Subterrain

Subterrain is a survival game developed by the independent studio PixelLore. The title made its launch on PC, and with time, it saw a console port.

Story

The action of Subterrain takes place on Mars, or more precisely under its surface, in the city known as MARS MPO. Its construction was undertaken by Jeff Murray, who wanted to protect colonizers who came to the site in 2050 from deadly radiation. The main character, Albert West, is a doctor working in the colony on vaccination for Alzheimer's disease. When an accident occurred in his laboratory, he was accused of murder and promptly imprisoned.

The action of the game begins one year after the sentence is passed - when prison guards disappear in mysterious circumstances, Dr. West tries to solve the puzzle. However, it soon comes to light that the colony was infected by a mysterious disease transforming humans into bloodthirsty mutants. The hero has no choice but to find a way to stop the plague.

Mechanics

The events in which we take part in Subterrain are observed from a camera suspended above our heads (top-down perspective). Due to the fact that there are many signs that the hero we are leading is the only survivor of Mars MPO, the main task of the game is the fight for survival. The protagonist must not only take care of providing his body with fuel in the form of food and water but also monitor oxygen levels and body temperature on an ongoing basis. In addition, the game is complicated by the possibility of injuries like fractures or more or less severe wounds, the negative effects of which can be neutralized with the use of medications. On top of all this, there is the need to take care of the reactor that provides power to life support systems; this is very important because death in the game is permanent.

Exploration plays an important role in the described title - individual locations are generated procedurally, thanks to which the game can boast high replayability; when visiting Mars MPO once again, the players have to face different challenges. As the whole facility is open to us at the start of the adventure, the gameplay is non-linear - subsequent elements of the mystery are delivered through journals, notes and other hints that shed light on the events that took place in the facility during West's stay in prison. It is also not uncommon for us to solve environmental puzzles.

While traveling through the colony, one should bear in mind that at any time one of the dangerous, mutant creatures may stand in the way of the hero. What's more, as the adventure progresses, opponents evolve to become more dangerous. Luckily, Dr. West is not helpless, because not only melee weapons and firearms, but also grenades and explosives are at his disposal. Moreover, all these tools can be modified - nothing stands in the way of creating new items (both weapons and armor) based on the blueprints collected along the way, using an extensive crafting system.

Technical aspects

Subterrain features simple visuals - the game is accompanied by a gloomy atmosphere achieved not only thanks to the modest color palette but also the soundtrack, which can be purchased separately.

Last updated on April 2, 2020