Summary
- Once Human offers a refreshingly unique take on survival gaming with its alien infestation setting and genuinely creepy atmosphere.
- Features a Deviant creature collection system and solid crafting mechanics for engaging gameplay loops.
- Has a controversial seasonal wipe system that resets your six-week progress, frustrating players who invest heavily in base building and creature collection.
Will it send you on a thrilling adventure? Once Human presents players with a unique blend of alien horror and a free-to-play open world survival game. It basically offers you a complete experience with the gameplay elements it has. Delve into Once Human with this game review on the story, systems, visual presentation and such.
A Twisted Take on Survival Gaming
What makes Once Human different from other survival games is its unique post-apocalyptic setting wrapped with alien infestation. It brings players into an extreme survival mode than the usual zombie or nuclear war scenarios. Moreover, the alien organism transforms into grotesque monsters, creating terrifying images.
It also gets unexpectedly creative as players face zombies with lanterns for heads or lightbulbs morphing into giant spiders. They may also encounter evil trees and a bus with legs that moves like a massive centipede. Once Human perfectly captured genuinely spooky horror elements without relying on jump scares.
The game thrives in creating constant uncertainty among players of not knowing what creature might appear next. It’ll just surprise you with zombies lurching toward you in a dark environment. With this, you’ll find yourself reaching out for companions as you explore the open world if offered.
Unique Creature Collection System
Probably one of its standout features is the Deviant system. This system works like a “Pokemon” at the height of the alien apocalypse. It allows you to capture and utilize creatures in combat or as helpers around your base.
Moreover, they can collect a variety of creatures from butterflies, frogs, to cats, which presents you with advantages. For instance, your butterfly collection may convert into damage-dealing power while the frog enhances smelters production. Besides it, there are also mining creatures that can gather copper and tin.
It adds to the gameplay depth, further differentiating its survival experience. Also, each creature has specific purposes that help you in your exploration. So, it can automate resource gathering or provide makeshift cover in combat.
Visual Appeal and World Design
Despite being a free-to-play title, Once Human impresses with its visual presentation. Looking at the game, it features a gorgeous environmental design tied to varied locations. It offers selections from ruined high schools, deserted factories, to a wealthy hillside town.
Moreover, the game presents incredible attention to detail, like filling individual menu boards from shops. It also occupies arcades with defunct machinery while children’s bedrooms serve to display eerie murals. These creatively designed creatures appear as the main visual highlight of the game, merging disturbing elements together.
However, it is also noticeable how the rest of the world suffers from bland colors and repetitive elements. When venturing into the forests, it features repeating trees while urban areas are in plain concrete. It failed to capitalize on the alien infestation concept it presents.
Combat and Progression Systems
Another thing to like about Once Human as seen in this game review is its direct and simple combat from weapons to play itself. It features basic melee weapons alongside standard firearms such as pistols, shotguns, and rifles. Although they don’t stand out much due to how basic and lacking in unique elements they are.
Still, it does its job to create engaging and entertaining encounters throughout the game. Moreover, the boss fights included unique mechanics like requiring the elimination of the spawner to make the bosses vulnerable. You may also target the specific weak points, like balloons atop a giant zombie.
On its progression system, it is also simple and accessible to most players. It rewards Memetic Cypher after leveling up, unlocking nodes on four upgrade trees. With this, it is quicker for players to have access to quality food and equipment.
The Controversial Seasonal Wipe System
However, the seasonal wipe system remains a controversial element for most Once Human players. With this system, it automatically resets the players’ progress every six weeks, bringing them back to the start. Yet, they can still keep some of their items like cosmetics, blueprints, and other items.
Many stood against this system, explaining how it wastes their time and efforts in building and collecting. Yet, this mechanic is familiar to those who played Rust and DayZ, where it frequently wipes players off the level. It equalizes the playing field for both new and returning players.
Conclusion
Once Human attempts to revolutionize the current survival game market, introducing horror amid post-apocalypse settings. With this game review, it is undeniable how Once Human came to stand out among the options. If you’ve liked genuine horror experiences, then you would definitely love this game. However, you may still enjoy the game, facing the peculiar alien figures on screen.
Writer’s Recommendations
Hi there, it’s Stal! If you loved that article, make sure to check out these other articles I’ve written just for you. See you there!
