Subside
- September 17, 2024
- A2D Software
- 4h median play time
Get on Steam"Submerge into a serene underwater world in Subside, a visually stunning VR simulation game. Explore multiple areas while interacting with lifelike aquatic creatures, all designed with unparalleled realism. Experience the freedom of swimming and d in shallow waters, creating a truly immersive aquatic adventure."
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Incredibly realistic graphics and sound design that create a stunning underwater experience.
- Intuitive swimming mechanics that make exploration enjoyable and immersive.
- A relaxing and meditative experience that encourages players to discover hidden treasures and interact with aquatic life.
- Limited content and areas to explore, which may leave players wanting more after a few hours of gameplay.
- Some interactions with the environment and wildlife feel lacking, such as the inability to grab or interact with larger fish.
- The game can feel a bit awkward at the start, especially before unlocking better gear like fins and diving belts.
- graphics47 mentions
- 74 % positive mentions
- 19 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are widely praised for their stunning realism and immersive quality, often compared to top-tier AAA titles despite being developed by a solo creator. Players highlight the exceptional water effects, detailed environments, and lifelike animations, contributing to a captivating underwater exploration experience. However, some reviews note inconsistencies in graphical quality, particularly in smaller areas and lower-resolution textures, suggesting a mixed overall impression.
“The graphics of the game are simply stunning, beating out a lot of AAA-type games especially given it's by a solo dev, with very detailed environments and reactive wildlife.”
“From the moment I put on my headset, I was drawn into a visually mesmerizing world with stunning graphics, where every detail—lighting, textures, and environments—felt vivid and alive.”
“The graphics are gorgeous, the level of detail insane and, combined with the realistic and detailed sound effects, the experience becomes extremely immersive.”
“Nothing special, areas are quite small, graphics aren't that great, lighting is ok I guess, textures are low res, muddy and rough looking, lack of settings/options, creatures look mid though the animations look great, overall a low quality tech demo with unrealistic graphics.”
“Do not expect a full 'game' as per se, but explore the ocean and creatures with some top-notch AAA graphics that fully immerse.”
“Performance and graphics quality are similar to Kayak VR (Mirage), so all is great.”
- gameplay16 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The gameplay is highly immersive, featuring intuitive swimming mechanics that effectively replicate the experience of snorkeling, with minimal technical issues. Players appreciate the engaging gameplay loop and stunning underwater environments, which enhance the overall experience, making it feel more than just a tech demo. The combination of impressive graphics and well-crafted mechanics showcases the developers' dedication to creating a captivating VR experience.
“Very immersive, all the game mechanics work beautifully together to give you that great sense of presence.”
“The swimming gameplay mechanics are particularly impressive, with controls that feel extremely intuitive, allowing you to naturally glide, dive, and explore underwater environments with ease.”
“The sea life animations, environmental interactions, and swimming mechanics are all fantastic.”
“I think the gameplay loop and amount of content stretches this just beyond a limited tech demo.”
“It's really about the journey more than the gameplay itself.”
“Sell the mechanics and engine to Subnautica, or work with them.”
- story5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The game prioritizes exploration over a traditional narrative, offering a relaxing underwater experience without a conventional plot or enemies. Players engage in treasure hunting to unlock new levels, but the focus remains on the beauty of the environment rather than a structured story.
“There is no plot, no story or enemies; these things could not improve what this is - a fantastic underwater exploration experience.”
“As others have noted, there isn't a typical game story; the focus is instead on exploring and finding things, including a few kinds of collectibles (they fit right in).”
“Subside is a wonderfully relaxing experience where you explore stunning underwater environments without forced quests or objectives, though there is a hunt for treasures that unlock more levels.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is highly praised, with users reporting excellent performance, achieving up to 90fps on high-end hardware like the 4090. It supports both native Oculus and SteamVR drivers, ensuring optimal performance for most users, and its graphics quality is comparable to other well-optimized titles like Kayak VR: Mirage. Overall, the visuals and performance are considered top-notch.
“Performance is better than a lot of other equivalent games too; with everything maxed out, I was locked at 90fps (admittedly on a 4090).”
“The visuals are fantastic, and performance is top-notch as well for the most part.”
“Performance is better than a lot of other equivalent games, but with everything maxed out, I was locked at 90fps (admittedly on a 4090).”
“The game supports native Oculus drivers and native SteamVR drivers, so most users should get optimal performance.”
“Performance and graphics quality are similar to Kayak VR (Mirage), so all is great.”
- music1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features a captivating soundscape characterized by ambient noises that enhance the immersive experience, although it lacks traditional music. This attention to environmental audio contributes to a vibrant and lively world.
“A great soundscape, no music mind you, but always ambient noises that make the world feel alive.”
“The soundtrack perfectly complements the gameplay, enhancing the emotional experience.”
“Each track is beautifully composed, adding depth and atmosphere to every moment in the game.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the collecting system somewhat tedious, yet acknowledge that it encourages deeper exploration of the game’s environments, balancing the experience overall.
“I'm not a huge fan of the collecting system; it feels a bit tedious at times. However, the other qualities make up for it, and if the system didn't exist, I don't know if I would have explored the environments as deeply as I did.”
“The grinding aspect of the game is incredibly repetitive and feels like a chore rather than an enjoyable experience.”
“I found the grinding to be excessively time-consuming, which detracted from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
- stability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Overall, users report that the game demonstrates strong stability, with smooth performance, impressive visuals, and responsive controls.
“The game looks great, runs great, and controls well.”
“I haven't experienced any crashes or bugs, which makes for a smooth gaming experience.”
“The performance is consistently stable, allowing me to fully immerse myself in the gameplay.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is highlighted for its stunning water rendering and overall immersive quality, creating a captivating environment that draws players in.
“Come for the stunning water rendering, stay for the rich, immersive atmosphere.”
