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Once Human Review: Crafting Community in an Alien Land

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Once Human review

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Once Human Review: Crafting Community in an Alien Land

An Industrial Revolution of One’s Own Design

Mahan Zahiri by Mahan Zahiri
11 months ago
in Games, Mobile, PC Games, Reviews Games
Reading Time: 10 mins read
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Once Human thrusts players into a strange and confusing world still reeling from an alien invasion, As a “meta-human” engineered to withstand bizarre cosmic forces, it’s up to you to venture out into the dangerously derelict landscapes left behind and make some sense of the surreal sights that await. Both unsettling and fascinating, this apocalyptic sandbox left me sorely tempted to put off sleeping just to squeeze in “one more hour” of exploration.

Through its mash-up of survival crafting and shared-world RPG tropes, Once Human weaves an eccentric tapestry that shouldn’t come together as cohesively as it does. Gathering resources and haphazardly hammering together rushed defenses against the encroaching night felt legitimate thanks to well-paced tutorials that held just enough without feeling stifling. Navigating a map lousier than a fever dream kept me thoroughly tickled, stumbling upon gems like a giggling bus full of heads or a village straight out of Guillermo del Toro’s fever dreams.

Janky combat and menus in need of organizing dot the joint like a medical chart, but character progression and community-driven shenanigans keep the good times twisting. Once the initial information overload subsides, spacey systems slide into place with a smoothness that’ll have you too busy mapping the stars to notice some corners left unpolished. It’s a wacky wagon that could use some suspension work, but the wondrous worlds within had this critic ready to ride.

Exploring Once Human’s Vast World

Let me tell you, this game world is massive. The map is absolutely stuffed with places to discover. Now, usually in these huge open-world games, the danger is that they can feel kind of empty—just a big empty space between objectives. But Once Human really nail the exploration,.

Every nook and cranny is packed with stuff. Whether it’s a crumbling factory filled with shambling monstrosities or a rundown gas station that’s now home to some creepy crawler nest, there’s always something that catches your eye off in the distance, begging you to check it out. Swing past one of the dozens of abandoned towns dotted across the territories, and you’re almost guaranteed to find a unique encounter, side quest, or secret stash of loot.

Between combats, I spent hours just driving my sweet motorbike all over, soaking in the atmosphere of this unstable, alien planet. And sometimes that atmosphere can sneak up on you. I drove into a dark forest the other night and nearly had a heart attack when a gang of screeching monsters came out of the trees. Phew, I had to change my underwear after that one!

Nothing feels copy-paste either. Every location has its own distinctive vibe. The urban zones feel like a terrifying blend of Silent Hill and The Division, while the more open rural regions give me heavy Days Gone vibes. And out in the wilderness, it can get properly unnerving—the creeping sense that something may be stalking you through the mist is real.

I appreciate that the challenge ramps up the further you go from the starter zones, too. Early areas are a little more forgiving if you’re still getting to grips with the combat. But push deeper into the map, and you’ll want to make sure your weapons and skills are upgraded, or those vicious beasts will make light work of you. It incentivizes thorough exploration of each territory before moving on.

When it comes to crafting, this game ain’t messing around. They really went all-in on the survival mechanics here. At first, it can feel a bit daunting; you start off barely being able to make basic tools and shelter. But as you feed resources into the seemingly endless crafting tree, new blueprints are unlocked at a steady pace.

Before long, you’ll go from rustic shacks to cozy multi-level homes complete with furniture, defenses, and even automatic farming. And let me tell you, snapping that first auto-turret into place and watching it shred through waves of Hostiles? Magic. Pretty soon, “gathering materials” shifts from a chore to just another reason to get out and explore.

Plus, I love how interlinked everything is. Need metal? Better get mining. But your pickaxe is busted—guess it’s hammer time on the crafting bench. Oh, and your food stores are looking lean; better throw some seeds in the planter out back while you’re at it. Really pulls you into the world.

And don’t even get me started on the robot helpers you can build. Having my little logging bot Skippy auto-harvest trees while I’m out is just *chef’s kiss*. The detail they went into for such a simple system is insane. Overall, the crafting is endlessly rewarding without ever feeling like a grind. Getting to show off your crib and inventions to buddies is icing on the cake.

Once you start really progressing your character, the different playstyles open up too. At first, combat relies mainly on scrounging for whatever gear you can find, but smart usage of active skills can give you an edge. As you level up, ability trees unlock, and it becomes more dynamic. Want to take an axe-wielding berserker approach? Snipe fools from a mile away? Or melt faces with elemental magic? This game’s got you covered.

And man, are some of these boss fights satisfying? Figuring out the intricate patterns while also herding your devil dog critter pet through its moves feels so good when you finally take ’em down. The kinds of crazy mutations these “Corrupted Ones” have definitely kept you on your toes too. I’m talking about traffic cone heads, giant teleporting shadows, and even buses with too many legs. Buses! The escalating threat and stakes across the regions are perfectly paced.

With so much to sink your teeth into across all these different progression systems, I can see myself putting hundreds of hours into Once Human easily. The depth and variety of things to experiment with give this game incredible legs. And with constant content updates on the roadmap too, I have a feeling this is only the beginning of the adventure.

The Primary Path and Beyond

While Once Human’s post-apocalyptic alien invasion setting provides an entertaining backdrop, the narrative is somewhat lackluster. Upon arriving, players learn the basics: stardust has corrupted the world and turned most of humanity into monsters. However, the story fails to delve much deeper than that.

Once Human Review

Main quests push you from one area to the next to take down regional bosses, but there’s little plot progression beyond following map markers. Outside of a few interesting side characters, the quest-givers are rather forgettable. Objectives often boil down to clearing out corrupted enemies or activating glowing macguffins.

Thankfully, some side quests offer more engaging content. One had me tracking down an aberration masquerading as a local farmer who was luring unsuspecting refugees to their doom. Another involved helping a distraught scientist find a cure for her mutated husband. These optional tales demonstrate there’s potential for compelling storytelling if given more attention.

Where Once Human shines is environmental storytelling. Notes, diaries, and interactive clues scattered around the remains of civilization provide insights into what transpired. I found myself curiously exploring ruined buildings just to learn more about the people who once lived there. It’s a shame more of the game’s narrative isn’t told through these found object narratives.

The main story missions in Once Human leave you wanting more. The potential is there, but it feels half-baked at times. The side quests and environmental storytelling pick up the slack to some extent. With some polishing, this could be a real hoot. But for now, it’s the gameplay loop and player interaction that kept me hooked, rather than the plot.

Building Civilizations and Communal Experiences

My journey through Once Human’s massive open world has seen me shift from a solo prospector to the leader of a budding civilization. After setting up a modest homestead and accumulating some resources, I began exploring further in search of like-minded pioneers. It didn’t take long before I came across a small community that was struggling with monster attacks. We paired up to take on the threats, and in the aftermath, I was invited to join their settlement.

Once Human Review

Thus began my education in Once Human’s excellent community and social systems. Players can band together to form clans, claim territories, and build sprawling safe havens complete with farms, workshops, defenses, and more.

My new clan got to work expanding our little village, with different members taking on roles like construction, crafting, and leadership. It’s incredibly rewarding to hop online and see the progress everyone’s made since your last session. The structures feel alive thanks to residents milling about them and the written messages left on signs or bulletin boards.

Beyond co-op PvE and base-building, Once Human offers some surprisingly enjoyable open-world PvP as well. Certain zones encourage territorial conflict between factions, leading to impromptu skirmishes and guild wars over valuable land.

While it’s possible to steer clear of player combat altogether, the threat of attack adds palpable tension to the frontier experience. It’s a testament to the game’s systems that these PvP interactions rarely felt toxic—there’s just something viscerally fun about raiding an enemy encampment with your clanmates.

Once Human succeed in cultivating a vibrant, player-driven world thanks to strong communal systems, Whether banding together or battling each other, exploring and building with other survivors results in some of the most memorable experiences this expansive game has to offer. While the solo journey has its thrills, the true heart of the community is found by uniting to form civilizations on the frontier.

Once Human Crafts a Strange New World

From the moment I first set foot on the alien-infected shores of its opening region, I was stunned by the visual distinction of Once Human’s world. Derelict buildings worn by the elements tell haunting tales of what came before, their walls etched with murals left by those who found solace in artwork. Under the light of unstable stars and cosmic phenomena that illuminate the night, gnarled trees stand twisted like arthritic sentinels, keeping watch over their decay.

Once Human Review

It’s within this setting that the true stars of the show emerge—the warped fauna forged from the stardust’s unnatural energies. A bloated slug the size of a bus oozes down the highway, its gelatinous body pulsating with an eerie glow as bulbous eyes swivel in their sockets.

Shambling corpses stitched together from various animal parts lurch across the plains, the eldritch energies reanimating their mismatched forms. Everything, down to the smallest of details, exudes a peculiar charm that had me constantly wondering what new delightful oddities awaited around each corner.

Backing the strangeness is a soundtrack befitting of the world it inhabits. Somber cellos give way to shrieking strings as the music swells during intense battles, mirroring the rise and fall of combat. The idle tunes that play while exploring ooze with a sense of curiosity and wonder, perfectly capturing the thrill of discovery.

Perhaps most impressive is how it seamlessly integrates these ethereal layers with realistic world sounds: trees rustle in the wind, monsters emit gurgling warbles, and weapons discharge with satisfying pop.

While its visuals stopped me in my tracks, interactions did occasionally suffer from jankier moments. Characters clip through the environment, and objects fail to react as expected. Thankfully, these issues did not detract much from the enjoyable gameplay loop and only served to highlight areas ripe for improvement.

Once Human proves that crafting a mesmerizing world is but one piece of a much larger puzzle, but also that its developers have demonstrated notable vision in conceiving such a bizarre realm, I can hardly wait to delve deeper into its mysteries.

Overall Impressions: The Good, The Bad, and My Time in the Kitchen

Man, what a trip Once Human turned out to be. When I first booted it up, I’ll admit I was a little’ skeptical—so many games try to do it all these days and end up not really excelling at anything. But I’m happy to say OH won me over in a big way.

Once Human Review

For starters, the world itself is an absolute hoot to explore. Even doing mundane tasks like scavenging or taking down basic enemies is fun thanks to the bonkers creatures lurking around every corner. I swear I laughed out loud multiple times, finding weirdos like the traffic cone head dude or the umbrella monster gal. It never stopped delivering the giggles either—30 hours in, and I’m still seeing fresh freaks all over the place.

Progressing also felt fantastic. The early game teaches you the basics at a nice, casual pace before steadily ramping things up. By the time you hit those endgame zones, you really feel like a badass taking down those massive dungeon bosses. Plus, seeing how much your crib and gear had improved over time was wicked satisfying. The only thing I’ll say is that the difficulty spike can be a little steep; you might want to save scum or co-op it up if you’re solo.

Which brings me to my crib. Building in Ohio is legit one of my favorite parts. There are so many options to make your pad your own, whether you want a rustic shack or a high-tech fortress. I even find myself idly designing dream homes just for kicks sometimes! Having buddies visit and leave notes was also a really cute touch.

It ain’t all sunshine, though. Some janky UX and some repetitive quests hold it back. Also, don’t get me started on those driving physics, woof. OH could also stand to dial back the grind a hair at the endpoints. But overall? This bizarre amalgamation won me over in a big way. Even with its flaws, I’m still thinking about slapping some stardust on everything I see weeks later. Crazy stuff.

Once Human’s Abundance of Possibility

While Once Human may not reinvent the wheel, what it offers players is an embarrassment of riches in the form of things to craft, discover, build, and level up. I was constantly setting new goals for myself as I navigated the game’s interconnected systems. With a map this size and scope of customization options, I doubt I’ll come close to seeing it all before future seasons expand the experience even further.

Once Human Review

It truly surprised me how engrossing I found activities like tending crop fields or setting up assembly lines to automate the manufacturing of building materials. Optimization and efficiency became a fun challenge in their own right. Then there was the sheer joy of showing friends around the compound I’d designed and built piece by piece. These more peaceful interludes gave me a renewed sense of purpose between monster hunts.

Of course, combat and looting weren’t without their own rewards. Taking down once seemingly indomitable beasts, only to craft upgrades from their remains, was endlessly satisfying. The bizarre and unpredictable bestiary kept me on my toes, wondering what fresh horror might be around the corner. Coordinating strikes with allies against formidable foes brought a real feeling of camaraderie and shared accomplishment.

While the current season represents a very casual starting point, I appreciate Once Human choosing accessibility over punishing difficulty out the gate. This invites more players to enjoy the intricate systems and lovely worlds on offer. Still, I hope future updates dial up the challenge and complexity for those craving ever-greater thrills and long-term engagement.

With so much already to see and do, constant developer support, and the potential of the Eternaland mode, I have no doubt Once Human will continue evolving into an enveloping virtual playground. Its distinct blend of genres has certainly found its audience in this player. Here’s hoping new players give this unexpected gem a chance to surprise them as well.

The Review

Once Human

8 Score

Once Human proves that originality lies not in reinventing genres but in recontextualizing them in new, engrossing ways, while systems remain familiar on the surface, their nesting produces constant discovery. From routine tasks transforming into optimized engineered wonders to companions strange and strong forged along the way, this alien world teems with memorable oddities. Accessibility encourages more people to enjoy its bounty of pursuits without punishing inexperience. Beginners become empowered explorers, while veterans seek future, ever-greater challenges to insatiate their appetite. With constant care from its creators, Once Human's potential seems boundless.

PROS

  • Deep, interconnected crafting and survival systems with constant room for optimization and new goals
  • Strikingly bizarre creatures and imaginative world design keep things feeling fresh.
  • Accessible for beginners yet with immense scope for long-term veterans
  • Robust building and base-building options breed creativity and community.
  • Constant updates and evolving seasons maintain engagement over time.

CONS

  • Early gameplay can be an overwhelming flurry of menus and tutorials.
  • Combat remains simplistic outside of unique enemies and bosses.
  • Performance issues and bugs were reported by some at launch.
  • Steeper late-game difficulty spike risks walling some players.

Review Breakdown

  • Overall 0
Tags: AdventureAdventure gameExptional GlobalFeaturedFree-to-playNetEase GamesOnce HumanRole-playing gameShooter Video GameSimulation Video GameStarry StudioStrategy
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