Gaming Babble: Lock down list

 I did this a while back and kind of liked it. Instead of focusing the post on a single game, I'll instead mention a couple of games I've been playing this past couple of months. I can (hopefully) always expand on an individual ramble at a later time. The majority of the games I'm going to talk about are still in Early Access, so they're not the finished product, but still enjoyable. 

Grounded

So I've talked about it before, but I've been playing Grounded quite a bit. I'm now at the stage where I need to wait for the next update to see what they bring in next, but I'm patient. The game is worth it. For those who don't know, Grounded is essentially Honey I Shrunk the Kids meets a survival game. You run around in the back yard, the size of an ant. The game is fun in single player, but I have no doubt multiplayer could also be a blast with the right person(s).

Subnautica Below Zero

I have a deep love for the original Subnautica and the sequel looks very promising. Set a year after the events of the first game, you play a new character who is out to follow her sister's trail through a frozen, aquatic world. Survive, build, but most importantly, explore. Where the first Subnautica kept you mostly in the water, Below Zero encourages you to explore the surface as well. In moderation... you might otherwise freeze to death.

Eco

The premise of Eco is interesting. A meteor is about to strike the world, build from scratch and develop the technology to avert the disaster, but be aware that the world you're trying to save has its own balance. It's very easy to wipe out the very thing you're trying to save. The game is designed for multiple people to work together - each going into a different specialisation. You can play single player and you can play without the meteor - which is what I've been doing. Eco is relaxing in a strange way, but very very grindy. 

Satisfactory

Satisfactory is in some ways the exact opposite of Eco. Here it's about using everything the world has to offer, build factories, automate and ship off planet. I've only spent a few hours stripping a particularly lush world bare so I can't say much yet, but I'm enjoying it. It runs the risk of going over my head, but so far so good.

No Man's Sky

I've only recently purchased No Man's Sky and I've already invested 40 hours into the game. That said, I feel as if I'm still only busy figuring it out. The story is interesting: You crash into an unknown planet with no memory of who you are. Following a bread-crumb trail, you learn about the mysteries of the universe you're in and make some pretty big decisions while you're at it. Or maybe you don't. Maybe you just go in whatever direction you please. No Man's Sky leaves it up to you to decide how involved you want to be. The only gripe I have with this game is its waiting/loading times. I've taken to reading a book while playing the game and I'm surprised at how far I got in the book!

Game Ramble: Grounded - or the game in which I scream a lot

Grounded has a very simple premise. You wake up in the back yard, only you're the size of an ant and the yard is vastly bigger than ever before. You collect sprigs, pebbles, grass fiber and fashion yourself tools and weapons to combat the creatures that share this space with you.

All of this is very appealing to me. Even in early access, the game shows a lot of potential to be a great game. I daresay, it's already great. There's very little story as of yet. It's taking a similar route to The Long Dark in giving you the world to play in while it sorts out the story bits in the background. And that's fine. There's already so much to do and it's just delightful.

I just have one problem with the game. 

I do not like spiders. Not even a little bit. 

The game features an arachnophobia mode in which the spiders appear as circular blobs instead of the long and hairy creepers with large fangs, but that doesn't really help me. My mind can fill in the blanks and a part of my pride refuses to turn this feature on. 

So I scream in this game. A lot. And die. A lot. But Grounded is relatively forgiving when it comes to death. It expects you to die and die frequently and so you can set up respawn points in the world so that you're popped back into existence at that particular point. Then it's just a matter of fetching your gear... 

Grounded's atmosphere is gorgeous and lush. This is a very pretty game. I'm excited to see what else the creators cook up.

That is, if I can get over my screaming fits...