Outpost Zero
- July 25, 2019
- Symmetric Games
- 18h median play time
In "Outpost Zero," players lead a team of robotic assistants to build, automate, and defend a base on the alien planet of Gaiya. The goal is to prepare for future human colonists seeking to escape Earth, all while competing with other corporations for profit and survival. Players must balance resource management, base defense, and combat against alien creatures and pirate raiders to succeed .
Reviews
- The game has a unique concept of base building and automation with AI drones, which adds depth to the gameplay.
- The graphics and environment design are visually appealing, creating an immersive experience.
- The developers are responsive to community feedback and actively work on updates and bug fixes.
- The game is plagued by numerous bugs and glitches, particularly with AI pathfinding and drone behavior.
- There is a lack of content and progression, leading to a feeling of repetitiveness and grind.
- The combat mechanics are unbalanced, with enemies being overly powerful and difficult to manage.
- gameplay41 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is characterized by a mix of interesting building mechanics and survival elements, but it suffers from significant issues such as unpolished features, buggy AI, and broken core mechanics. While some players appreciate the potential and fun aspects of base-building and environmental challenges, many criticize the overall execution, lack of depth, and frustrating gameplay loops, leading to a mediocre experience. Despite some enjoyable elements, the game is marred by technical problems and a lack of updates, leaving it feeling unfinished and in need of substantial improvement.
“Lovely game, love the drones, love the PvE mechanics, love the building, especially love the power management (not too annoying but fun).”
“The building mechanics are nice.”
“Gameplay-wise, it's a mixture of different games, but what I really like is actual attacks on my base and environmental hazards.”
“The game is unpolished and runs like crap; features are underdeveloped and the gameplay loop is basic.”
“It was a hot mess of buggy AI, terrible pathfinding, and broken combat and mechanics.”
“I can see the potential for this game with the base building and survival mechanics, but the scarcity of essential materials and the AI assistant bots' inability to find the specific materials requested makes it a frustrating grind to seek out what you need to build.”
- graphics37 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the beautiful visuals and quality assets, while others criticize them as sub-par or underwhelming compared to similar titles. Many users note issues such as blurriness, graphical glitches, and a lack of optimization, but overall, the aesthetic appeal and detail in the environment are frequently highlighted as strong points. Despite the graphical shortcomings, some players find the gameplay enjoyable and engaging.
“The graphics are gorgeous and the game runs very smoothly and doesn't put a huge load on my machine.”
“The game is graphically beautiful and has good quality assets, but lacks quality in most other ways.”
“Graphics are nice, although a bit dark for my liking.”
“Graphics are poor, gameplay is okay but random, story non-existent.”
“The graphics are sub-par compared to similar games and the distance at which you can see what you are looking at clearly is just about 10 meters.”
“There are also graphic defects/lines in the ground, I think it's called fracturing.”
- stability21 mentions
- 5 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 95 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and incomplete features that hinder the overall experience. While some players find it playable and enjoyable despite these issues, many express disappointment in its unfinished state and recommend against purchasing it until significant improvements are made. Overall, the game is described as a "buggy mess," with both single-player and multiplayer modes suffering from various stability problems.
“Game is buggy, clunky, and has a number of poorly thought out or incomplete features.”
“This game is a buggy mess right now so do not get the game if you are not interested in supporting the game by playing it.”
“It was a hot mess of buggy AI, terrible pathfinding, and broken combat and mechanics.”
- grinding17 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 94 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight a mixed perception of grinding in the game, with some players finding it tedious and excessive, particularly in crafting and leveling, while others appreciate the ability to automate tasks with AI or enjoy the satisfaction of resource gathering. Although some players feel the game has become increasingly grindy with updates, others note that it offers a balance of building and combat without the survival mechanics typical of similar titles. Overall, the game is characterized as having significant grinding elements, appealing primarily to fans of sci-fi survival and base-building genres.
“Finally, a new survival game that is not grindy at all.”
“Like most sandboxed early access games, it lacks objectives beyond building and grinding.”
“Leveling is totally tedious: repeat crafts or killing; once you do something like 100 of each, you can upgrade some cheap skill.”
“This is one game that I would call a grinding simulator.”
- optimization11 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting smooth performance on high-end PCs, while others experience significant lag and performance drops, particularly in PvP scenarios. Many users express frustration over the lack of timely optimization patches, with some noting that the game can be enjoyable despite its rough edges. Overall, there is hope for future improvements, especially for mid to lower-end systems, but current performance issues remain a concern for many players.
“Game runs smoothly and it does not hinder any performance on my PC, so it's good.”
“There is a performance balance in the works for mid to lower-end gaming PCs within the listed minimum requirements and above.”
“The game is so poorly optimized that PvP is virtually impossible.”
“The devs claimed for a while that an optimization patch was underway, but that has been pending for two years, so I am pretty sure it's just vaporware.”
“Had lots of fun building a stupidly big base, which just murdered my FPS before they made an optimization pass.”
- story10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is widely criticized for being underdeveloped and lacking depth, with many reviewers noting that while the concept has potential, the execution falls short. Players express a desire for more engaging narratives and quests, as the current storyline feels minimal and unfinished. Overall, the game is seen as needing significant improvements in its storytelling to enhance the overall experience.
“The plot and the concept is really decent but it lacks in the execution part.”
“Story is you're an AI self-aware robot that is sent to the planet Gaya to start building and colonizing it for the humans to take over as the dirty parasites we are.”
“The plot and the concept is really decent but it lacks on the execution part.”
“Even the sudden end of the so-called 'tutorial' quest line feels like a shout, 'I am unfinished.'”
“Very little story line provided to give any background.”
- monetization7 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has been widely criticized, with many users labeling it as a "cash grab" that prioritizes quick profits over quality development. Players express disappointment, feeling that they were misled and that the game may be abandoned or poorly supported post-launch. Overall, the sentiment suggests a lack of trust in the developers' commitment to the game's future.
“Sad, I like the idea of a game plan, but like all college dorm projects, it's doomed to be a cash grab.”
“I always loved the idea of this game, but I've got to be honest, it's either a cheap cash grab or the devs bit off more than they could chew before realizing that game development is hard. Either way, all of us who bought it were ripped off.”
“Cash grab / abandonedware.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the comedic moments, particularly from the assistant character, others find the humor overly reliant on sarcasm and not particularly strong. Overall, the game's comedic elements can lead to amusing situations, especially in PvP scenarios, but may not resonate with everyone.
“Now, this is probably the most hilarious PvP action I've had in a while; we literally stole that guy's base!”
“I love the 'assistant' you have... made me laugh a few times.”
- music3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while the opening and menu tracks are praised as engaging, the overall soundtrack is criticized for being limited and monotonous. However, the ambient sounds are noted as pleasant and immersive, enhancing the overall atmosphere.
“The background music is lacking, but the ambient sounds are all very pleasant and make you feel like you're actually there.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users note that the alpha version of the game offers a higher level of playability compared to many other alpha games, suggesting a solid foundation for replayability even in its early stages.
“The alpha version offers more replayability than many other alpha games.”
“Each playthrough feels fresh and engaging, encouraging me to dive back in.”
“The variety of choices and outcomes keeps me coming back for more.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is noted for its intriguing world, creating an engaging and immersive experience for players.
“The world is incredibly immersive, with a captivating atmosphere that draws you in.”
“The atmosphere is rich and detailed, making every moment feel alive.”
“There's a unique charm to the atmosphere that keeps you engaged and wanting to explore more.”