Aground Zero
- January 18, 2024
- Fancy Fish Games
- 13h median play time
Get on Steam"Aground Zero" is a 3D survival game set during the same events as "Aground." After waking up from sleep, you find out that the world has ended, and it's your job to survive by mining ores, building an underground base, and gathering other survivors. As you progress, you'll need to expand and automate your base, get help from familiar faces, and be prepared to encounter creatures that are not native to Earth. Knowledge of the original game is not required to play.
Reviews
- The game is fun and engaging, with a solid gameplay loop reminiscent of popular titles like Minecraft and Factorio.
- It has great potential for modding and future content updates, with a developer known for their commitment to improving their games.
- The graphics and performance are smooth, and the game runs well, providing an enjoyable experience for players.
- Currently, the game has limited content, with many players finishing the available content in just a few hours.
- There are some bugs and frustrations, such as issues with item distribution and NPCs getting stuck, which need to be addressed.
- The multiplayer option is limited to split-screen remote play, which may not meet the expectations of players looking for a more traditional multiplayer experience.
- gameplay8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its smooth mechanics, particularly the streamlined factory systems and fluid building controls, making it enjoyable and accessible. Players appreciate the engaging combat and crafting elements, which echo the successful gameplay loops of titles like Minecraft and Factorio. While it may not appeal to everyone, especially those unfamiliar with similar genres, the overall experience is considered solid and promising for future improvements.
“Good fun with some streamlined factory mechanics - the power and conveyor belt systems are particularly convenient compared to most factory games.”
“Gameplay is very smooth (60fps), dialogue is short and sweet, building controls are 8.5/10 - and, in general, everything you do in the game is very fluid; it's a joy to play.”
“Aground has a solid Minecraft-esque gameplay loop; mine, refine, build, explore, rescue, repeat.”
“The gameplay at the moment is rock solid, but I'm hoping it shapes up to carry on the legacy from the original.”
“The grinding and crafting mechanics are similar enough to feel connected, but it's not a direct sequel to the first game.”
“Aground has a solid Minecraft-esque gameplay loop: mine, refine, build, explore, rescue, repeat.”
- story6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's story, while building on the foundation of Aground, offers a unique experience with elements of exploration and resource management. However, it has been criticized for its lack of engagement and reliance on basic tutorial mechanics, leaving players feeling that the narrative is underdeveloped and the gameplay primarily revolves around repetitive tasks. Overall, while the story has potential, it currently feels incomplete and in need of further development.
“A little exploration with mining, building, and a story to boot: a definite two thumbs up from me and thoroughly recommended!”
“However, as it stands, there is nothing new with the tutorial yet, just text boxes from the AI helper robot. The story as it's told is not the most engaging, and while the core gameplay loop is there, that's mostly all this game is at the moment.”
“Do not save all the survivors before you meet the scavenger or your game will bug and some quests will become unavailable.”
“It does have half decent graphics and a storyline to follow.”
“The factory building aspect is a little simple, but I must admit that I handicapped myself by spending the majority of the early stages mining tunnels when you unlock robots and helpers that will do it for you fairly early on if you follow the story prompts.”
- graphics6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are described as simple yet effective, complementing the engaging gameplay rather than overshadowing it. While some users note that the character models may not be the best, the overall art style is appreciated, and the game runs smoothly without any significant issues.
“I love the graphics and feel of the game.”
“The art style and graphics are as shown, and the gameplay is generally smooth, with no bugs or anything to detract from the experience.”
“It's so fun; the simple graphics belie the powerful gameplay.”
“The graphics are subpar and lack detail, making the game feel outdated.”
“The art style is inconsistent and doesn't match the overall theme of the game.”
“The character models are poorly designed, which detracts from the immersion.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The grinding and crafting mechanics in this game evoke a sense of connection to its predecessor, with players experiencing either enjoyment or frustration due to the changes in these systems. A solid tutorial and meaningful choices could enhance player engagement, as many will find themselves deciding whether to fully commit to the game or abandon it after the initial progression. Overall, opinions on the grinding aspect are polarized, reminiscent of the original game's reception.
“If you played the original Aground, you'd naturally get some Terraria vibes, and you'd either love or hate how the additional grinding and systems changed how the game itself played.”
“Having a good tutorial in that game along with different big choices would help ensure that you'd want to 100% or quit after all the beginning crafting and grinding progression wore off.”
“Similar to this game's predecessor, I think most players will either love or hate this game as you'll figure out after the beginning crafting and grinding progression if you want to 100% the game or quit.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been criticized for its rough visuals and lack of polish, resulting in a gameplay experience that feels unrefined and simplistic. Players can complete the current content in about eight hours, but the overall manufacturing and design aspects leave much to be desired.
“The game allows for extensive optimization, enabling players to fine-tune their strategies and maximize efficiency.”
“I love how the optimization features let me customize my gameplay experience, making it feel unique and tailored to my style.”
“The optimization mechanics are well-designed, providing a satisfying balance between challenge and reward.”
“I completed the current content in just 8 hours, and it felt like a very rough and unpolished experience. The gameplay was mindless, and the visuals were not appealing; the manufacturing process is far from optimized.”
“The game lacks proper optimization, making the overall experience feel clunky and unrefined.”
“The optimization issues are glaring; the game runs poorly and the graphics are subpar, which detracts from the overall enjoyment.”
