Outpost Zero
- July 25, 2019
- Symmetric Games
- 18h median play time
Get on SteamIn "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 .
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game has a lot of potential and offers a unique blend of survival and base-building mechanics.
- The graphics and world 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 currently unfinished and has numerous bugs, including issues with AI behavior and game stability.
- Many players report frustrating gameplay experiences due to overpowered enemies and lack of clear objectives.
- The game has been abandoned by the developers, leading to concerns about its future and lack of content updates.
- gameplay82 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is characterized by a mix of interesting base-building mechanics and survival elements, but it suffers from significant bugs, unbalanced AI, and a lack of polish, leading to a frustrating experience for many players. While some enjoy the building aspects and potential for fun, the overall gameplay loop is considered basic and underdeveloped, with many features feeling unfinished. Despite its potential, the game currently lacks depth and progression, making it hard to recommend without substantial improvements.
“I like the mechanics of this game and the building structures.”
“Lovely game, love the drones, love the PvE mechanics, love the building, especially love the power management (not too annoying but fun).”
“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.”
- graphics75 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 37 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the beautiful visuals and attention to detail, while others criticize them as sub-par or underwhelming compared to similar titles. Many users note issues such as blurriness, graphical glitches, and a need for optimization, but overall, the aesthetic appeal is highlighted as a strong point, especially in the context of gameplay.
“Graphics are amazing and the amount of detail put into this is crazy.”
“The graphics are great and the game runs very smoothly and doesn't put a huge load on my machine.”
“Graphics is absolutely beautiful and the game runs very smoothly.”
“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.”
“Also, no matter how much I played with the graphics, everything was blurry, like my helmet had a layer of grease on the surface.”
- stability42 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 gameplay. While some players find it somewhat playable, many express frustration over persistent issues, particularly in multiplayer modes, leading to a general consensus that the game is far from polished and not recommended for those seeking a stable experience. Overall, it appears to be a "buggy mess" that requires significant updates to reach its potential.
“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.”
“Game is buggy, clunky, and has a number of poorly thought out or incomplete features.”
- grinding34 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 6 % neutral mentions
- 94 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight that "grinding" is a significant aspect of the game, with many players noting it can be tedious and repetitive, particularly in leveling and resource gathering. While some appreciate the ability to automate tasks with AI drones, others feel the game has become increasingly grindy with updates, likening it to a "grinding simulator." Overall, players who enjoy extensive grinding and base building may find satisfaction, but those seeking a more streamlined experience might be deterred.
“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.”
“Judging by the mechanics they keep adding, they keep making the game more grindy. I have a hunch it's going to eventually be free to play.”
- optimization22 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The game's optimization 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, which have been pending for two years, although there are indications that improvements for mid to lower-end systems are in development. Overall, while the game shows potential, it currently suffers from optimization issues that hinder the experience for many players.
“Game runs smoothly and it does not hinder any performance on my PC, so it's good.”
“Had lots of fun building a stupidly big base, which just murdered my FPS before they made an optimization pass.”
“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.”
- story20 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The game's story is criticized for being minimal and poorly executed, with many reviewers noting a lack of engaging content and quests. While the central concept of an AI robot colonizing a planet has potential, it ultimately feels unfinished and underdeveloped, leaving players wanting more narrative depth and structure. Overall, the story is seen as a significant weakness that detracts from the overall experience.
“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.”
“Fantastic game, needs storyline or side operations.”
“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 is provided to give any background.”
- monetization13 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has been heavily criticized, with many users labeling it a "cash grab" and expressing disappointment over perceived abandonment by the developers. Reviewers feel that the game prioritizes quick profits over quality and ongoing support, leading to a sense of being ripped off for their purchases.
“So then in my mind this starts to seem like a cash grab (make quick money on the game then quit development).”
“I always loved the idea of this game but I've gotta 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.”
- humor8 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 involving the assistant character and hilarious PvP interactions, others find the humor overly reliant on sarcasm and not particularly strong. Overall, it seems to elicit laughter in certain contexts 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.”
“The humor isn't the best, too much sarcasm.”
- music6 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 "dope," the rest of the soundtrack is criticized for being limited to two monotonous pieces. Although the background music is deemed lacking, the ambient sounds are appreciated for enhancing the immersive experience.
“The background music is lacking, but the ambient sounds are all very pleasant and make you feel like you're actually there.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users note that the alpha version offers a higher level of playability compared to many other alpha games, suggesting a solid foundation for replayability.
“The alpha is more playable than many other alpha games.”
“The alpha is more playable than many other alpha games.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is consistently praised for its intriguing and immersive world, creating a captivating environment that enhances the overall experience.
“The world is incredibly immersive, with a captivating atmosphere that draws you in.”
“The atmosphere is rich and detailed, making every moment feel alive.”
“The game's environment creates a unique and intriguing atmosphere that keeps you engaged.”
