Diving in Again

Subnautica: Below Zero has left early access and as such I've decided to go for another swim in the aquatic world known only as "4546b".  Unlike the previous game (which took place on an equatorial, mostly underwater, plateau) Below Zero is centered around a polar cove dominated by snow-covered islands and ice flows.  Some of the flora and fauna are similar (or in a few cases identical), but for the most part it's an all new location for players to immerse themselves in.  Actually, the landmass was visible from orbit when the silent male hero from the original blasted off at the end of the game.  He's gone now though and in his place is a more talkative female protagonist.  Whereas the first game had the singular driving goal of escaping from the planet, our heroine this time around is on a mission to find a missing family member.  Apparently, this ocean world has a propensity to ensnare space travelers...despite being a sequel though, the map is more compact with an emphasis on poking in every nook and cranny.  The horror elements have been toned down a bit.  Even so, I imagine people who suffer from thalassophobia will still find plenty of things to be terrified of.

What will be immediately familiar to returning players is the fundamental gameplay loop:  gathering resources, using them to build things, then going on expeditions for more/different resources and to complete story-related objectives.  As far as the survival-crafting subgenre goes, it's nothing special.  What does help distinguish Subnautica from its peers is the undersea aspect.  When the player is forced onto land though the gameplay feels very shallow.  Since combat isn't practical the experience tends to drift into "walking simulator" territory.  To help offset potential boredom, a hypothermia meter needs to be managed in a manner not so different than oxygen.  Still, Subnautica is at its best under the waves rather than above them.

One last topic I want to hit on is vehicles.  Much like base-building components and personal equipment, there are some returning favorites like the "Seaglide" and "Prawn Suit".  Others, such as the "Seamoth" has been replaced by the "Seatruck".  When modular cabs are attached to the back it also fills the role of the "Cyclops" submarine without any of the aesthetic sensibilities.  On land, there's a hoverbike...but as you can see there's not a wide selection to choose from.  In fact, the impression I get is of a standalone expansion rather than full-fledged sequel.  I guess that's why it is called Below Zero instead of "Subnautica 2".  If there is a proper sequel someday, I hope it's "McElligot's Pool" meets "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea".