When I first heard about Subnautica: Below Zero, I was really excited because I loved the original Subnautica. The first game had this awesome sense of mystery and freedom, where you could explore a huge alien ocean full of danger and beauty. So naturally, I thought the sequel would be even better. Unfortunately, after playing it, I found myself way more disappointed than impressed.
One of the biggest changes in Below Zero is how much more focused it is on story. You play as a new character trying to uncover secrets about her sister’s disappearance. While the idea sounds cool, the story feels forced and takes away from the whole survival and exploration vibe that made the first game so great. It’s like the game keeps pushing you to follow a plot instead of just letting you explore at your own pace.
The world itself also feels a lot smaller this time. In the first game, it felt like the ocean went on forever, and discovering new areas was exciting. But in Below Zero, the map feels cramped and less interesting. There are fewer biomes to explore, and even though it still looks nice, it doesn’t have that same sense of wonder or fear when diving deep underwater.
Another problem is how clunky the game feels. The controls and animations don’t feel as smooth, and the vehicles are kind of annoying to use. It’s like they focused so much on the story and voice acting that they forgot what made Subnautica fun in the first place. I also had a few bugs and weird physics moments that just made it frustrating. Overall, it feels like a downgraded version of the original in almost every way.
In conclusion, Subnautica: Below Zero isn’t a bad game on its own, but compared to the first one, it’s a huge step down. The smaller map, forced story, and clunky gameplay make it hard to enjoy, especially for fans of the original. I wanted to love this game, but instead I ended up missing what made *Subnautica* special. If I had to choose, I’d go back to the original every time.
