Subnautica

[Chris Simon]

Arctic as in underwater arctic?

Darn it, I definitely want to play it but I was waiting for a sale. Just the darn game wont drop the price not even a tiny bit!

Give it time. It was quite a success and I imagine lots of peepers are still buying it, so there's no need for a discount, yet.
But if the arctic DLC will be a paid expansion (we still don't know if they even plan to actually do such thing, let alone whether it will be paid or free update), I can imagine they will put the base game at some more reasonable price point.

 

[Para Handy]

I need to give this another shot - I just couldn't "get" this game when I first bought it, maybe it has changed enough for me to try again. (Same with NMS, I keep meaning to have another look at that too.)

 

[Chris Simon]

I need to give this another shot - I just couldn't "get" this game when I first bought it, maybe it has changed enough for me to try again. (Same with NMS, I keep meaning to have another look at that too.)

Did you buy it during the early access or after launch?
It changed a lot.

I think that to "get" Subnautica, being familiar with Elite really helps, because it's the same principle. You are improving your character, your base and your vehicles which allows to explore deeper and deeper so it creates a "natural progression", but what it really is, is an "aimless diving simulator"
Everything there is, in the game, I discovered by accident and I finished the story that way. You can follow some clues, of course and the story is actually interesting (unlike Elite) but it's just a backdrop for happy and aimless diving.
I've seen some people reviewing it as a "survival horror game" but I think they didn't get it either. Yes, there are big things that will kill you, down there, but that actually never bothered me. I was never "scared" to go anywhere and big things are easy to spot and avoid. It's like saying Elite is a horror game because of Thargoids.

So that's my playstyle and advice. Go into it with a clear head and just enjoy the scenery. The rest will take care of itself.

Oh, I also like building ridiculously complex bases in ridiculous places. I think a good half of my time and material resources goes into those. Who needs a five-story aquarium? Well, I do.

 

[Eminor]

Hmmm, looks quite interesting...
Quick Question about the difference between the Survival and Freedom modes; Is the survival mode fundamental to the whole experience ? Or does it end up getting get in the way of enjoying the game... ?

 

[Chris Simon]

Hmmm, looks quite interesting...
Quick Question about the difference between the Survival and Freedom modes; Is the survival mode fundamental to the whole experience ? Or does it end up getting get in the way of enjoying the game... ?

I wouldn't say "gets in the way" but it certainly makes it interesting. In survival mode you have to take care of your food and water, primarily. That's the biggest difference. When you get used to it, it's just one more thing to pay attention to. And it really affects the gameplay in the first few hours, where the bare survival is your top priority.
The thing is - I think survival mode is quite important to get the most out of the game. For example, if you play in freedom mode, half of the base infrastructure becomes meaningless. Water purifiers, growing edible plants, power management, all this is unnecessary all of the sudden and it takes away from the experience, imho.

Desperately looking for food rations in the wreckage, desalinating fish for water, the excitement of finding your first edible plants and establishing a "farm" node of your base, the thrill of discovering this or that part of the equipment that suddenly makes life easier - those are big parts of Subnautica experience.

Personally, I've tried Freedom mode and it's just boring. I mean the exploration is the same and you still need material gathering for building and upgrading stuff, but it becomes... too easy too soon.

 

[Vasea Azure]

Hmmm, looks quite interesting...
Quick Question about the difference between the Survival and Freedom modes; Is the survival mode fundamental to the whole experience ? Or does it end up getting get in the way of enjoying the game... ?

From my personal experience game is much more fun with survival elements. Subnautica is not very hard so you wont be struggle for food and water in my opinion.

 

[Mengy]

I've seen some people reviewing it as a "survival horror game" but I think they didn't get it either. Yes, there are big things that will kill you, down there, but that actually never bothered me. I was never "scared" to go anywhere and big things are easy to spot and avoid. It's like saying Elite is a horror game because of Thargoids.

I'm not so sure about that. In Elite Dangerous I've never been scared of the Thargoids so far. In fact I don't even see them unless I go out of my way to hunt for them, and even then it's hard to find them. When playing the game as I normally do I'd never ever see a Thargoid. They feel like a non entity in ED to me.

Comparatively, by simply playing the game you come across all manners of threats in Subnautica, and some of the creatures legit made me jump in my seat. Ghost Leviathans? Holy Frack Batman, oh my God it's screaming and coming right for me again!!

I get why many people claim Subnautica works as a mild horror game, I felt it as well. Serene wonderful exploring broken up by sheer moments of terror and panic. Reminds me of Minecraft when you are just starting out and spelunking in some deep cavern, only to have the silence of the deep broken by the sounds of skeleton archers unloading on you. Very similar.

 

[Stigbob]

Hmmm, looks quite interesting...
Quick Question about the difference between the Survival and Freedom modes; Is the survival mode fundamental to the whole experience ? Or does it end up getting get in the way of enjoying the game... ?

Play it on hardcore, you really have to think about how quickly you can surface for air before you have dapper equipment and the predators are much more scary.

 

[Garix]

Arctic as in underwater arctic?

Darn it, I definitely want to play it but I was waiting for a sale. Just the darn game wont drop the price not even a tiny bit!

I was waiting as well. Decided I needed something different to play so took the plunge. For £20 it's a bargain.

If you're determined to wait for the sale then you'll be getting one hell of a game for not much money.

 

[Knightshark]

Damn. I just bought it and played 5 hours straight. That does not happen often. Next I'll build a base, just got my seamoth.

I just wish there was an in-game map. Anyone using the map mod?

 

[Mengy]

Damn. I just bought it and played 5 hours straight. That does not happen often. Next I'll build a base, just got my seamoth.

I just wish there was an in-game map. Anyone using the map mod?

After awhile I didn't even need a map, I became familiar enough with the zones that I could use the compass and eyeballs to generally tell where I was.


I've beaten the game but I'm still exploring and finding new things out there in Subnautica's world. It's so chock full of things to discover. I just love playing this game, it gives me such a pleasant fun feeling. I've also developed an addiction to building huge fancy bases, heh.

 

[Chris Simon]

After awhile I didn't even need a map, I became familiar enough with the zones that I could use the compass and eyeballs to generally tell where I was.

Yah, the compass is a must as soon as one's able. After that, it takes only a while to get to know the layout. I always struggled with remembering the access zones to the lava zone, but other than that, I never needed a map and even without the compass, all it takes to orient myself is resurfacing and check the positions of the Aurora and the two (spoiler)

 

[Mengy]

I always struggled with remembering the access zones to the lava zone, but other than that, I never needed a map and even without the compass, all it takes to orient myself is resurfacing and check the positions of the Aurora and the two (spoiler)

In my game I placed beacons at all lava zone access points so they were easy to find when I needed to. I also put beacons at all of my bases too. My page list of beacons is very long, LOL.

 

[Chris Simon]

In my game I placed beacons at all lava zone access points so they were easy to find when I needed to. I also put beacons at all of my bases too. My page list of beacons is very long, LOL.

Yah, after a hundred hours I still haven't learned to have a couple beacons on me in case I find something interesting.

I do use the escape pods for some crude orientation, but the only beacon I've placed in the current playthrough is at my base.

 

[Garix]

In my game I placed beacons at all lava zone access points so they were easy to find when I needed to. I also put beacons at all of my bases too. My page list of beacons is very long, LOL.

I still haven't found my way into the lava area yet

 

[Chris Simon]

I still haven't found my way into the lava area yet

This map could help without being too spoiler-y, if you want:

Spoiler

 

[Garix]

This map could help without being too spoiler-y, if you want:

Thanks for the offer (and for puting the map is spoiler tags ) but I'm determined to find the ruddy place myself. Started a 2nd run through as I wasn't sure if I'd missed a clue to the location.

I'll find it.

Eventually

 

[Chris Simon]

Thanks for the offer (and for puting the map is spoiler tags ) but I'm determined to find the ruddy place myself. Started a 2nd run through as I wasn't sure if I'd missed a clue to the location.

I'll find it.

Eventually

That's how it should be. When I first played it, I spent over 30 hours just exploring and not doing anything.

 

[Darth Krayt]

Ok, you lot have just talked me into buying this. I had some Steam credit from a motherboard purchase special offer, so it was almost free.

 

[Chris Simon]

Ok, you lot have just talked me into buying this. I had some Steam credit from a motherboard purchase special offer, so it was almost free.

Enjoy!