Above Earth
- August 30, 2019
- Steven Eric Boyette
- 5h median play time
Get on Steam"Above Earth" is a survival game set in a future with space stations and lunar/Martian bases. As an astronaut, you must survive the aftermath of a global nuclear catastrophe, managing resources and coping with the isolated atmosphere. Your decisions and actions will determine your chances of survival in this tense, immersive experience.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game offers a unique and immersive space survival experience with impressive graphics and a compelling atmosphere.
- Players appreciate the challenging gameplay that requires strategic resource management and offers a rewarding sense of progress after overcoming initial difficulties.
- The developer is responsive to community feedback, indicating potential for future improvements and updates to enhance the game.
- The game has a steep learning curve with a very difficult start, even on the easiest settings, leading to frequent player deaths and frustration.
- Many players find the lack of a proper tutorial and unclear objectives to be a significant barrier to enjoyment, making it hard to know what to do.
- Resource consumption rates are criticized as being too high, making survival feel punishing and unrealistic, which detracts from the overall experience.
- gameplay8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The gameplay is described as challenging yet rewarding, with an intriguing premise and impressive environment. However, the early access version suffers from rough mechanics, awkward interactions, and poorly explained systems, making resource management difficult and potentially frustrating for players. Overall, while the foundation is promising, significant improvements are needed for a smoother experience.
“Excellent premise, intriguing gameplay, and a challenging start - all things that an amazing game should have.”
“Very challenging gameplay, but very rewarding at the same time.”
“The environment is very impressive and I could get lost in the gameplay.”
“This early access version is (predictably) incredibly rough around the edges: the interface is all a single font, some interactions are awkward (why can't I turn on module power from the terminal?), some mechanics are poorly explained (looking at you, station overview menu), and the rate of consumption for resources is, in my opinion, far too high.”
“Locating what item in space gives what resources is a big hurdle for early gameplay, and can easily result in your death as you waste resources inefficiently salvaging the debris field surrounding your station.”
“Give it a year, see if the mechanics are adjusted.”
- graphics5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed feedback; while some users praise the impressive space visuals and high-quality 3D models, others note that the overall art style is simple yet effective, contributing to a complex feel. Despite differing opinions, many agree that the graphics are a standout feature.
“The space graphics are killer!”
“Initially, I was impressed by the nice graphics and 3D models.”
“Don't spend months or years redoing the art style.”
“Graphically, it's a very simple game, but it works and manages to look and feel very complex.”
- story5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The game's story is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate its potential and express a genuine interest in the narrative, others criticize it for lacking a substantial storyline, feeling that it relies too heavily on survival mechanics without a compelling plot. Additionally, there are suggestions that a multiplayer mode could enhance the storytelling experience.
“Good story, good potential.”
“The game is lacking a storyline.”
“No real storyline - every game needs something to keep it going other than sheer survival.”
“This is the first survival game where I have really cared about the story.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is currently lacking, with users expressing dissatisfaction and suggesting improvements, such as allowing systems to function at lower durability levels for better performance. Many players indicate they will return once optimization issues are addressed.
“But game optimization is not ideal - it could be much better!”
“I will definitely return to the game after optimization.”
“A small suggestion: let systems work at lower durability levels (albeit at a lower performance) and let them deteriorate so they require constant maintenance.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is praised for its strong presentation, contributing positively to the overall experience, even if it intentionally lacks certain elements.
“I'm still working my way through this, but it gets a thumbs up from me for presentation and atmosphere (or lack of it!) alone.”
