Subnautica: Below Zero Review

The Subnautica: Below Zero review is here to go over the latest survival game from Unknown Worlds in order to see how it compares to the previous game.

But before we get into the nitty-gritty details, let us answer some of the common questions gamers have about the game.

What is Subnautica: Below Zero?

Subanutica: Below Zero is a new chapter in the Subnautica universe that features a brand new icy Adventure in a stunning alien ocean world.

When will Subnautica: Below Zero be released?

Subnautica: Below Zero came out on May 14, 2021.

How long is Subnautica: Below Zero?

Subnautica: Below Zero offers anywhere from 15-30 hours of content.

How much is Subnautica: Below Zero?

You can buy Subnautica: Below Zero for 29,99€ on Steam.

Where can I buy a cheap Subnautica: Below Zero key?

You can find a cheap Subnautica: Below Zero key on HRK Game.

Below Zero review — Image credit: Unknown Worlds Entertainment

Below Zero and its beginning

In Subnautica: Below Zero, we are playing as Robin Ayou. Our playground is the marine planet 4546B, but unlike in the previous game, Robin came here with a purpose. Riley ended up here on accident, while Robin came here to search for her Sister Sam. According to Alterra, Sam’s employer, she died on this planet while on a research expedition. But Robin isn’t buying this explanation, so she came here to save her sister. I didn’t expect such a focus on the story when I first started playing the game for this Below Zero review.

The arctic region of 4546B is a harsh and desolate place, and Robin came with minimal supplies with one purpose – To rescue Sam and leave this unforgiving place. Thanks to Sam’s recorded message, Robin knows that she’s alive but finding her in this place won’t be an easy thing to do.

Below Zero and its New Features

Below Zero most innovative new feature is its challenging new environment. 4546B won’t let you off easy in its frozen landscape, and it’s hellish enough to keep you always on your toes. There are multiple new biomes in Below Zero, some of them above water and some above the water. The first area has coral and kelp, which may remind you of the original Subnautica area, but that’s where the similarities end.

Beautiful new environments

Once you dive deep into Below Zero’s water, you’re greeted with lilypad forests, dazzling crystal caves, and purple vents that tend to explode if you get too close. One of the most alien environments is Twisty Bridges. It’s an otherworldly underwater trench full of twisted strands of coral. Below Zero knows how to present haunting alien landscapes and it’s the main reason why Subnautica manages to keep your spirit of exploration constantly alive and wanting more. This Below Zero review was written in parts because I kept going back to the game.

But we all know that curiosity killed the cat, so always be wary of these places. After all, humanity has an intrinsic need to discover, but this plant has already proved that it is very lethal.

Explore the dry land

When you’re not diving deep into 4546B’s frozen waters, you’re going to explore the dryland. Everything’s frozen and desolate, so prepare to see a lot of artic tundras decorated with alien rocks. Of course, there are many gigantic icebergs and glacial bays out there. And since this is a survival game, even when you’re not deep in glacial waters, surviving isn’t easy.

Once you’re out and about, you won’t have to worry about your O2 gauge. It gets replaced by a temperature gauge. After all, this is essentially Hell, frozen over many times, and spending too much time here will cause more than just frostbite. To survive on the land in Below Zero, you have to find shelter. Before the icy grasp causes you to succumb to hypothermia, hotspots like geothermal springs and Thermal Lillies are a lifesaver. Expect to see a lot of new land-based fauna. Some of them are very aggressive and territorial, so using a land-based vehicle is quite a lifesaver in certain situations.

The best parts of Below Zero are still experienced underwater

Subnautica had very limited land exploration. But even though playing the game for this Below Zero review made me realize the game improves a lot in that aspect, the best parts of the game are still experienced underwater. The plants and animals in Below Zero are insanely varied. You have small-fry animals that can be eaten. But you also have Levithan-class beasts that will put the fear of God into your very soul. In this aspect, Below Zero doesn’t fail to incorporate horror elements into its survival formula. The Titan Hole-fish is able to trap your life-saving air bubbles in its body. Quite a troublesome combination is the Titan Hole-fish and its pack of Brinefish. These guys can freeze you with a blast of ice-cold water.

But then you have the Sea Monkey. It’s a critter that can be very annoying at times, but it can also help you in ways you didn’t expect. Unknown Worlds went above and beyond with the alien creatures this time, and their variety is absolutely terrific.

Below Zero and its Gameplay

Below Zero and its gameplay are quite adept at providing a lot of interactivity to its players. It doesn’t just stop at new kinds of interactions with the wildlife. You have more options when it comes to building new objects. The Control Room is a new base component that helps players customize their bases even more than what was possible in Subnautica. Not only that, the Control Room also helps you divert the power of your base to different parts.

When it comes to Below Zero and crafting, there are new tools to play around with. The Mineral Detector is quite useful when you need specific resources.

The amazing Seatruck

But the best new thing in Below Zero is the Seatruck. It’s a compact and nimble submersible that can use several different modules. It’s quite useful both above and below water, and thanks to its capabilities it can be used to make stuff, and store stuff and it will even pick up smaller fish when you’re exploring the underwater regions. When the Seatruck has all of its modules attached, it’s basically a mobile base that you can drive anywhere.

The Seatruck is as amazing as it can get and this Below Zero review will prove it. Subnautica always lets its players interact with the environment and the tools you’re given. Push and pull different modules and create the vehicle you need. While it’s not as fast as the Seamoth or gigantic as the Cyclops, it’s still right there in the middle. While some players weren’t impressed with it, I found the Seatruck to be the perfect vehicle for everything 4546B threw at me.

Below Zero and its Problems

One of the problems I did have with Below Zero and its gameplay is the similarity of its resources. While we have tools that help us find resources easily, since outcrops look so similar, you will have trouble in some environments where the outcrops blend in with the rest of the scenery. The topography is much more complex this time around, and getting lost in all this alien flora and fauna happens a bit too often.

Now, we all know Below Zero and its story are at the forefront this time around. Characters talk a lot more, and you will frequently have NPCs pop up on your screen, telling you bits and pieces needed for the narrative to progress. But instead of discovering some of these things ourselves, they’re told to us. The characters aren’t all that compelling or charismatic, so the story ends up being rather bland. It’s drastically different from Subnautica in this sense, and this may end up being too annoying for some who just wanted some hardcore survival action.

Should you buy Below Zero? – Final Verdict

But in the end, Below Zero and its gameplay still excel. Even with its hiccups, the game is a stellar depiction of what a survival game should look like. Add on top the exquisite alien landscape and its many inhabitants and you still get a worthy sequel to Subnautica.

Absolutely terrific visuals, outstanding sound design, and survival mechanics that only got better. No matter how you look at it, Below Zero is a must-play for anyone that loves their dose of survival. It’s especially appealing if you’re tired of your standard survival games that take place on bland, human planets.

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