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.
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- The game is fun and offers a great experience, especially in couch co-op mode.
- It has a solid foundation with polished mechanics and a lot of potential for future content.
- The developer is very active and responsive, showing commitment to improving the game.
- Currently, the game has limited content, with many players finishing it in just a few hours.
- There are some bugs and issues that need addressing, such as NPCs getting stuck and item routing problems.
- The multiplayer option is limited to split-screen remote play, which may not meet player expectations.
- gameplay16 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its smooth mechanics and streamlined factory systems, offering a fluid experience at 60fps. Players enjoy the engaging core loop of mining, crafting, and building, reminiscent of titles like Minecraft and Factorio, though those unfamiliar with such games may not find it appealing. Overall, the controls are rated highly, and the game is seen as enjoyable and easy to play, with potential for further improvement.
“Gameplay is very smooth (60fps), dialogue is short and sweet, building controls are 8.5/10 (building controls are never perfect in these types of games because they are difficult to implement easily across all tasks) - and, in general, everything you do in the game is very fluid, it's a joy to play (the cognitive aspect is always critical to me).”
“It’s so fun, the simple graphics belie the powerful gameplay.”
“Its not a direct sequel to the first game, but the grinding and crafting mechanics are similar enough to feel connected, and little easter eggs and nods to it if that's your cup of tea.”
“Hoping it shapes up to carry on the legacy from the original because the gameplay at the moment is rock solid.”
“Aground has a solid Minecraft-esque gameplay loop; mine, refine, build, explore, rescue, repeat.”
- story12 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The story is considered a continuation of the narrative from "Aground," offering a basic framework that players can follow, but it lacks engagement and depth. While there are elements of exploration and building, the storytelling is primarily delivered through simple text boxes from an AI helper, leaving much to be desired in terms of innovation and excitement. Overall, players appreciate the potential but feel the game is still in need of further development to enhance the narrative experience.
“A little exploration with mining, building, and a story to boot: a definite two thumbs up from me and thoroughly recommended!”
“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.”
- graphics12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally described as simple or half decent, with some players appreciating the art style and overall feel. While the character models may not be the best, the smooth gameplay and engaging mechanics are highlighted as the main attractions, indicating that the graphics serve more as a backdrop to the powerful gameplay experience.
“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 make the experience worse.”
“It’s so fun; the simple graphics belie the powerful gameplay.”
- grinding8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The grinding and crafting mechanics in this game evoke a strong connection to its predecessor, with players likely to either enjoy or be frustrated by the changes made. While the game offers nostalgic elements for fans of the original, the effectiveness of its tutorial and the depth of choices available will significantly influence whether players feel motivated to fully complete the game or abandon it after the initial grind. Overall, opinions on the grinding experience are polarized, reminiscent of the sentiments surrounding the original title.
“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 percent 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 percent the game or quit.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % 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 have noted that the manufacturing aspects are not well-optimized, contributing to an overall impression of a hastily developed product.
“Beat the current content in 8 hours, which is a very rugged, dirty-looking, brainless playthrough. Nothing looks pretty, and manufacturing isn't the most optimized.”
