have a helpful AI that guides you where you should be going and what you should be doing. Another thing I liked was how clever the writing was. It was snarky, funny, and I like that. When your only real communication is with a machine, it can feel terribly impersonal and boring. That was not the case in Subnautica. But this is not a game that will hold your hand, except on the easiest of difficulties, and that only really tells you what the items do. Creative mode also disables the story though, so it’s just a way to explore the map, see where things are, what enemies lurk beneath the waves, and to design the underwater base of your dreams. The deeper you descend into the water, the greater the threat, so it’s pretty nice to try it in Creative first to see just how far down you can go. After all, there might even be an island you can get to, that holds very useful structures to scan, and food to eat. So maybe having an idea of where that is first can make the game less terrifying. It won’t, but it’s nice to have hope.

Subnautica Review -12

SCAN. EVERYTHING. I cannot stress it enough.

Speaking of Scanning, that is the first major thing you want to craft, the Scanner. Then you scan everything you come across. Every mineral, every fish, every Leviathan, coral, plant. If it lights up, you better press R2, and scan that thing. Scanning can offer a great deal of insight on what you can use various flora and fauna for, not to mention, a way to get blueprints. There are some very useful broken pieces of equipment beneath the ocean that you can scan, figure out exactly how to build them. Some things are unlocked via progression (a better Oxygen tank unlocks when you build your first one, for example, or the Radiation Suit, that unlocks via story), but many things are found simply by scanning. I do appreciate that you don’t have to build walls, floors and ceilings. Instead you’ll find blueprints for full rooms and connect them with passageways. It’s way less infuriating, but finding the perfect spot to begin is actually the hard part. You need to find a spot in the ocean that’s got enough floor space. This is not a game that you will be done within a few hours of gameplay either. I still have so much to do, and I’ve died more times than I’m comfortable admitting. But that’s the name of the game! Survival experts surely do better than me, but I absolutely love the concept.

Subnautica Review -6

The brief glitter and glow of life is all you have. The darkness is heavy.

Speaking of which, the game always starts the same. It’s not procedurally generated, but a version of this game where that *did* happen would be absolutely insane. You’re in an escape pod, and upon surfacing, you can see your ship on fire, leaking fluids, and radiation. Getting too close will start harming you, without the Radiation Suit. Eventually, it will explode, and it’s quite the sight. It’s yet another stunning visual offering from this game. But at the start of the game, you’re going to spend a lot of time diving back under the water and coming back up to refill your o2 tank. The first major item I built (even before the scanner) was the better o2 tank. That way I could stay down just a little longer. But I did notice that if you go too deep with a low-grade tank, it starts to use more of your oxygen than normal. The pressure matters and you need to stay sort of shallow to start with. But it’s going to be a lot of diving near your pod, finding whatever scraps of metal you can, and catching whatever fish are nearby. This was the hardest part for me on a controller – catching fish. They’re pretty quick when you’re nearby, and you need them for both food and water.

Subnautica Review -8

You only have so much space. You’ll need those floating chests.

In your escape pod, there’s a crafting station, where you can turn certain fish into food and water, and when you can find salt deposits, you can make “cured” fish, that will last longer. That’s another important note: fish that you have in your inventory will go bad, and will give you less back (hunger/thirst). I found myself waiting until I was about half empty on the hunger/thirst meters, then stopping what I was doing, to go hunt down food and potable water. Eventually, you can make potable water other ways, but starting with the fish is a good idea. Speaking of this grinding for materials and survival potables, the story does not rush you. If you decide you don’t want to work on your current objective, you can just go exploring in the depths, make a few floating chests to store titanium and other minerals in, and explore. This ocean planet is vast, and there is so much to see and experience. Not to mention, you have a handy PDA that will keep track of your current objectives, what blueprints you have, things you’ve scanned, and what items you’re currently after. That way, you can explore, tab over, look at that, and return to the depths. However, having it open is not going to pause the game. I highly recommend actually pausing.

Subnautica Review -11

Things may seem calm and serene, but it could not be further from the truth. What lurks in the depths?

Trust me, this story is worth experiencing, but do it at your own pace. Don’t feel like you need to rush. Because this is one of the most beautiful games I’ve played in what feels like years, and it’s mostly underwater. Sound and music being muffled by the ocean and your suit is a great way to treat tension and a sense of ill-ease. As time progresses, the world shows off exactly how far this engine can and will go to create tension, and use the atmosphere as both a weapon and a canvas for art. The coral reefs, the way the ocean slowly gets darker the deeper you go, the schools of fish swimming around, the occasion (but terrifying) Leviathans that have no fear of you, much less anything else. Then, as the sun sets, without a flashlight, you are pitched into an unending, terrifying darkness. The only light comes from the glow from coral or fish, but that’s far and few between. You can occasionally hear horrific roars, muffled by the water, or the odd bite from a very aggressive fish. Without a knife, you won’t really do much to stop them, either. I saw a few “weapons” in the Creative mode, but they’re less weapons and more utility. One pushes/pulls objects, and one freeze/stops other fish in your path. But the knife? Get the knife.

Subnautica Console Launch Trailer

I will never have a base this cool.

It’s Called a “Leviathan”: 4/5 (Great)

While the mysterious shapes and breathtaking visuals beneath the waves are without a doubt remarkable, there are a few issues with the game that are worth noting. The first and biggest for me was about a 40% of the time when I saved, the game would crash, and I would lose a half hour or more of work. I’m grateful at least, when I die I only lose a few items I collected, because when a save file doesn’t work, you lose far more. There is also a jarring, horrid slowdown when surfacing on the water. This did not happen all of the time either, but it was enough to warrant mentioning. This is the first time I can think of where a game’s atmosphere and theme made me feel real and sincere terror. The deeper into the ocean I went, the more I worried, the more I felt like this would be the time I didn’t make it back to the surface. I found myself holding my breath as I rose to the surface again and again. Subnautica is a game I will have to take slow, and design a submerged base at my leisure because it’s worth it. I have never played a survival game that is quite like Subnautica. Despite being trapped in a vast, endless, impossible ocean, it’s anything but empty. Every bit of it is used, and every biome is clear and easy to pick out. It’s absolutely brilliant, equal parts beautiful and terrifying.

Note: A game key was provided for review purposes.

Banner Saga 3 Announces the Arrival of the Eternal Arena Mode

A new game mode is here in the PC version of Banner Saga 3 in the form of Eternal Arena. This game mode was a $400k stretch goal as part of the original funding for the game, which it smashed past in the first week. Over eight thousand backers made this mode happen, and it’s their pleasure to bring it to the game and it is a true test of a players combat prowess. Eternal Arena has a set of quick play challenges where players customize their own maps, rules, and enemies to create unique tests of skill. It will let players test their wildest ideas in a sandbox style arena, and prove their worth in weekly tournaments, competing for the highest ranks around the world.

“Eternal Arena has been a lot of fun to devise, tactical gameplay plays a major role but PC players can really mix it up to test out their own combat scenarios and ideas, if you love tactical combat then this is a perfect mode to get stuck into”. Said John Watson,Technical Director at Stoic. “The fans and backers have been an integral part of helping us deliver this game so we’re thrilled to introduce the last stretch goal to the final chapter in the Banner Saga series.” He added.

Features:

  • Eternal Challenge: Come back every week to compete in a tournament with a global leaderboard.*
  • Arena Mode: Design your own battles, pick the enemies, and change the rules in this spellbinding sandbox mode.
  • Play with all the 46 characters, plus all enemies, and battleboards from the entire Banner Saga Trilogy and refine your party tactics.
  • 39 new achievements (including 3 hidden ones!).
  • 3 new leaderboards.

GRIS – Launch Trailer

GRIS, from Devolver Digital is live tomorrow on the Nintendo Switch and PC. The story of a hopeful young girl lost in her own world, dealing with a painful experience must not be missed. Her journey through sorrow is manifested in her dress, which grants new abilities to navigate her faded reality.

Elite Dangerous – Beyond’s Chapter Four is Now Available

The latest free update for Elite: Dangerous – Beyond is now available on PC, Playstation 4, and Xbox One – Chapter Four. New advanced asteroid mining techniques await, as well as a new discovery system for exploring the universe at large. New multiplayer options and two new ships are also on the way in this update. New lighting effects were also added, using dynamic exposure to make the universe really glow. The Cockpit UI, Megaships, Scenarios, and much more also updated, and the full patch notes can be found here. Analysis Mode will have the improved Exploration Discovery Scanner, and Detailed Discovery Scanners, which is a game-changing way for Commanders to explore. After they do an initial scan of the system, players will then be able to tune their scanners to find phenomena in that area. This and so much more awaits in Chapter 4 of Elite Dangerous – Beyond.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 – Operation: Absolute Zero Trailer

Operation: Absolute Zero is available first on Playstation 4, and is the first post-launch release for Call of Duty: Black Ops 4. It brings new content across all game modes (multiplayer, blackout, and zombies), such as more personalization items, gear, and map updates. It also adds a new Specialist, Zero. Black Ops 4 Pass Owners will gain access to two new multiplayer maps, the new blackout character Reaper, and the “Dead of the Night” Zombies experience (starring Kiefer Sutherland, Helana Bonham Carter, Charles Dance, and Brian Blessed).

“Operation Absolute Zero is a giant community celebration and the next wave in our commitment to make Black Ops 4 the most supported game in our studio’s history,” said Dan Bunting, Co-Studio Head, Treyarch. “We’re bringing a ton of new content for the entire community to enjoy with Operation Absolute Zero, and we’re also delivering updates to the game across the board that are directly inspired by community feedback that we’ve received since the game’s launch.”

Vermintide 2: Back to Ubersreik Releases on Consoles Next Week

Warhammer Vermintide 2’s latest DLC, Back to Ubersreik was released on PC this week (Dec. 10th) and made it to the top of the Global Sales Chart on Steam. Today we have learned that this DLC is coming to both Xbox One and PS4 on December 18th. The Playstation 4 version of Warhammer Vermintide 2 also releases on this date, and will – from day one – have both Shadows Over Bogenhafen and Back to Ubersreik DLCs available.

Foxhole Launches First Major Update

As the holidays approach, Clapfoot is proud to give their persistent War MMO Foxhole its first major update. This free update features fully realized urban warfare, complete with tanks, super weapons, and conflict-changing content to let hundreds work together to shape the outcome of this persistent war. To celebrate this release, Foxhole is available today for a 40% discount. It’s in Early Access on Steam, and every player can have an impact on this world that is in a constant state of war. To succeed armies of players must work together to acquire resources, build vehicles, and run supply lines to keep the frontlines well equipped. This update, entitled “Foundation of War” has the following new features.

Foundation of War Update includes:

  • Urban Warfare – Fully realized town environments that have been built from the ground up, taking urban warfare to a new level. Players can now enter the interior of buildings to take cover or climb on top of ruined houses to gain a high ground advantage, resulting in prolonged street battles. Abandoned buildings can be garrisoned and built into mortar emplacements or outposts, providing even more tactical options for town sieges.
  • Battle Tanks – The heaviest armored vehicle to date, the Battle Tank requires a crew of 5 to operate and a strong supply line to deploy effectively. This devastating machine of war introduces the unique role of the tank engineer, that is tasked with repairing and ammunition management.
  • Ballistic Rocket Super Weapon – Reactivate ancient Ballistic Rocket Sites in the world. These end game super weapons demand the highest level of team effort to achieve, requiring logistics, recon, and combat roles to all work together. Rockets are capable of levelling entire towns, permanently changing the landscape of war.
  • Visual Overhaul – Every square kilometer of the world has been recreated with higher fidelity assets, improved lighting, and densely populated environments, creating a richer battlefield.
  • Ammunition Factory – New unique factories have been added to the world that are capable of producing specialized shells for tanks. Factions that capture and hold these strategic objectives in the world will be able to add high explosive, armor piercing, and shrapnel tank shells to their arsenal.

    Foxhole has an amazing community and this free update is our way of thanking everyone who has continuously shaped what our game is and will be,” said Mark Ng, co-founder of Clapfoot. “Every day we are surprised by how our community interacts with each other and we can’t wait to see what they do with all the new content.”

    Since launching into Early Access, Clapfoot has added a bevy of key features to create one of the best war experiences possible. Other major updates since release include:

  • World Conquest Mode – The ultimate game mode that allows more than 1,000 players to connect to and fight in a persistent war that lasts for weeks. Individual regions of the world are now connected end to end, creating one giant battlefield that includes over 100 hand crafted towns and villages.
  • Amphibious warfare – Build fleets of ships and launch beach invasions to claim towns on distant shores. Amphibious vehicles include Gunboats, Cargo Ships, Barges and Landing APCs.
  • New Technologies – Research a technology tree that now includes over 50 weapons, vehicles, and structures including the Armored Car, Sniper Rifle, Radio Backpack, Anti-Tank Rifle, and More!
  • Player Operations – Create your own missions and execute them with a large operation group using new map tools and in-game team voice chat.
  • WarAPI – A new service that allows the persistent war to be tracked in real-time through community-built websites without the need to enter the game.

Webzen Holidays Giveaway

We’ve partnered with Webzen once again to celebrate the holidays with a special coupon giveaway!

The holidays have arrived in Webzen’s games, and to celebrate, we are giving away a special coupon code. This code will allow you to receive a special gift for your choice of the following games:

MU Legend

  • 7-Day Platinum Service Ticket

MU Online

  • Talisman of Ascension II (1 Day)
  • Wizard’s Ring (7 Days)
  • [Bound]Bless of Light(Greater)

C9       

  • Media Promotion Cash Chest
  • Resurrection Count Reset Scroll
  • Skill Reset Scroll
  • Inventory Expansion Scroll
  • Warehouse Expansion Scroll
  • Glenheim Defender Soul Chest [7 days]
  • War Finisher Soul Chest [7 days]

Flyff

  • Re-Skill
  • Re-stat
  • Snowman (F) – 7 Days
  • Snowman (M) – 7 Days
  • Kitty – 7 Days
  • Santa Hat (M) – 7 Days
  • Santa Hat (F) – 7 Days
  • Syila Bike Box – 7 days
  • Upcut Stone
  • Refresher Hold
  • Vital Drink X
  • Grilled Eel

Rappelz

  • Hidden Village Pass
  • Traveller’s Tent
  • Stamina Saver
  • Animal Cracker
  • Impact Amplifier

To Redeem Your Code:

  1. Go to http://www.webzen.com/Coupon.
  2. Log in with your account.
  3. Select your game, server, and character and enter the coupon code (without hyphens).
  4. Click “redeem coupon code”.

If you are new to WEBZEN, please see the following:

  1. Create a webzen.com account.
  2. Go to http://www.webzen.com/ to download your game client and install it.
  3. Choose a server.
  4. Create a new character.

Note:

  • Redeemable until: make sure to use the coupon before 31st of January 2019.
  • Coupon codes can only be used with an existing WEBZEN account
  • Coupon codes are limited to one use per account unless stated otherwise
  • Coupon codes can only be redeemed for one game, so make sure to choose your favorite!

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