As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of experience under my belt, I’ve played my fair share of complex and intricate games. But let me tell you, once in a while, it’s a breath of fresh air to stumble upon a game like Once Human that manages to be both simple and engaging at the same time.
At times, engaging with other fans online can be challenging for me. I’m not very outgoing in real life and prefer to lose myself in games as a means of escape from the world and its pressures. Engaging in multiplayer modes like Destiny 2’s Crucible or Monster Hunter World’s expeditions is fine, but I generally avoid social interactions. This is why massively multiplayer online games (MMOs) don’t appeal to me much these days, and I usually ignore other players in games like Diablo 4 unless it’s necessary to take down a World Boss. However, the allure of Starry Studios’ Once Human has drawn me in despite my preference for solitude.
In my experience with early access games such as Bellwright and Nightingale, there were bothersome elements that have been absent in Once Human. I can’t quite explain why, but I’ll provide an example to illustrate my point.
In a post-apocalyptic horror setting where Earth is under siege by a harmful alien substance named Stardust, leading to the extinction of most humans, your character possesses a distinctive skill. You can manipulate this Stardust in unique ways, making you an essential figure in saving what’s left of humanity. I use the term “uniquely” with a touch of sarcasm as another player, wearing only pants and a modified football helmet, rushes past me on a similarly-modified bike, but the essence of the situation remains clear.
Collaborating with a magical bird named V and a mystical spirit woman, you’ll win over a motley crew of fighters against fate. Next, embark on an adventure to confront monsters: some with lamp heads and briefcases for bodies, others resembling colossal buses that stroll on leg-like appendages. In your own backyard, mine copper and hunt down magnificent deer in large numbers for their hides and meat. Lastly, capture elusive creatures known as Deviations, similar to catching Pokemon during the apocalypse.
As a devoted fan, I’d say that once I started playing Once Human, I was blown away by how much attention Starry Studios and NetEase paid to building and survival aspects, which are just as important as combat and exploration. The process of gathering materials is effortless and efficient, while early-level crafting, such as making storage boxes, is a breeze. Before long, I managed to construct a basic hut complete with its own teleporter and containment facility for the Deviations. Moving on to second story buildings or advanced cooking, growing, and food storage methods came naturally. What’s more, I could craft all these items using materials from my storage without having to carry everything in my inventory. This thoughtful design makes the gameplay experience smoother and more enjoyable for me.
With a user-friendly skill point system, you can easily advance through various skill branches, gaining access to an increasing number of building, crafting, decorating, and prosperity options. Your hunger and thirst indicators are reasonable, seldom bothering you as ample food and drink sources are readily available in your surroundings. Instead of sleeping to alleviate fatigue, you rest to recuperate your mental wellbeing, which is frequently impacted by encounters with oversized, explosive arachnids that resemble lightbulbs or hornets of border collie size.
One issue I have is that building controls in this game are unnecessarily complex using only mouse and keyboard. It would be great if constructing a simple roof in this game didn’t require tugging at my own eyelashes out of frustration. I can’t help but wonder why all games aren’t as user-friendly in this aspect as Enshrouded. Other concerns include strange enemy actions, my character’s silent nodding during voiced dialogue, and occasional visual bugs. These issues may be common in large, free, open world games, but they’re still worth noting.
In simpler terms, Once Human is an unconventional game where the rules are more flexible. Players have the freedom to easily move their territories or houses, relocate furniture at no cost and without delay. Traveling around the open world becomes quicker with a crafted bike that can be summoned in a snap. Abundant ammo and large carrying capacity eliminate concerns over encumbrance.
An alternate expression: Here, you’ll encounter additional challenges alongside the purchase: Once Human comes with its live services, an excessive number of currencies, recurring reminders of ongoing events, fresh cosmetics, and seasonal activities that may pressure you into participation due to the fear of missing out. Despite being able to create numerous weapons and armor using account-bound blueprints, the most appealing items are often found behind the paywall or intensive grinding, which progressively becomes more challenging in the game’s later stages.
Before and after a certain point in Once Human, there’s plenty of enjoyable experiences to be had. A significant aspect of this open-world game involves clearing outposts. These are typically abandoned towns, malls, labs, gas stations, farms, and various other locations that can be cleared for resources, gear, unique blueprints, and occasionally new teleporter spots. Many missions mandate searching these areas as well, which could grow repetitive if not for the constant reward of discovering valuable items.
At present, you’ll encounter three formidable bosses, which can be faced solo or in a team. These monsters share the same design philosophy as all other enemies: if an enemy looks more menacing with additional limbs and an unappealing appearance, it is worth adding it to the game. The monster designs are visually stunning throughout, with some minor enemies taking inspiration from The Last of Us’ Clickers, but the combat experience is akin to The Division by Massive Entertainment.
If you prefer playing against other players in challenging combat situations, you have the option to join servers specifically designed for Player vs Player (PvP) gameplay. However, keep in mind that once you create a character on such a server, you cannot change it. For those who enjoy constructing structures and gathering resources without the distraction of fighting enemies or saving the world, there is an alternative server called “Eternaland,” which functions as a creative sandbox mode.
In the end, Once Human is an engaging, captivating, and hard-to-put-down third-person survival crafting game with a vast array of content at its launch, providing ample entertainment during the initial seasonal updates and endless exploration opportunities, either solo or with friends. The game does exhibit some imperfections; building controls can be clunky, AI behavior is erratic, textures may pop in unexpectedly, and online lag can be a hassle. However, these issues didn’t deter me from diving into a richly detailed world filled with exciting combat, well-balanced survival-crafting elements, and vivid colors. Best of all, it’s free to play, with a transparent monetization system that doesn’t interfere with the gaming experience. Could there be anything more appealing?
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2024-07-26 12:16