Why BELOW ZERO failed next to SUBNAUTICA
The Casual Gamer・34 minutes read
Subnautica gained a cult following with minimalist design, immersive survival experience, and a focus on the player's journey. Below Zero introduced changes in protagonist, music, gameplay mechanics, and narrative, leading to mixed reactions and a drop in user scores.
Insights
- Subnautica's minimalist design and focus on immersive survival tasks allow players to embody the protagonist's journey from humble beginnings to galactic savior, enhancing the overall player experience.
- Below Zero's narrative additions, changes in character traits, and gameplay enhancements, while attempting to innovate, led to mixed reactions from players, highlighting the challenge of maintaining the core elements that made the original game successful and immersive.
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Recent questions
What is Subnautica about?
Subnautica is a survival game where players start as a stranded character on an alien world, guided by an AI companion to survive and escape, focusing on minimalism and base-building.
Who is the protagonist in Subnautica: Below Zero?
The protagonist in Subnautica: Below Zero is Robin, a xenobiologist investigating her sister's death on an alien planet, with character traits impacting player immersion.
How does Below Zero differ from the original Subnautica?
Below Zero introduces new characters, plot elements, and gameplay enhancements, but falls short in map size, narrative depth, and maintaining the original game's essence.
What changes were made to Below Zero's music?
Ben Kundi took over music in Below Zero, shifting towards a slower, mysterious tone with 54 tracks, impacting the game's immersive experience negatively.
What elements impacted Below Zero's user scores?
Changes in gameplay mechanics, immersion factors, and the failure to maintain the delicate balance between horror and terror led to a significant drop in user scores for Below Zero.
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Summary
00:00
Subnautica: Below Zero - Mixed Reactions and Changes
- Subnautica, a sleeper hit from Early Access in 2018, gained a cult following with a budget of nearly $3 million compared to Call of Duty's $300 million marketing budget.
- Players start as an unnamed character stranded on an alien world with minimal resources, guided by a humorous AI companion to survive and escape.
- The game's design focuses on minimalism, blending futuristic base-building with basic survival tasks to immerse players in a stripped-down survival experience.
- Subnautica's protagonist remains unseen and unheard, allowing players to embody the character's journey from a humble survivor to a galactic savior.
- Subnautica: Below Zero introduces a new protagonist, Robin, a xenobiologist investigating her sister's death on an alien planet.
- Robin's character traits and actions in Below Zero differ from the original game, impacting the immersion and player experience.
- Changes in Below Zero's development team and direction led to mixed reactions from players, with some feeling the game lost its original essence.
- Below Zero's gameplay features improved user interface and quality of life enhancements, but the game's map size and narrative depth fall short compared to the original Subnautica.
- The game's land-based segments in Below Zero lack the depth and immersion of the underwater exploration, with a less satisfying conclusion to the story.
- The narrative in Below Zero introduces new characters and plot elements, but the resolution feels rushed and incomplete, leaving players with unanswered questions.
15:54
Below Zero: Music, Base Building, and Horror
- The narrative addition to the game was not well-received, as it deviated from the original formula set by Simon Chilinski's critically acclaimed sounds and music in the first game.
- Ben Kundi took over the music responsibilities in Below Zero, shifting the original techno ambient vibe towards a slower and more mysterious tone with 54 independent tracks.
- The changes in music and sound effects in Below Zero were not as immersive or iconic as those in the first game, impacting the overall experience negatively.
- The base building in Below Zero was enhanced with new features like a cavernous pod with internal walls and a glass roof, allowing for more customization and beauty in constructing bases.
- Despite the improvements in base building, the overall user scores for Below Zero dropped significantly due to various changes in gameplay mechanics and immersion factors.
- The balance between horror and terror in Subnautica was a key element that made the game immersive and engaging, with the fear of encountering dangerous creatures adding to the overall experience.
- Below Zero failed to maintain the delicate balance between horror and terror, resulting in a less immersive and engaging gameplay experience compared to the first game.
- The introduction of new Leviathan creatures in Below Zero, like the squid shark and giant prawn, did not evoke the same level of fear and tension as encounters with the iconic Reaper in the original game.
- The lack of open spaces and the enclosed nature of encounters with new creatures in Below Zero diminished the thalassophobia-inducing anxiety that made the first game so captivating.
- The changes in gameplay mechanics and immersion factors in Below Zero led to a significant drop in user scores, highlighting the importance of maintaining the core elements that made the original Subnautica game successful.
33:18
Below Zero Struggles to Recapture Subnautica Magic
- Subnautica's endgame cave system lacks the mystery and excitement of previous segments, with cramped, boring caves and unimpressive predators.
- The Leviathans in Below Zero fail to match the intimidating presence of Subnautica's dragons, becoming mere obstacles that are easily dealt with using medkits and a repair tool.
- The absence of the Cyclops in Below Zero was a controversial choice, as it was a significant and rewarding discovery in Subnautica, enhancing immersion and gameplay.
- The Sea Truck in Below Zero, while well-designed, falls short due to reduced swimming speed, removal of useful features like the ultra Glide fins, and the addition of impractical modules.
- Below Zero attempted to re-engineer Subnautica's elements into a narrative-driven adventure, succeeding on the surface level but missing the iconic elements that made Subnautica memorable.
- Early Access feedback for Below Zero was utilized for two years, shaping the game's development, but the future of the Subnautica series remains uncertain, with potential focus on co-op gameplay and land exploration, raising concerns about the series' original immersive spirit.
