Okay...Is Below Zero worth it?

[BloodBlade]

I'm a big fan of the first game and was thinking about buying BZ. However I heard it's not as good as the first game, why is that?

[KippenKaasBaas]

Originally posted by BloodBlade:

not as good as the first game

This is obviously a matter of taste.
The game is not better or worse. It's just very different.

Subnautica had a large map. Mostly open ocean, and the biomes were at the bottom of this large open ocean.
The map of BZ is smaller and feels more cramped. There's more tunnels and corridors, and more dry land. Not everyone likes this.

Subnautica had a story that was told by radio messages, voice logs and PDA entries.
BZ has a story that is way more ''in your face''. There's a lot of actual dialogue between characters. And the game is more story based. Not everyone likes this.

Subnautica had a silent protagonist.
BZ has a talking protagonist and she talks A LOT. Not everyone likes this.

There has been many discussions about this subject already. I highly recommend you to read this thread:
https://steamcommunity.com/app/264710/discussions/0/3051737007088288888/

More than enough info in there.

[PhailRaptor]

The BZ story is objectively worse with a couple plot holes big enough to drive a Cyclops through.

While the BZ map is approximately the same volume, it is much more tightly layered with a lot more nooks and crannies that lend themselves to a significantly more claustrophobic feeling at all stages.

The Seatruck is a compromise between the Seamoth and the Cyclops. The Seatruck itself is basically just a reskinned Seamoth, but you get to build a variety of modules that connect together to make a train, with different modules having different uses. It is much easier to make a self-sustaining travel system with the Seatruck, but there really is no substitute for the storage capabilities of the Cyclops, and the Cyclops docking bay for the PRAWN is much easier to use than the analogous Seatruck module, which must be at the tail end of the train. Ironically, the Cyclops is easier to drive when you reach similar length, since the Seatruck lacks the cameras.

The addition of the Large Room and other similar base objects make base building much more enticing in BZ, however, most of the biomes are so cluttered with decorative terrain doodads that it's extremely difficult to find any compelling locations to build where you actually have the space to build. Most of the aesthetically pleasing locations are already occupied by story element bases. This is then compounded by the aforementioned lasagna like structure of the map, filled with lots of narrow tunnels that would basically become impassable were you to build in them.

My personal conclusion is that BZ has great bones, but suffers from a few critical mistakes that leave it in a mediocre state. I understand that a significant portion of the creative team in charge of the story left the project half way through, which explains the plot holes. The map is generally beautiful, but it's also constricting and cluttered. A lot of people say the creatures are unimaginative, but I think they are all interesting (their AI behavior is certainly... *interesting*).

[indigo]

I bought the pair together on sale, and have enjoyed both.

[Lussekatten890]

i would say its worth it

[Wedgenet]

It's worth something. Personally I would not pay full price for it.

However Steam Summer Sale is on right now, and Below Zero is available for $15.

Below Zero is a much lesser game than Subnautica, but it is worth $15. It's not a bad game at all. However in my opinion it's not a $30 game.

But for $15? Absolutely.

[admiral1018]

If you really like this game, you'll almost certainly like Below Zero. I think most people would agree that it's not as good as the original, but it still has an amazing world to explore and keeps the solid base building mechanics.

[[GOO]The_Happy_Hostage]

Originally posted by Wedgenet:

It's worth something. Personally I would not pay full price for it.

However Steam Summer Sale is on right now, and Below Zero is available for $15.

Below Zero is a much lesser game than Subnautica, but it is worth $15. It's not a bad game at all. However in my opinion it's not a $30 game.

But for $15? Absolutely.

Couldn't agree more. It's a good game, just not as good as Subnautica 1... For $15, it's quite worth it.

[QueenPixxa]

The best way for you to decide whether you want to play BZ or not is to watch a YT Let's Play.

[wesmin7]

It is smaller/shorter than the first game, which has some people grumpy, but it is really fun.

Unlike some others I actually really liked the new Sea Truck(seamoth was always to small and cyclops to big for me) and the new base features they added in were fun too. If you liked the first one at all play BZ too. If you're worried about price, get it when it's on sale, (like right now at 50% off), it's worth more than 15 dollars for sure. Subnautica and BZ are both really fun games. They both have compelling stories, and I can't wait to see when they'll come out with a new game in that universe.

[HellSlayer]

worth a try when game goes on sale.. story is an insult.. music is a joke.. much less immersion overall. half the game is about snow and land stuff...

basebuilding and location underwater are pretty great, but not as amazing as sub1.

[ToJKa]

Too much story, too small and shallow ocean. Sea truck sucks compared to Cyclops. Monsters are on your ass constantly, due to the small ocean, which is extremely aggravating.

Crystal caves and the glacier and the monsters in them can go ♥♥♥♥ themselves.
in the ass.
With a baseball bat.
With nails hammered into it.

Though just replaying it, knowing how the get the snow suit and where stuff was hidden made the glacier a lot less painful.

Still, played it twice, so it i guess it has some charm.

[Zep Tepi]

BZ is a really good game. The problem is that it's being compared to one of the best games ever. It does not recreate the feeling of playing Subnautica for the first time all over again. So I agree that it's not as good as the original. I don't think repeating the success of the original is even possible. But compared to other games out there, it's still a great game.

The art is really gorgeous with new biomes you haven't seen yet. There are new mechanics to spice it up a little.

Yes, the glacier is difficult, but there are a few things you can do to make it easier. (The snowfox isn't one of those things.)

[The Local Group]

BZ is fine for me, though it can get a bit boring and confusing at times, it's also far less scary once you get the seatruck perimeter defense system, and maybe even in general.

Though, I think it's still fine, especially if your Thalassophobia is so present that you can't beat the original Subnautica, even in creative.

Honestly, it's the only water-based game where i could get to the bottom of the sea without ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ myself.

[linkharden12]

i think on sale it would be however its not as fun

[RLeeErmey]

Flaming pile of poo.. don't buy.