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Will Wight, New York Times Best-Selling Author of 'Cradle'
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In which we ramble on.
And by we, I mean me.

Subnautica: Below Zero Review

1/31/2019

58 Comments

 
Only one more week before there's real book news, so definitely don't look for any book news in this post. Just my impressions about a new video game.

Yesterday, the standalone sequel to Subnautica, entitled Subnautica: Below Zero, entered Early Access on PC.

Subnautica is a survival game about crash-landing on an ocean planet and surviving in an alien ocean while unraveling the mystery of what caused your ship to crash and figuring out how to get off the planet. It's one of my favorite games of all time because of how immersive it is; the environment design is insane, and it really conveys the feeling of being alone in an alien ocean.

It's scared me more than any horror game ever has, and it's not technically horror. You just don't know what could be beneath you in the ocean as you're swimming along. Hearing strange noises.

I initially found Subnautica shortly after it was released in Early Access, and I fell in love with it when it was unbelievably buggy and had no content. Every patch, I played through it again, because I was hunting for those little moments when I was lost in a dark ocean shivering because I was sure there was something behind me and I didn't want to turn around to see what it was.

Below Zero is already far more complete than the original game was in its first release, which is to be expected for a sequel made using the original engine and assets. The first game is a survival game with a story, while this strikes me more as a story game with survival. 

You play as a researcher in the arctic of the same ocean planet, and this time you're exploring the depths of a freezing ocean while investigating the history of some alien artifacts. Your character actually has lines and personality this time, and she interacts with her sister, who monitors her progress from an orbital station.

There are only about three hours of story content in the game so far, but I've already played it for about five, just building and seeing what new arctic creatures I can find.

If underwater alien survival sounds appealing to you, I highly recommend giving Subnautica a try if you haven't already. And if you have, Below Zero is shaping up to be a worthy sequel.

Screenshot below, just to prove that I'm telling the truth. Nothing to see there except a really cool video game.

-Will
Picture
58 Comments
TheLastReader
1/31/2019 01:02:01 pm

Love that game

Reply
Jack
4/28/2023 09:50:32 am

This game is very different from there last game Below Zero is a completely different atmosphere and there are a whole lot of new enemy's and gear you can also get and find in this game.

Reply
Mark C
1/31/2019 01:12:28 pm

Such a tease with the partial Underlord cover on the left 😁

Reply
Sam
2/9/2019 02:13:47 pm

I totally missed that until I read through the comments - thanks for spotting it!!

Reply
Quinn
1/31/2019 01:27:56 pm

I can't wait to read Underlord ....

Reply
Puppet Master has been staring at this photo trying to see if there are any more tidbits to be had, but apparently the only one is that Will has an iPhone, and Puppet Master wasn't even the one that noticed that one
1/31/2019 01:29:42 pm

"Nothing to see there"

Reply
Rogue 9
2/3/2019 01:48:08 am

60 word name for a 3 word comment 🤦🏻‍♂️

Reply
Jeremiah (hosoke)
1/31/2019 01:41:50 pm

You are such a troll :D

We love you anyway (at least some of us...)

Reply
stephen
1/31/2019 02:03:28 pm

What a great screenshot of the game. A little off center though. You know, I bet it would be better quality if you just did a screen grab. That way you get just the game and none of that other stuff that clutters the picture.

Reply
Jimmie
1/31/2019 02:22:44 pm

Come on at least you can go ahead now and show us the cover of ‘Underlord’. That peek is so cruel! Lol 😢

Reply
Josh Turnbull
1/31/2019 02:26:47 pm

I know you led with "there will be no book news," but I suspended belief and lost 2.5 minutes of my life... with no book news. Bastard.

Reply
Mana
2/1/2019 10:39:08 pm

There's a little sneak peak of the cover in the screenshot if you look to the left though.

Reply
John Fett
1/31/2019 02:55:50 pm

Yep nothing on that left screen at all... Very excited. Love your work keep it up.

Reply
Emily
1/31/2019 03:40:04 pm

My reaction to the partial cover: squee cradle! Gorgeous how to make next week come faster. Wait no, why is it cradle...I was told three books ago I’d get okak next. Glances down at okak progress bar. Shrug, Yay for another book super excited for cradle 5

Reply
R Usirius
1/31/2019 05:18:14 pm

>... I was told three books ago I'd get okak next.

I'm so dissapointed. I like Cradle, but Elder Empire is my favorite series and we've been waiting.... so patiently.

Reply
EndanDrachon link
2/1/2019 07:11:16 am

I decided not to start reading the series until it is completed. I stand by that decision.

Bob's Redflame Emporium
2/1/2019 03:50:14 pm

It sounded like tying up all of Elder Empire was taking a lot longer (and with two simul books) than originally anticipated. Also sounded like it was getting closer, but Cradle was just writing itself (by which I mean Lindon having ascended time and literature is sitting next to Will dictating making it much easier/mandatory to write). Lindon is probably also there suggesting things for Elder Empire and how it can improve it's core.
But I'm guessing some news on both (all 3) comes at once

Deadnettle
1/31/2019 04:38:02 pm

Why must you tease us so?

Reply
JR
1/31/2019 07:57:26 pm

Will.... I'm not gonna have any hair left by the time UL hits... I'm gonna come pull yours out too.. then we can duo as Professor X impersonators!! Or Captain Pickard. You pick!

Reply
Bruh
1/31/2019 08:04:06 pm

Not gonna lie, the trolling got me good here. Kinda wanted to reach through the screen and strangle you this time. Just a little bit though. Nothing permanent or impairing.

Reply
Or...
1/31/2019 08:11:27 pm

Rather maybe take a que from Dross and go for your toes. Some of them anyway. Surely you don’t need ALL of them to crank out brilliant stories.

Reply
Empathy
2/1/2019 04:35:51 am

I feel for you bruh.

Reply
Maahn
2/1/2019 01:21:38 am

Disregarding the partial screenshot (tease) that has already been commented on,

I've heard good things about Subnautica but I've never had a chance to play it. I'm going to be rebuilding my dead and broken PC this year, so I'll hopefully be able to load up my Steam library again finally. Is the original Subnautica still worth it or should I just jump straight to this one?

Reply
Will link
2/1/2019 11:09:10 am

Definitely play the original.

Reply
Maahn
2/1/2019 11:44:57 am

Thanks! I'll add it to the list then

Eddie Munster
2/1/2019 01:28:46 am

Feeling very Annie Wilkes lately Mr Wight...

Reply
Mykal Miller link
2/1/2019 08:57:40 am

I, for one, appreciate your cheekiness. You, and many others, inspired me to write my own book in an accompaniment to the game we are developing. Good luck and may the Block pass you by.

Reply
Garrett P.
2/1/2019 12:56:42 pm

Your skill at building suspense and teasing is so impressive now. You and your team have come a long way since Travelers Gate

Reply
Will link
2/4/2019 09:45:28 am

Thanks, Garrett! It's been a long five and a half years. We're learning a lot!

Reply
Chris Stout
2/6/2019 08:44:25 pm

Dude, love the work you do. Definitely up there with Rowling, R. R. Martin, and Tad Williams. Thanks for the months of joy!!!

Bryce
2/1/2019 01:18:50 pm

Gotta say i hope its a bunch of book news. We are past 8 months without a book. =(

Reply
Al
2/1/2019 06:19:58 pm

>Not playing Resident Evil 2 Remake

Don't be a pleb Will. Looking forward for the "next week (book release)" information. Regards.

Reply
Guy Nelson
2/1/2019 11:21:29 pm

Will has ascended to Monarch on the Path of The Chuckling Troll.

Reply
David Zinn
2/2/2019 07:59:49 am

YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!

Reply
Rowe's Goon#43
2/3/2019 11:40:38 am

Hey there Will!

When are you going to read Mother of Learning?

Reply
Will link
2/4/2019 09:46:10 am

?

I've read Mother of Learning.

Reply
Rowe's Goon#43
2/5/2019 03:22:21 pm

Ah. Good. I was sent on my mission two years ago so my marching orders are a bit out of date.

Jarthon
2/7/2019 08:34:33 pm

What about A Practical Guide to Evil? I can highly recommend it you have not'. The uniqueness of its "magic" system is on par with some of your work and it has a really excellent sense of humor. It's up there with mother of learning as one of my favorite web novels

Marlon
2/4/2019 03:26:24 am

I look to the left and I'm like aaaaaaaaaaahhhahhhahha!!!

Reply
bill
2/4/2019 10:22:33 am

skysworn is available as a whispersync audiobook! weirdly, Blackflame still doesnt come up as an option for whispersync - i will scratch my Cradle itch with the skysworn audio till the underlord teasing has come to a natural close!

Reply
Nikk B.
2/4/2019 01:26:36 pm

Wait.. no book news? Do you.. write books for a living (or unliving?) or something? Also, I highly recommend Stardew Valley (which has been out for a while) and Wargroove (which just came out)

Reply
A Raccoon
2/5/2019 08:12:14 am

Wait a minute..... Something's not right here....

Reply
Hamster
2/6/2019 04:56:12 am

Huh. I'm not sure how you could even play Subnautics with all the glare radiating from the left monitor!

Great teaser! 60% of my family is pumped, the other 40% remain bemused by fantasy as a genre, sigh... Bring on the book news!

Reply
Tom
2/6/2019 11:46:57 pm

You're lucky. The entire rest of my family calls all of fiction "bubblegum for the mind." Even Shakespear and Hemmingway are just entertainment without real value.

Reply
Hamster
2/8/2019 12:36:23 am

Outrageous! I do feeling lucky after that (and 2/5's of your pain...)

Frank
2/6/2019 03:32:37 pm

I need Underlord soon! I am almost done with Savage Divinity.

Reply
T
2/7/2019 08:41:08 am

one week nearly over! Can't wait for the book news!!

Reply
Alex
2/7/2019 11:29:38 am

It always bamboozled me when my oreo reviewer pretends to write books.

Reply
Bill
2/7/2019 12:46:34 pm

I know, right? We come here for oreo reviews! We want to know how he feels about chocolate filling!

Reply
Banks
2/7/2019 05:37:03 pm

Will...you cold hearted son of a bitch. You know what you did.

Reply
Outraged Reader
2/7/2019 09:17:02 pm

Hi Sir,

By my calendar, since your last post, it's been a week. WHERE IS THE NEWS?!?!?! i CAN'T TAKE THIS ANYMORE.

Reply
The Shame and the Rage
2/7/2019 11:20:56 pm

WE HAVE BEEN DENIED. I SHALL NOW WALLOW IN MY DESPAIR!

Reply
Bear
2/7/2019 11:44:00 pm

Okay love the cradle series haven’t read the other yet just finished the audiobooks after reading the kindles awhile ago got pumped up enough to check out this I guess blog to get any info on upcoming books and I have to agree with the twisted humor you are indeed a monarch level troll

Reply
Nadelesc
2/8/2019 04:18:24 am

The WILL has trülled us!

Reply
Anne
2/8/2019 02:21:25 am

Grrrrrrrrr..... And here I thought I'd have a new book to enjoy over the long weekend here in Japan but it's not out yet.... :(

Reply
Nadelesc
2/8/2019 04:19:40 am

Deprivation... It is agonizing... I have need of the glorious magical elixir known as Underlord...

Reply
Hamilton Fan
2/8/2019 04:42:10 am

Saw Hamilton this week and had an interesting thought. Lindon is the Alexander Hamilton of his world. He isnt a super genius, but he is smart. His only true super power is his work ethic/resolve. Lindon just. Won't. Stop. It's like he is training like he is running out of time.

I thought Will might enjoy the comparison. Also, if you haven't seen Hamilton, it should be on the bucket list. Honestly worth all the hype.

Reply
Sleepy
3/2/2019 11:38:58 am

If you like Subnautica you might want to try The Long Dark.

It's somewhat similar but instead of the ocean you're a bush pilot who crashes his plane on a snowy Canadian island.

Wolves, bears, starvation, hypothermia...so many ways to die.

Reply



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