More than three years after the release of the first opus and long months spent in early access, Subnautics: Below Zero finally dives into the deep end on consoles and PC. The frantic race for survival begins on a planet as beautiful as it is dangerous. But does this second episode manage to amaze as much as its predecessor? This is what we will see through this test.
Initially imagined as a simple DLC to Subnautica, Below Zero has grown to present itself now in the form of a real new game at a low price (30 € on average). Entering early access on January 30, 2019, it will have made players wait for more than two long years before its official release. The developers at Unknown Worlds Entertainment are now offering their title to as many people as possible, with it landing simultaneously on all consoles on the market, and on PC. We were able to discover the PS5 version a few days before the official launch!
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View PriceRead ConclusionSubnautica: Below Zero
- 4546B, an incredible planet
- Four different modes to suit everyone
- Beautiful and varied environments
- A masterful soundtrack
- A sometimes laborious progression
- The interface and some controls not optimized for the gamepad
- Few new features compared to the first Subnautica
Everything (again) starts with a crash...
The events of Subnautica: Below Zero take place two years after those of the first episode. This time we are in the shoes (or rather the flippers) of Robin Ayou who lands violently on planet 4546B. During her journey, she will try to learn more about the disappearance of her sister.
But once there, the young woman must also survive in conditions that are hostile to say the least. Indeed, the climate on the surface is freezing and the waters full of creatures that are certainly sumptuous but sometimes very dangerous. If Robin is not totally alone in this wild land, we will however refrain from revealing the central elements of the scenario...
And for good reason, to find out what's going on on the surface and in the depths of this oceanic planet, you have to thoroughly explore every corner. Before thinking about this, the player must do what is necessary to survive.
Like the first game, Subnautica: Below Zero comes in four modes. We first find the classic survival mode, in which it is necessary to manage the thirst, hunger, temperature or oxygen of our heroine. Then comes the extreme mode, which adds to these different aspects the fact that Robin only has one life and in which no alert relating to the level of oxygen is displayed. Free mode removes the need for food and drink. Finally, the creative mode allows you to get rid of everything (including the scenario) to focus solely on construction. Regulars of the license will therefore not lose their bearings.
The real strength of the Subnautica saga lies in the fact that our character seems very fragile in this unknown world. Robin is clearly not at the top of the food chain and only small fish or plants are within our reach to survive. Hunting predators is not on the agenda in a title that does not push for combat and does not reward it. Fleeing and dodging are often the only viable solutions.
Alas, we must also admit that the mechanics of survival (catching a fish, cooking it then eating it or turning it into drinking water) are quickly redundant and never repeated. If advanced equipment allows over the hours to make these tasks less tedious, it is clear that they do not bring much to the gameplay.
Patience is a virtue
More generally, it is the progression that is quite tedious and even confusing at times. To achieve the rare objectives set during the story, the player must craft objects (scanner, oxygen tank, flippers, lamps, etc.) and vehicles such as the aquatractor or the Snowfox. Thus, a good part of the adventure comes down to collecting resources scattered across biomes. However, without a guide, it is not always easy to know the location of a specific material. So we often turn in circles during the first hours of play and the impression of treading water can quickly become frustrating.
Subnautica: Below Zero therefore requires patience and a good dose of experimentation. A similar observation applies to the construction of underwater infrastructures. The scenario is also distilled in dribs and drabs via rare dialogues and documents scattered all over the place. Going to an indicated place in order to accomplish the requested task does not always lead to a significant progress in the script.
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Paradoxically, these "hiccups" will not be perceived as faults for some of the players. Indeed, Subnautica is a long-term experience. It is necessary to apprehend its environment, to memorize the places (by marking them using a beacon) and to evolve gropingly, that is to say in the manner of a real castaway who would do anything to survive.
In fact, immersion is another advantage of the license and Below Zero has gone all out in this area. Inventory management must be careful and clashes absolutely avoided, especially when dealing with Leviathan-class fauna lurking in the depths.
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The slightest advance is almost a feat as it is essential to conscientiously prepare the slightest excursion. And this polar part of planet 4546B holds secrets to be unearthed. Diagrams to synthesize to make a piece of equipment, disused laboratories to search or even strange temples of a vanished civilization to discover... Subnautica: Below Zero gives exploration its letters of nobility and the title also allows itself to be to be a real treat for the eyes.
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A breathtaking journey
Yes, the game is beautiful, even magnificent at times. Each biome has its own visual identity. The depths generally opt for dark settings and ever-present danger where the surface is bathed in a shimmering blue (or green) with more "friendly" wildlife. And let it be said, not all animals want to kill poor Robin. Some creatures offer beautiful moments of grace, such as these majestic and gigantic whales.
In Subnautica: Below Zero, our heroine can also walk on the surface and more precisely on the ice floe. The places are therefore very varied and almost irreproachable in their modeling.
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On PS5, the title offers a mode enhancing the resolution (in 4K) and another focusing on performance (at 60 fps). We advise to favor the latter, as the difference in terms of details on the textures is not obvious. Optimization, it is there since the game is the victim of only very rare slowdowns. Also, some environment elements sometimes appear at the last moment, but this is an infrequent phenomenon. The game is a real visual and auditory delight!
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The soundtrack is indeed among the best listened to in recent years in our media. The howls of monsters prowling in the dark make your blood run cold and the seabed teems with life. Also, the pieces orchestrated by Ben Prunty ideally stick to the atmosphere of each biome and we find ourselves standing still to fully enjoy it.
Thus the title of Unknown Worlds is a real artistic, musical and technical slap. It undoubtedly rivals the most ambitious productions today!
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A world that (almost) reaches out to us
If the story tries to punctuate this survivalist epic, the star is nevertheless 4546B. Our dear planet is in many ways the main actor of the game since it constantly impacts our progress. For example, the weather must be taken into consideration when exploring the icy expanses (beware of storms and other ice rains). It is therefore essential to use the resources of this world to our advantage.
Under water, oxygen-rich plants and fish are used, for example, to fill our bottle to breathe longer. In the open air, other living plants or even geysers provide warmth. The planet is almost bipolar as it does not lack the means to kill the player while providing him with solutions that we could qualify as organic to guarantee his survival.
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This ambivalence is omnipresent in Subnautica: Below Zero. The apparent warmth of the ocean's surface contrasts drastically with the darkness that awaits in the abyss and all the pitfalls that come with it. So much so that our relationship with 4546B constantly changes according to our objectives and our ambitions. This most lively place puts people in their place and never falls into the excess that pushes to massacre the local fauna... An obligation sometimes pushed to its climax on certain games. Here, humans are part of nature and are not in constant opposition to it... A refreshing vision in the small world of video games.
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Subnautica Below Zero : l'avis de Clubic
Thus, Subnautica: Below Zero retains the qualities that shaped the success of the first installment. Exploration is exhilarating and the planet has a multitude of biomes, each more beautiful than the next. The bestiary, always more varied, is also very inspired and the mysteries to be elucidated are numerous. Without forgetting a special mention to the soundtrack which greatly contributes to the immersion.
Obviously, the title of Unknown Worlds also fishes in different areas such as its laborious progression, its somewhat repetitive survival mechanics and its controls not necessarily 100% optimized for controllers. But that does not detract from the pleasure of play that accompanies us for at least 20 good hours (taking your time). Under its air of Subnautica 1.5, Below Zero hides an incredible generosity in its content as well as the emotions it conveys. It's a call to explore that you would be wrong to ignore.
Subnautics: Below Zero9
Subnautica: Below Zero delivers a survivalist experience of rare depth. The title is beautiful, gripping, mysterious and above all magnified by its playing field. A real pleasure to explore.Most
- 4546B, an incredible planet
- Four different modes to suit everyone
- Beautiful and varied environments
- A masterful soundtrack
- The atmosphere that oscillates between wonder and dread
The lessers
- A sometimes laborious progression
- The interface and some controls not optimized for the gamepad
- Few new features compared to the first Subnautica
