Surviving the Abyss vs. Aquatico.

[kycaver]

Two undersea builders come out at the same time. Has anybody here played both of them? Just wondering how they compare. They are both Early access. The reviews are both kinda meh, with a lot a reviews saying that there is a good foundation to the game, but needs more work. I know I am not buying both games, so I guess I will just wait it out and see which one ends up progressing better. Looking at some videos, Aquatico seems to have the edge in visuals.

[MickeyTJR]

I own both, each has their own special place.
To me they both have very nice visuals.
As far as which one is better, well that is like comparing apples to oranges, they both are doing different things. Which is better is very subjective to what you like to play.
I can say as of now I have put more time into Surviving the Abyss.

[virtualsmacker]

I agree with Mickey that both games are doing different things. After first 7-8 hours I understand where Aquatico is going with very different maps and vertical city. It is more like a broad type classical builder depiciting ocean like a big interesting place with opportunities and dangers. StA is more like a situational almost horror like anxiety type of game. I do like that idea as well.
My plan is to get and play both :)

[Shmitty85]

Have to agree, are they both underwater city builders? Yes, but both are great at doing different things. Aqua is light and laid back fun, StA is just the right amount of spooky/horror.

[Behemoth]

Agree with comments above. Surviving the Abyss atmosphere is better than Aquatico imho. Aquatico is much more laid back builder from the few hours put into that so far.

[LeftPaw]

Yeah Aquatico is a city builder were this feels more your survival horror type game. Its all depends on what you are looking for. I'm a fan of Aquatico, it's very entertaining as well as relaxing and the seabed graphics with wandering Sea life are brilliant. You don't get to see much of that in this game. Also Aquatico feels more your finished game.
Probably best owning both.

[James]

I refunded Aquatico, it has potential but right now it's just...boring, it did not keep my interest in those 2 hours to refund. I also have some issues with the UI and lacking a bit of QoL. I might check it out again after some patches and on a sale.

[LeftPaw]

Originally posted by James:

I refunded Aquatico, it has potential but right now it's just...boring, it did not keep my interest in those 2 hours to refund. I also have some issues with the UI and lacking a bit of QoL. I might check it out again after some patches and on a sale.

Yeah, 2 hours is just not enough. I got to the 2 hour mark and tossed a coin that came up heads. I'm glad it did, the more I play Aquatico the more I like it.

[James]

Originally posted by LeftPaw:

Yeah, 2 hours is just not enough. I got to the 2 hour mark and tossed a coin that came up heads. I'm glad it did, the more I play Aquatico the more I like it.

Fair. I'll be honest, I may have stuck it out more if it wasn't for the fact another underwater game was coming out literally days after it (this one). My thought process was "I'm not having fun with this one so let's refund and put the money towards the other underwater game coming out" plus I previously enjoyed Surviving Mars and Aftermath so that probably didn't help for Aquatico, otherwise like I've done with several other games I likely would have left it in my library for some updates. I'll revisit the game in the future for sure.

Probably my main gripe with the game was the resources not being clear on production and consumption and I wasn't really sure what I should be focusing on building more of. Why the main resources don't show a + or - counter similar to the fuel, oxygen etc. beats me. It would just show the total for the month for example I manually gather from a nearby plastic node, or an event that granted me 400+ plastic, it now showed me I had produced over 400 plastic that month, but I was actually vastly underproducing plastic via my buildings and it wasn't obvious enough at that time that I should be producing more, so when that 400 ran out i essentially soft locked myself or it felt like it anyway to do research and build more stuff I needed cause it wasn't obvious on the UI I was underproducing, does that make sense?

[LeftPaw]

Originally posted by James:

Originally posted by LeftPaw:

Yeah, 2 hours is just not enough. I got to the 2 hour mark and tossed a coin that came up heads. I'm glad it did, the more I play Aquatico the more I like it.

Fair. I'll be honest, I may have stuck it out more if it wasn't for the fact another underwater game was coming out literally days after it (this one). My thought process was "I'm not having fun with this one so let's refund and put the money towards the other underwater game coming out" plus I previously enjoyed Surviving Mars and Aftermath so that probably didn't help for Aquatico, otherwise like I've done with several other games I likely would have left it in my library for some updates. I'll revisit the game in the future for sure.

Probably my main gripe with the game was the resources not being clear on production and consumption and I wasn't really sure what I should be focusing on building more of. Why the main resources don't show a + or - counter similar to the fuel, oxygen etc. beats me. It would just show the total for the month for example I manually gather from a nearby plastic node, or an event that granted me 400+ plastic, it now showed me I had produced over 400 plastic that month, but I was actually vastly underproducing plastic via my buildings and it wasn't obvious enough at that time that I should be producing more, so when that 400 ran out i essentially soft locked myself or it felt like it anyway to do research and build more stuff I needed cause it wasn't obvious on the UI I was underproducing, does that make sense?

I know. I had to watch vids on Aquatico to get clued up on stuff. I get it now but was confused at first.
Hold on to your joystick, there are quite a few more underwater builders on the way. :D

[James]

Originally posted by LeftPaw:

I know. I had to watch vids on Aquatico to get clued up on stuff. I get it now but was confused at first.
Hold on to your joystick, there are quite a few more underwater builders on the way. :D

Hehe, yes, so I've seen. I have them all wishlisted (even put Aquatico back on the wishlist). I really love the underwater concept since I played Subnautica years ago so I'm happy to see more games use the theme.

[LeftPaw]

Originally posted by James:

Originally posted by LeftPaw:

I know. I had to watch vids on Aquatico to get clued up on stuff. I get it now but was confused at first.
Hold on to your joystick, there are quite a few more underwater builders on the way. :D

Hehe, yes, so I've seen. I have them all wishlisted (even put Aquatico back on the wishlist). I really love the underwater concept since I played Subnautica years ago so I'm happy to see more games use the theme.

True, I find the graphics in Aquatico dreamy. It is bright and cheerful I know it's suppose to be a dark post apocalypse scenario, but I still love the underwater effect with all the sea life, they got that part off really well.

[kycaver]

Originally posted by James:

Originally posted by LeftPaw:

I know. I had to watch vids on Aquatico to get clued up on stuff. I get it now but was confused at first.
Hold on to your joystick, there are quite a few more underwater builders on the way. :D

Hehe, yes, so I've seen. I have them all wishlisted (even put Aquatico back on the wishlist). I really love the underwater concept since I played Subnautica years ago so I'm happy to see more games use the theme.

What are some of the other games coming? I wasn't aware of any besides these two.

[Aieonae]

Played both, Both visually vibe differently.

With Aquatico using a way more vibrant colour palette of a sea shelf.

while StA uses very dark lighting condition to create it's own barren oppressive seabed experience.

In comparison Aquatico is more relax compared to StA.

Both see it's own micro differently,

In Aquatico balancing the diversity of resources is the main dish on it micro. With more than often, trading and immigrations an easier solution out.

In StA, the focus is shift to manipulating the very finite resources. Its a lone wolf undersea here you only get some minimum assistance from time to time. The rest is barely sufficient to rope tie or it goes game over.

[James]

Originally posted by kycaver:

Originally posted by James:

Hehe, yes, so I've seen. I have them all wishlisted (even put Aquatico back on the wishlist). I really love the underwater concept since I played Subnautica years ago so I'm happy to see more games use the theme.

What are some of the other games coming? I wasn't aware of any besides these two.:slimescared:

I'm late in responding but here you go.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1993210/Abyssals/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1611950/Aquacity/

[StaticWolf]

I have Abyss, so far it's pretty enjoyable! Only missing the mouse screen movement setting. Tried the Aquatico demo, I just didn't get what the point was besides to build and grow your underground city. If there is a point someone let me know please so I can buy it. Thanks