Recent reviews by asinglebit

This sandbox ecosystem simulator is undeniably cool. However, most gameplay features feel like an afterthought and seem rushed. Don't get me wrong; I understand that game development is challenging, and tunnel vision is common. Nevertheless, I encountered numerous problems with many aspects of this game.

The controls are clunky—notably, the simplification of control mechanisms by mapping too many features to just three buttons. The internal simulation of the character's behavior and positioning in the engine makes navigating the terrain very difficult. It takes far too long to fit the character into a pipe, and changing direction within a pipe often leads to collision issues, causing delays. Wall jumping is overly complicated, making it difficult to control the character consistently. Aiming is challenging due to unpredictable controls, akin to riding a bicycle with reversed steering. Additionally, the inventory system is not intuitive and works against the player, resulting in a frustrating experience.

Grinding seems to stem from the game's lack of clear direction. Save points, karma, gated areas, and biome traversal all contribute to unnecessary difficulty. The game's difficulty arises from procedural systems and game loops that are not harmoniously integrated.

For instance, the concept of wearing a mask to instill fear in enemies is hindered by the fact that you must hold the mask in your hand rather than wearing it. This becomes cumbersome during gameplay, especially when trying to manage other items. Death is excessively punishing, considering the game's numerous hidden mechanics. Losing karma, food slots, time, and found items can be frustrating, leading players to seek external resources for guidance.

The overseer, intended to provide assistance, often proves more of a hindrance with distracting insights and visual clutter. The map is also confusing.

Overall, this game is unique and visually stunning, with great potential. Some issues may even be remedied with mods. I think it would have benefited from more attention to gameplay loops rather than simulation. Despite enjoying the experience and finding the price fair, the game feels incomplete.

Fun, inventive, challenging if you want it to be. Extremely addictive.

Valve did it. The rest is history.