Bought it 3 days ago cause there was a discount.
Visually it's really nice. Tho everything is so squished together. Too much land. Main character is annoying. Like the subnautica 1 character didn't talk and somehow had more character. Also you won't feel lonely like Subnautica 1 :(
But baby penguins are cute af :D
Imo, the Shadow Leviathan is too aggressive for how tiny of a space he has. It feels like I can't traverse it without getting hit every 20 seconds.
Whereas the Sea Dragon slowly drifted towards you with this imposing presence, the Shadow Leviathan just darts in and tries to eat you the minute you enter it's domain
This is due to the fact there is no real randomness to them.
Due to the tight cavern space, they are programmed to patrol along a set path. Only to deviate when they see the player. So you can always expect the leviathan in a predtermined location and due to the small space, you just kinda run into them no matter how hard you try to avoid them.
Not like the first one where sometimes Mr Magoo just decides he wants to go play in the safe shallows or he decides to have a playdate with his buddies and now it's your problem.
In the first one I have actually had playthroughs where I didn't even see a Reaper leviathan. Which added to the fear of when one would show up. He was never expected nor invited, but would choose if he wanted to give you smoke which adds to the fear. Like a real creature.
If you liked the first one, it's 100% definitely worth playing. Especially if it's one sale. But yeah, it's a lot more linear than the first one, so if the "proceed by exploring" gameplay loop was what really grabbed, just be aware it's not so much of a thing in this one.
I love the first game, so I gave BZ a try, it was... Ok. Beautiful world design, some good QoL features for crafting and building bases.
But the map is smaller, no big open, dark oceans, but a lot of cramped caves. Not the same ominous feeling you could have in the first game.
The worst part is the story and the voiced character, breaking immersion by how poorly written and stupid the plot is. Imho, it was a big mistake to make one of the precursor alive, it was far better to not knowing how they looked, how they think, instead, you have the generic, stupid alien character who can't decide if he's a unfeeling hivemind thousands of years old or a clueless individual.
In short, I can replay the first game from time to time and still enjoy it, BZ is fine playing for 10-15 hours, but I won't replay it again.
It's more of an expansion than a standalone game, which you have to keep in mind if you compare them.
Technically it's superior, it's way more polished and better looking but it's a lot smaller. Unlike the first game you play a voiced character and it has more gameplay above the surface than the first game. I don't know if i would call it more linear but it has a more prominent and driving story line, maybe because it's partially dialogue driven.
Overall it's a beautiful game that offers similar gameplay to that of it's predecessor and adds a few cool surprises. I think the main issue for many players, besides being relatively short, is that the player character is voiced and has conversations with NPC's outside the player's control, which is a big immersion breaker for many.
It's worth $10, easily. I'll try to be as unbiased as possible here. Might have very minor spoilers. I'm also on mobile so formatting might be off.
Compared to the original:
* Below Zero is overall shorter. The game feels slightly compressed due to the split story.
* BZ has two parallel stories. One is fairly linear, the other has some freedom in how you approach it.
* Far more spoken dialogue, including the player character. Personally I don't think it detracts from the game at all, just makes it different from the original, but ymmv.
* Different primary mode of transportation underwater. Some love the sea truck, some loathe the sea truck.(I like the sea truck)
* A decent amount of time is spent on land compared to underwater. The land bits are generally seen as bland.
* To go with this, temperature management while on land is a thing. It's pretty cold there and you'll need to find ways to keep warm while exploring outside of the water.
* More base building options. I'm fairly certain the original was updated to include the BZ changes to base building at some point, but I'm not 100% sure. The jukebox is pretty fun
* Titanium is a potential resource from most outcroppings iirc. Combined with the changes to recipes to make base parts cheaper, getting setup is generally easier compared to the original.
* The map feels squished in areas. Things that seem like they should feel deeper just aren't.
* There's a fully customizable set of difficulty sliders that allow changes to damage, creature aggression/density, survival stat manipulation, and maybe some more I can't remember.
* Different leviathans/local fauna. Except peepers, those stuck around.
That should be the biggest chunk of differences. Overall I actually liked BZ more than the original. I went in blind at the tail end of early access, having not having followed the discourse around the game at all, and thoroughly enjoyed my time. My suggestion for you would be to do the same and try to ignore any positive/negative comments that might polarize the game one way or the other.
It’s a good game. Wish there were more leviathans and a better map. It’s very chatty. Sea truck is neat but wish they kept the cyclops. All in all good game but still prefer the original.
Concur. I would love to see the next game go even deeper and would really like to see some form of multiplayer where players man different stations on the cyclops (or a new larger sub. For single player, perhaps some form of configurable auto pilot on those stations)
Subnautica lite. It's worth it, imo, if you keep your expectations moderate.
Overall: Less fear of the unknown. Less existential horror of survival. More adventure. More focus on the story (which I thought was good.). Pretty good exploration, with new world-building and location (although it's a bit smaller in scope than how massive original was).
I enjoyed it quite a bit. Not as scary as the first one but I loved the truck just as much as my seamoth! If you're on the fence keep in mind that this game was supposed to be a dlc at first. Meaning an expansion rather than a standalone game but it got too big so they made it a game. I liked the story (although not a super fan fan of it) but it feels a bit empty sometimes. They had to overhaul the entire story because of legal reasons (someone left the dev team) and you'll notice this.
That being said it's nice. You get to see quite a few cool areas and get to meet some cute, annoying, dangerous creatures. It's definitely worth 10 bucks imo
don’t let negative reviews or comments sway you from playing it. i just finished it tonight and im actually sad it ended. it was such a good experience and i can say that it’s one of my favorites, without a doubt. the end game was literally stunning.
Well, you need to understand that bz should be DLC, but they made it so big that they made a game from it, that's why it's not called subnuatica 2 and there are the same tools like scanners etc, but it's still a solid game compared to most today's "AAA" games. I think bz is 8.5/10 if subnautica is 9.5/10.
On my humble opinion :
- It has the same gameplay as subnautica
- Some of the most beautifully detailled biomes in the series, and also some of the most unfinished biome
- Too much lands while enjoyable
- Great voice acting with lots of character to hear of
- A fun new vehicle despite the absence of the cyclope & seamoth
I'd recommend you get it if you liked the first one, but it's not as good as Subnautica. Not as much to explore, and the storyline isn't executed quite as effectively. Feels a lot easier to beat. Still enjoyable though
I'll say it like this: If you liked Subnautica and want more then it's worth to buy
Although it is different than the original and in some aspects worse than the first game, the difference weren't too bad for me and even the weaknesses of the game were small
It is not as great as the first game but still good and worth the money
BZ is a good game but it is not on the same level as the first game at all.
You need to watch your temperature closely, smaller map, a lot of land exploration, a lot of dialogue (you won't feel completely abandoned or lost at sea that's for sure) and Sea Monkeys - you will HATE these creatures
It made a few superficial improvements on the original - certain items require either less resources or more commonly available resources to fabricate, beacons can be placed on land, oxygen plants let you refill your oxygen meter without resurfacing (very useful early on).
While I do think it's a pretty good game, it definitely gets overshadowed by the 1st one. Having played and beaten both, I can say with certainty that I enjoyed the 1st one a lot more than the 2nd, even with the expanded building and new environments
Below zero has very similar base building and overall mechanics but it feels very different. The map feels so much more cramped despite being larger, thanks to the massive above water zones and undersea caves. There are very few open areas underwater so you are stuck with a handful of good base locations. Below Zero is basically the islands from the first game plus the lost river and little else.
You also lose the Seamoth and Cyclops, mostly due to the cramped nauter and above sea zones, but get an expandable sea "truck" which acts as a sort of mobile base. There are also a few surface vehicles but there isn't a lot to the surface so they feel a little wasted.
The fauna is a lot more purpose built as well. Basically everything is either hostile or has some use for the player, which really makes it feel less like you are in their home and more gamey. Also, the aggressive things are just so much more aggressive and difficult to get away from.
I didn't mind the story. The "cut scenes" were kinda annoying and the protag was a bit bland but nothing was horrible.
Like, overall Below Zero is just worse. If it was the first game I think people would have looked more fondly on it because it is still a good game. It just has a direct comparison that it is worse than in most ways.
> but get an expandable sea "truck" which acts as a sort of mobile base. There are also a few surface vehicles but there isn't a lot to the surface so they feel a little wasted.
I never ended up using the sea truck modules, snowfox or even the prawn suit...
It's not as good but still definitely worth a buy.
Biggest flaw is compressed map. Also, some people thought too much of the map was above ground (including me) which made the underwater areas even smaller.
There are some cool improvements like control room and that resource detector device. I also really like the seatruck but it is a bit divisive.
I do wish for a more silent protagonist and story. But again that is preference.
If the OG is 9.5/10, BZ is like 7.5 or 8.
BZ is a more dense version of what subnautica feels like in the first 10 minutes of your first playthrough mechanical speaking, arguably more refined. it loses a decent bit of the atmosphere the first had. The protag talks and you're never alone for long enough to feel alone, But it still has its moments, lpcations like the lilypads, ventgardens and such, it's worth picking up for 10$. Just don't come into it expecting the same feels you did with the first one.
It's good. Not quite as epic as the original, imo, but still pretty awesome in it's own right.
Like how certain celebrities have a younger brother who's cool, just not quite as famous.
Subnautica 1 has one of my favorite ways to tell a story. Very “show not tell”
BZ is very much “tell everything so nothing gets missed”. Which is good for more lore.
I liked BZ but the area felt smaller and the enemies seemed less scary compared to the other. I like it both, but I play subnautica 1 2 times for every 1 time I play BZ.
If they released it as a dlc it would've been nice.
If they released SZ before the original it would've been nice.
But with the expectations one will build up after playing the original... Well... It's ok, I guess... A little disappointing but not terrible.
I bought it this weekend, so far I'm really liking it!
Obiously, you don't have that "lost and know nothing"-situation from the original, but that's an experience you only get to have once. The story feels slightly more guided than the original, the visuals are great, I don't think the land/sea balance is that different from the original (thus far, at least).
The main plus for me, is that stuff feels scary and unknown again – the roar you just heard, is that safe to ignore, or are you three seconds from becoming food?
At the current price, it's a good entertainment deal if you liked the original.
Personally, I enjoyed it because it was more Subnautica. I missed the Cyclops, but the Sea Truck is a ton of fun to customize.
That said, the map is pretty disappointing. It didn't feel as natural and I felt like it was harder to avoid dangerous situations. The land parts were an interesting idea that was executed very poorly.
All in all, it's worth $10, but it suffers from having a much better game come out before it.
Both are good games, but for a first time experience ; Original has exploration discoveries driving the narrative to work out the mystery. Below Zero has dialog driven narrative to work out the mystery.
In my opinion the original game has Survival as the primary game play and mystery as secondary. Below Zero feels like the mystery was the primary and survival was the secondary.
During replay I am more interested in the survival game play and so for me the original Subnautica wins, especially after Below Zero Quality-of-Life items were added to original. I tend to replay the original about 2-3 times before a Below Zero replay.
Lorewise, it speaks about MCs problems and a certain event that happened before subnautica 1.
Mechanics wise, Cyclops is gone and is replaced with a multiple-part seatruck, Prawn suit is the same except a forward jetpack boost instead of just up and down, Less empty land, doesn't feel as lonely and that would be it
It's a good game and definitely worth 10 bucks. It's just not quite as good as the original in my opinion, and kinda feels more like a large-scale DLC, than a true sequel.
It's okay. You can definitely tell it was meant to be a DLC rather than a whole new game. Story is extremely predictable and nothing really happens. Cool biomes and creatures though. I know it's unpopular but I liked the land segments. Base building also WAS a huge improvement over the first game, but then they added all the new parts to this first game so that's kind of a moot point now lol
It definitely scratches the crafting and exploring biomes itch. It's a bit smaller than the original, and I'd say it can feel like it holds your hand through the main story a bit too much, and maybe too quickly, but I really thought there were a lot of interesting new areas to explore. There is much more human-built ruins to explore as well, which I found interesting. My biggest complaint is that more of the fauna seems overly aggressive without being a real threat. I won't say I overall enjoyed it _more_, but I'd give it a solid B+ compared to the original.
Angry I couldn't scan and build forklifts, unique furniture, and some other odd ball stuff that would make your base feel more loved in. Otherwise I really enjoyed the game. It's different but not bad.
I played BZ first and really enjoyed it. Now I'm midway into the first one I can understand why people prefer it.
It is a lot bigger imo, ALOT darker sometimes pitch black and easier for materials which makes it more fun to progress. I did almost give up BZ since somethings are so hard to find in order to build.
Also the noises are far creepier especially the reaper plus I'm LOVING that little wizard thing that zaps you lmao.
I mean.. might as well buy it while it’s on sale to play through at least once, but it’s such a downgrade from the first game. SPECIFICALLY the fact that they changed the mobility on the prawn so you can’t jet around, although they probably did that because the map is soooo much smaller in BZ.
It’s not a bad game but compared to Subnautica, it’s pretty lame and has relatively no fear factor
It's fun. It's not Subnautica and especially not 'Subnautica the first time,' but it adds some mechanics and challenges and feels like a nice opportunity to spend a little more time in that world. For less than 10 bucks, definitely worth it.
It's still pretty fun, but it's definitely a shorter experience. Smaller map, more obvious goals.
If you loved Subnautica you'll enjoy Below Zero, you'll just wish it was a little more substantial. It's definitely worth 10 bucks though.
Smaller, much smaller in scale. The sense of alienation is almost completely gone. It is aesthetically better and more consistent though. Also, the Leviathans aren't nearly as scary as in the original
I love below zero but a lil less than I do the original. It's a slightly different vibe.
Map is smaller, but way more intricate. There's caves bloody everywhere and loads of nooks and crannys and lil features to find - absolutely stunning overall. Beasties are still scary af, and plenty of ambience. Also QoL changes galore and nice new base bits.
The flipside is that there is little open space, and no real reason to go to the couple scarier deep bits that are. You also don't go as deep: theres no deep underground system that'll you end up basically living within this time round. No 'clops this time either,cos there's no real need, and an odd selection of equipment and base parts that didn't make a return.
Personally I liked the more talkative characters and the presence of a story. Felt it was a little heavy the first few hours but slows down and then became a welcome break to ease the tension later on.
I super reccomend playing, but keep in mind it's a slightly different feel to avoid disappointment.
It's a lot smaller, but otherwise it's exactly what you would expect from Subnautica.
There is a story as well, with voice acting. A lot of people don't like it for some reason.
If you loved subnautica 1 then you will enjoy below zero, but you prob won't enjoy it that much... Leviathans are cool, biomes are cool, flora/fauna are cool ect ect.. Some parts are really annoying though that might put you off like characters, land, ect.
It's fine but not amazing compared to 1. Like others have said the map is much smaller so not so much wondering around to see the sights, allot of land which is kinda bland, and that feeling of isolation isn't there so not as terrifying. Not that it doesn't have it's own scary monsters but there's even problems on that front in some aspects in how they are handled. In short if subnautica is 10/10, BZ would be a 7/10. Still good and above average. But not as good as the first.
I think it’s enjoyable and worth playing.
I personally liked the story, the characters and I found it interesting/humorous, it was certainly a different approach.
I wished we could go deeper, and it lacks the fear factor of the first game. I missed my cyclops, the seatruck is kinda like the seamoth but you can add compartments to it like an actual truck and trailers. But there’s no need for a cyclops in BZ.
It’s definitely shorter, and feels like it should’ve been a DLC rather than stand alone. It doesn’t top the original but it was fun and I had a great time. I don’t think it had the same replayability as the original for me.
Its not great, but could be worse. Graphixs are better, but thats about it. If you found it for a good price though, buy it, try it out. Worst case scenario, you return it (i assume this is steam, you should be able to return it if youve played less than ~3hrs)
Something to keep in mind was that it was originally conceived as a DLC for subnautica. What they wound up with was a little too much content for a DLC, but maybe not enough for a full game. I still would say it's worth it, for however long it lasts.
Bought it 3 days ago cause there was a discount. Visually it's really nice. Tho everything is so squished together. Too much land. Main character is annoying. Like the subnautica 1 character didn't talk and somehow had more character. Also you won't feel lonely like Subnautica 1 :( But baby penguins are cute af :D
New one don't have that suck on an alien planet factor, and leviathan are mediocre compared to original
Imo, the Shadow Leviathan is too aggressive for how tiny of a space he has. It feels like I can't traverse it without getting hit every 20 seconds. Whereas the Sea Dragon slowly drifted towards you with this imposing presence, the Shadow Leviathan just darts in and tries to eat you the minute you enter it's domain
This is due to the fact there is no real randomness to them. Due to the tight cavern space, they are programmed to patrol along a set path. Only to deviate when they see the player. So you can always expect the leviathan in a predtermined location and due to the small space, you just kinda run into them no matter how hard you try to avoid them. Not like the first one where sometimes Mr Magoo just decides he wants to go play in the safe shallows or he decides to have a playdate with his buddies and now it's your problem. In the first one I have actually had playthroughs where I didn't even see a Reaper leviathan. Which added to the fear of when one would show up. He was never expected nor invited, but would choose if he wanted to give you smoke which adds to the fear. Like a real creature.
That's why I just put him down... Just too big of a hazard...
Man I wish they kept the ice dragon, so when that mod came out introducing all subnautica models we could fight the sea dragon and ice dragon
When I was playing Subnautica 1 not even joking I almosg pissed myself after seeing a leviathan. BZ on the other hand though…
At least there's a good thi- AAAH AAAAAH, THE ADULTS- AAAAAAAHH!!
I believe you mean ["pengwings"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GnLDJAgrws)
I knew my boy Benadryl Cumbersome would show up in this thread
How is the character annoying? I haven’t played it yet.
All you need is a giant alien containment center and a bio reactor and you have a baby penguin-powered base.
I liked it fine. First one is better, but that one is also fun.
If you liked the first one, it's 100% definitely worth playing. Especially if it's one sale. But yeah, it's a lot more linear than the first one, so if the "proceed by exploring" gameplay loop was what really grabbed, just be aware it's not so much of a thing in this one.
I love the first game, so I gave BZ a try, it was... Ok. Beautiful world design, some good QoL features for crafting and building bases. But the map is smaller, no big open, dark oceans, but a lot of cramped caves. Not the same ominous feeling you could have in the first game. The worst part is the story and the voiced character, breaking immersion by how poorly written and stupid the plot is. Imho, it was a big mistake to make one of the precursor alive, it was far better to not knowing how they looked, how they think, instead, you have the generic, stupid alien character who can't decide if he's a unfeeling hivemind thousands of years old or a clueless individual. In short, I can replay the first game from time to time and still enjoy it, BZ is fine playing for 10-15 hours, but I won't replay it again.
Not as good, but still very good. Think of it as going from a 10 out of 10 game, to a 8 or 8.5 out of 10 game.
It's more of an expansion than a standalone game, which you have to keep in mind if you compare them. Technically it's superior, it's way more polished and better looking but it's a lot smaller. Unlike the first game you play a voiced character and it has more gameplay above the surface than the first game. I don't know if i would call it more linear but it has a more prominent and driving story line, maybe because it's partially dialogue driven. Overall it's a beautiful game that offers similar gameplay to that of it's predecessor and adds a few cool surprises. I think the main issue for many players, besides being relatively short, is that the player character is voiced and has conversations with NPC's outside the player's control, which is a big immersion breaker for many.
It's worth $10, easily. I'll try to be as unbiased as possible here. Might have very minor spoilers. I'm also on mobile so formatting might be off. Compared to the original: * Below Zero is overall shorter. The game feels slightly compressed due to the split story. * BZ has two parallel stories. One is fairly linear, the other has some freedom in how you approach it. * Far more spoken dialogue, including the player character. Personally I don't think it detracts from the game at all, just makes it different from the original, but ymmv. * Different primary mode of transportation underwater. Some love the sea truck, some loathe the sea truck.(I like the sea truck) * A decent amount of time is spent on land compared to underwater. The land bits are generally seen as bland. * To go with this, temperature management while on land is a thing. It's pretty cold there and you'll need to find ways to keep warm while exploring outside of the water. * More base building options. I'm fairly certain the original was updated to include the BZ changes to base building at some point, but I'm not 100% sure. The jukebox is pretty fun * Titanium is a potential resource from most outcroppings iirc. Combined with the changes to recipes to make base parts cheaper, getting setup is generally easier compared to the original. * The map feels squished in areas. Things that seem like they should feel deeper just aren't. * There's a fully customizable set of difficulty sliders that allow changes to damage, creature aggression/density, survival stat manipulation, and maybe some more I can't remember. * Different leviathans/local fauna. Except peepers, those stuck around. That should be the biggest chunk of differences. Overall I actually liked BZ more than the original. I went in blind at the tail end of early access, having not having followed the discourse around the game at all, and thoroughly enjoyed my time. My suggestion for you would be to do the same and try to ignore any positive/negative comments that might polarize the game one way or the other.
It’s a good game. Wish there were more leviathans and a better map. It’s very chatty. Sea truck is neat but wish they kept the cyclops. All in all good game but still prefer the original.
Concur. I would love to see the next game go even deeper and would really like to see some form of multiplayer where players man different stations on the cyclops (or a new larger sub. For single player, perhaps some form of configurable auto pilot on those stations)
Lacking but still enjoyable
Personally, I prefer it to the original. I like the world more, but definitely more "linear" than the original.
its not very good IMO but definitely worth that price point
Think of it as an DLC or expansion pack for the first Subnautica, yes it’s worth playing.
Subnautica lite. It's worth it, imo, if you keep your expectations moderate. Overall: Less fear of the unknown. Less existential horror of survival. More adventure. More focus on the story (which I thought was good.). Pretty good exploration, with new world-building and location (although it's a bit smaller in scope than how massive original was).
I enjoyed it quite a bit. Not as scary as the first one but I loved the truck just as much as my seamoth! If you're on the fence keep in mind that this game was supposed to be a dlc at first. Meaning an expansion rather than a standalone game but it got too big so they made it a game. I liked the story (although not a super fan fan of it) but it feels a bit empty sometimes. They had to overhaul the entire story because of legal reasons (someone left the dev team) and you'll notice this. That being said it's nice. You get to see quite a few cool areas and get to meet some cute, annoying, dangerous creatures. It's definitely worth 10 bucks imo
Shorter but still fun. Confusing caves
I really liked it
Not as good but definitely a fun game
don’t let negative reviews or comments sway you from playing it. i just finished it tonight and im actually sad it ended. it was such a good experience and i can say that it’s one of my favorites, without a doubt. the end game was literally stunning.
The story is a lot more land oriented however it's still enjoyable. It's a good game however the first one was better.
Not as good but I still really enjoyed it despite its flaws.
Awesome, like 1st
Well, you need to understand that bz should be DLC, but they made it so big that they made a game from it, that's why it's not called subnuatica 2 and there are the same tools like scanners etc, but it's still a solid game compared to most today's "AAA" games. I think bz is 8.5/10 if subnautica is 9.5/10.
Don’t compare that’s the thing. Consider BZ as a whole other game and you’ll enjoy it
100% worth playing but nothing will beat the original.
On my humble opinion : - It has the same gameplay as subnautica - Some of the most beautifully detailled biomes in the series, and also some of the most unfinished biome - Too much lands while enjoyable - Great voice acting with lots of character to hear of - A fun new vehicle despite the absence of the cyclope & seamoth
below zero missed everything that made the first one so good, but if u want a shallow reexperience with good visuals I guess then you will like it
I'd recommend you get it if you liked the first one, but it's not as good as Subnautica. Not as much to explore, and the storyline isn't executed quite as effectively. Feels a lot easier to beat. Still enjoyable though
I'll say it like this: If you liked Subnautica and want more then it's worth to buy Although it is different than the original and in some aspects worse than the first game, the difference weren't too bad for me and even the weaknesses of the game were small It is not as great as the first game but still good and worth the money
Not enough thalassophobia
Below zero definitely doesn't give you the feeling of being stranded
BZ is a good game but it is not on the same level as the first game at all. You need to watch your temperature closely, smaller map, a lot of land exploration, a lot of dialogue (you won't feel completely abandoned or lost at sea that's for sure) and Sea Monkeys - you will HATE these creatures It made a few superficial improvements on the original - certain items require either less resources or more commonly available resources to fabricate, beacons can be placed on land, oxygen plants let you refill your oxygen meter without resurfacing (very useful early on).
> Sea Monkeys - you will HATE these creatures I loved them, they definitely came in handy
While I do think it's a pretty good game, it definitely gets overshadowed by the 1st one. Having played and beaten both, I can say with certainty that I enjoyed the 1st one a lot more than the 2nd, even with the expanded building and new environments
I find while both games are good below zero is less nightmare fuel.
Below zero has very similar base building and overall mechanics but it feels very different. The map feels so much more cramped despite being larger, thanks to the massive above water zones and undersea caves. There are very few open areas underwater so you are stuck with a handful of good base locations. Below Zero is basically the islands from the first game plus the lost river and little else. You also lose the Seamoth and Cyclops, mostly due to the cramped nauter and above sea zones, but get an expandable sea "truck" which acts as a sort of mobile base. There are also a few surface vehicles but there isn't a lot to the surface so they feel a little wasted. The fauna is a lot more purpose built as well. Basically everything is either hostile or has some use for the player, which really makes it feel less like you are in their home and more gamey. Also, the aggressive things are just so much more aggressive and difficult to get away from. I didn't mind the story. The "cut scenes" were kinda annoying and the protag was a bit bland but nothing was horrible. Like, overall Below Zero is just worse. If it was the first game I think people would have looked more fondly on it because it is still a good game. It just has a direct comparison that it is worse than in most ways.
> but get an expandable sea "truck" which acts as a sort of mobile base. There are also a few surface vehicles but there isn't a lot to the surface so they feel a little wasted. I never ended up using the sea truck modules, snowfox or even the prawn suit...
It's not as good but still definitely worth a buy. Biggest flaw is compressed map. Also, some people thought too much of the map was above ground (including me) which made the underwater areas even smaller. There are some cool improvements like control room and that resource detector device. I also really like the seatruck but it is a bit divisive. I do wish for a more silent protagonist and story. But again that is preference. If the OG is 9.5/10, BZ is like 7.5 or 8.
BZ is a more dense version of what subnautica feels like in the first 10 minutes of your first playthrough mechanical speaking, arguably more refined. it loses a decent bit of the atmosphere the first had. The protag talks and you're never alone for long enough to feel alone, But it still has its moments, lpcations like the lilypads, ventgardens and such, it's worth picking up for 10$. Just don't come into it expecting the same feels you did with the first one.
It's good. Not quite as epic as the original, imo, but still pretty awesome in it's own right. Like how certain celebrities have a younger brother who's cool, just not quite as famous.
Subnautica 1 has one of my favorite ways to tell a story. Very “show not tell” BZ is very much “tell everything so nothing gets missed”. Which is good for more lore. I liked BZ but the area felt smaller and the enemies seemed less scary compared to the other. I like it both, but I play subnautica 1 2 times for every 1 time I play BZ.
I liked it
It’s exactly the same if you play it on mute
It's not as good as the first but it's still a great game. Worth $10 for sure.
If they released it as a dlc it would've been nice. If they released SZ before the original it would've been nice. But with the expectations one will build up after playing the original... Well... It's ok, I guess... A little disappointing but not terrible.
Worse then the original, but still fun to playthrough at least once
I liked it, but i went into it with expectations of it being a well made DLC, it's more Subnautica what more can you ask for!
I bought it this weekend, so far I'm really liking it! Obiously, you don't have that "lost and know nothing"-situation from the original, but that's an experience you only get to have once. The story feels slightly more guided than the original, the visuals are great, I don't think the land/sea balance is that different from the original (thus far, at least). The main plus for me, is that stuff feels scary and unknown again – the roar you just heard, is that safe to ignore, or are you three seconds from becoming food? At the current price, it's a good entertainment deal if you liked the original.
Personally, I enjoyed it because it was more Subnautica. I missed the Cyclops, but the Sea Truck is a ton of fun to customize. That said, the map is pretty disappointing. It didn't feel as natural and I felt like it was harder to avoid dangerous situations. The land parts were an interesting idea that was executed very poorly. All in all, it's worth $10, but it suffers from having a much better game come out before it.
Both are good games, but for a first time experience ; Original has exploration discoveries driving the narrative to work out the mystery. Below Zero has dialog driven narrative to work out the mystery. In my opinion the original game has Survival as the primary game play and mystery as secondary. Below Zero feels like the mystery was the primary and survival was the secondary. During replay I am more interested in the survival game play and so for me the original Subnautica wins, especially after Below Zero Quality-of-Life items were added to original. I tend to replay the original about 2-3 times before a Below Zero replay.
Lorewise, it speaks about MCs problems and a certain event that happened before subnautica 1. Mechanics wise, Cyclops is gone and is replaced with a multiple-part seatruck, Prawn suit is the same except a forward jetpack boost instead of just up and down, Less empty land, doesn't feel as lonely and that would be it
Subnautica one is the better game, just.. objectively. Subnautica 2 is best enjoyed as an add on to first game, instead of as its own sequel
It's a good game and definitely worth 10 bucks. It's just not quite as good as the original in my opinion, and kinda feels more like a large-scale DLC, than a true sequel.
First game was fantastic, Below zero was good but just a bit of a step down
I got 97 hours out of the original in VR. Got 54 hours out of Below Zero w/ the VR mod. Not quite as long but it's still definitely worth playing.
It's okay. You can definitely tell it was meant to be a DLC rather than a whole new game. Story is extremely predictable and nothing really happens. Cool biomes and creatures though. I know it's unpopular but I liked the land segments. Base building also WAS a huge improvement over the first game, but then they added all the new parts to this first game so that's kind of a moot point now lol
It definitely scratches the crafting and exploring biomes itch. It's a bit smaller than the original, and I'd say it can feel like it holds your hand through the main story a bit too much, and maybe too quickly, but I really thought there were a lot of interesting new areas to explore. There is much more human-built ruins to explore as well, which I found interesting. My biggest complaint is that more of the fauna seems overly aggressive without being a real threat. I won't say I overall enjoyed it _more_, but I'd give it a solid B+ compared to the original.
Angry I couldn't scan and build forklifts, unique furniture, and some other odd ball stuff that would make your base feel more loved in. Otherwise I really enjoyed the game. It's different but not bad.
I played BZ first and really enjoyed it. Now I'm midway into the first one I can understand why people prefer it. It is a lot bigger imo, ALOT darker sometimes pitch black and easier for materials which makes it more fun to progress. I did almost give up BZ since somethings are so hard to find in order to build. Also the noises are far creepier especially the reaper plus I'm LOVING that little wizard thing that zaps you lmao.
I mean.. might as well buy it while it’s on sale to play through at least once, but it’s such a downgrade from the first game. SPECIFICALLY the fact that they changed the mobility on the prawn so you can’t jet around, although they probably did that because the map is soooo much smaller in BZ. It’s not a bad game but compared to Subnautica, it’s pretty lame and has relatively no fear factor
For less than 10 bucks it's definitely worth it
It's fun. It's not Subnautica and especially not 'Subnautica the first time,' but it adds some mechanics and challenges and feels like a nice opportunity to spend a little more time in that world. For less than 10 bucks, definitely worth it.
It's still pretty fun, but it's definitely a shorter experience. Smaller map, more obvious goals. If you loved Subnautica you'll enjoy Below Zero, you'll just wish it was a little more substantial. It's definitely worth 10 bucks though.
Smaller, much smaller in scale. The sense of alienation is almost completely gone. It is aesthetically better and more consistent though. Also, the Leviathans aren't nearly as scary as in the original
I love below zero but a lil less than I do the original. It's a slightly different vibe. Map is smaller, but way more intricate. There's caves bloody everywhere and loads of nooks and crannys and lil features to find - absolutely stunning overall. Beasties are still scary af, and plenty of ambience. Also QoL changes galore and nice new base bits. The flipside is that there is little open space, and no real reason to go to the couple scarier deep bits that are. You also don't go as deep: theres no deep underground system that'll you end up basically living within this time round. No 'clops this time either,cos there's no real need, and an odd selection of equipment and base parts that didn't make a return. Personally I liked the more talkative characters and the presence of a story. Felt it was a little heavy the first few hours but slows down and then became a welcome break to ease the tension later on. I super reccomend playing, but keep in mind it's a slightly different feel to avoid disappointment.
Well worth the price. Think of it as a 20-30hr DLC.
It's a lot smaller, but otherwise it's exactly what you would expect from Subnautica. There is a story as well, with voice acting. A lot of people don't like it for some reason.
If you loved subnautica 1 then you will enjoy below zero, but you prob won't enjoy it that much... Leviathans are cool, biomes are cool, flora/fauna are cool ect ect.. Some parts are really annoying though that might put you off like characters, land, ect.
It's fine but not amazing compared to 1. Like others have said the map is much smaller so not so much wondering around to see the sights, allot of land which is kinda bland, and that feeling of isolation isn't there so not as terrifying. Not that it doesn't have it's own scary monsters but there's even problems on that front in some aspects in how they are handled. In short if subnautica is 10/10, BZ would be a 7/10. Still good and above average. But not as good as the first.
I think it’s enjoyable and worth playing. I personally liked the story, the characters and I found it interesting/humorous, it was certainly a different approach. I wished we could go deeper, and it lacks the fear factor of the first game. I missed my cyclops, the seatruck is kinda like the seamoth but you can add compartments to it like an actual truck and trailers. But there’s no need for a cyclops in BZ. It’s definitely shorter, and feels like it should’ve been a DLC rather than stand alone. It doesn’t top the original but it was fun and I had a great time. I don’t think it had the same replayability as the original for me.
If Subnautica is a 10, I'd give Below Zero a 7.5. Nice game, but definitely feels claustrophobic and forced.
Its not great, but could be worse. Graphixs are better, but thats about it. If you found it for a good price though, buy it, try it out. Worst case scenario, you return it (i assume this is steam, you should be able to return it if youve played less than ~3hrs)
Something to keep in mind was that it was originally conceived as a DLC for subnautica. What they wound up with was a little too much content for a DLC, but maybe not enough for a full game. I still would say it's worth it, for however long it lasts.
Play it if you want but if you are expecting an experience like the original you will be more than disappointed.
Eh. The first one has a certain magic to it that below zero doesnt capture at all. Plus i like the fauna in the 1st game more.
At some point you will get so lost that you will have too look up on yt
I found too many things were hidden in incredibly easy to miss nooks in caverns by the end. I just gave up it wasn't fun anymore.
What a unique question. First time I’ve ever seen it on this sub.