Once Human Review by AI

Once Human Review by AI

 

Once Human Game Review

Once Human is a survival action game developed by NetEase Games, combining elements of open-world exploration, crafting, combat, and survival mechanics in a post-apocalyptic setting. The game has garnered attention for its unique take on the genre, promising players the opportunity to explore a world overrun by strange creatures, mutations, and the remnants of human civilization. As a blend of fantasy and survival gameplay, Once Human attempts to create a dynamic experience that is both challenging and immersive. This review will look at the gameplay, graphics, story, and overall experience.

Gameplay

Survival and Exploration

The core of Once Human revolves around survival. Set in a vast open world, players are thrust into a world filled with deadly creatures, environmental hazards, and limited resources. The game tasks players with gathering materials, crafting weapons and tools, building shelters, and managing hunger, thirst, and other survival aspects. Exploration is key to success, as players venture across different biomes, from decaying cities to dense forests, all while trying to scavenge useful resources and uncover the secrets of the world.

The exploration is highly interactive, with a day-night cycle and dynamic weather systems that affect gameplay. For instance, certain areas may become more dangerous during nighttime or under extreme weather conditions, forcing players to adapt their strategies and playstyles.

Combat and Crafting

Combat in Once Human is action-oriented, featuring both ranged and melee combat. Players can use a variety of weapons and tools to defend themselves against the mutated creatures that populate the world. The combat system is somewhat similar to other survival games, with a focus on timing and resource management. Whether it’s hunting for food or fighting off larger threats, players need to plan their actions carefully and be aware of their surroundings.

The crafting system is robust, offering a wide array of items that can be created from resources found in the world. From weapons to armor and medical supplies, crafting plays an essential role in surviving and advancing through the game. Players can upgrade their gear and shelter, allowing them to become stronger and more resilient against the increasingly dangerous environment.

Base Building and Multiplayer

In addition to survival, Once Human places a heavy emphasis on base building. Players can construct shelters to protect themselves from the harsh world, as well as build defenses, storage, and crafting stations. This adds a strategic layer to the gameplay, as players must decide where to build, what to prioritize, and how to defend their home base from enemies.

The game also features a multiplayer mode, allowing players to team up with others in both cooperative and competitive scenarios. Whether it's working together to defend a base or competing for resources, multiplayer adds depth and replayability to the game. The ability to form alliances or engage in PvP battles with other players keeps the game dynamic and engaging, as players can face both AI and human threats.

Story and Setting

Once Human takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where humanity has either been wiped out or severely impacted by a mysterious force. Players assume the role of a survivor, exploring the remnants of civilization while trying to understand the cause of the global collapse. The world is filled with dangerous mutations and a mix of both human and non-human enemies that hint at the world’s troubled history.

The narrative, however, is somewhat secondary to the gameplay experience, with much of the story being told through environmental storytelling, scattered notes, and interactions with NPCs. While the setting is intriguing, the game doesn’t provide a deeply fleshed-out narrative right away, leaving players to uncover pieces of the story as they explore and complete objectives.

Player Choices and Progression

Player progression in Once Human is tied to skill development, base upgrades, and character attributes. As players survive and interact with the world, they unlock new abilities and crafting recipes that make them more powerful. This gives a sense of growth, as the player becomes more adept at surviving and fighting off enemies.

Additionally, players are encouraged to make choices that affect their playstyle. Whether it’s focusing on combat, crafting, or exploration, the choices players make as they progress shape their approach to surviving in the game.

Visuals and Art Design

Once Human features detailed and atmospheric visuals that help set the tone for the game’s post-apocalyptic world. The environments are well-designed, with a focus on realism and detail. The decaying cities, abandoned structures, and mutated wildlife all contribute to the game’s eerie and immersive atmosphere. The game’s world feels vast and open, with plenty of hidden corners and areas to explore, each with its own visual identity.

The character models and creature designs are also well-crafted, with a clear emphasis on the grotesque mutations that players encounter throughout the world. The art direction takes inspiration from dystopian and survival-themed media, creating a world that feels both beautiful and horrifying.

However, while the game looks great, there are occasional performance issues, especially in more demanding areas or during heavy combat scenes. The frame rate can dip on lower-end systems, and some graphical glitches are noticeable from time to time. These issues, though not game-breaking, can affect the overall immersion of the experience.

Sound and Music

The audio design in Once Human complements the atmospheric nature of the game. The ambient sounds, such as wind howling through abandoned buildings or the distant growls of creatures, enhance the sense of isolation and danger that permeates the world. The sound design does a good job of building tension, especially in encounters with hostile creatures or when exploring unknown areas.

The music, while not constantly present, intensifies during moments of conflict or exploration. The soundtrack is fitting for the game’s tone, with eerie and dramatic compositions that mirror the desolation of the world.

Challenges and Criticism

While Once Human offers a promising survival experience, it is not without its flaws. The game can be repetitive at times, especially when grinding for resources or crafting materials. Some players might find the progression a bit slow, particularly when trying to gather enough resources for upgrades or crafting new gear.

The AI, while functional, can feel predictable, and some enemies may seem to follow simple attack patterns. There are also some technical issues, such as bugs and performance dips, that can hinder the smooth experience at times. Additionally, while multiplayer adds depth, the game can feel empty or isolating without other players to interact with, and some players may find the lack of a strong narrative thread disappointing.

Conclusion

Once Human is an ambitious survival game that blends exploration, combat, crafting, and base-building in a post-apocalyptic world. Its open-world design, dynamic combat, and multiplayer elements make it an engaging experience for fans of the genre. While the game excels in creating an atmospheric world full of dangers and mysteries, it can feel repetitive at times, and its technical issues and reliance on grinding may turn some players away.

If you enjoy survival games with a focus on exploration, crafting, and multiplayer, Once Human offers a lot to love. However, it may require patience due to its slow progression and occasional technical hiccups. Fans of games like Rust and Ark: Survival Evolved will likely find much to enjoy in Once Human, especially if they enjoy the challenge of surviving in a hostile, mutated world.