The negative reception stems mainly from Early Access and modern Subnautica: Below Zero is an incredibly fun journey. The leviathans in this game are not as PTSD-inducing as its older counterpart in my opinion, which makes it a good game for those too queasy to play the first. The story does not require a playthrough of the first to understand, though there are some references to the original Subnautica since this takes place on the same planet, 4546B.
After 40 hours of playtime in Subnautica 2, completing its current state, I decided to try this game since it was the most forgettable experience, and poorly received amongst certain people for its diversion to a more story-focused game rather than a survive and escape the planet kind of game. The game features classic survival, hardcore and creative modes, but also 'freedom' mode, where you are in the survival state but do not have to manage water and food consumption, making the game very friendly to those who do not want to micromanage themselves. Focus on the exploring if you really want to!
The game performs very well, but ensure you set the framerate properly, the default setting turns your computer into a PS4. The game looks beautiful even on medium graphics, so if you have to, change it and you will do just fine. There are also many accessibility settings that make the game far easier, and Nexus Mods houses some neat mods that diversify that even further.
I am currently around halfway through the game, this experience is a lengthy one despite the map being roughly 1/4 smaller. It makes up for that though with its enhanced gameplay, new mechanics, devices and vehicles, and brings beloved classics back such as the Prawn Suit and its glorious features. The map is plentifully diverse to the point where you can distinguish different biomes even without being given a name for them. The story is solid...not much to say about it, still makes sense if you are a first-timer who did not play the original Subnautica. There are multiple stories within this one that all nicely intertwine with into one another.
The Seatruck can be clunky since it is a literal truck, and it does not have all of the features I would like, such as a scanner room module, but the developers added the most imporant aspects to it such as storage lockers and others (to avoid just mentioning all the game's content in this review). Since launch, there is now a special Seadock you can park it and all its modules inside, which will automatically recharge it as well without the need of manual interference. It's fun to haul around this big mobile operations centre and it has no limit (as far as I am aware), so you could (and someone has) built one the length of a biome. Why? For fun.
I have never (yes) used salt to craft anything in this game. #JusticeForSalt
Subnautica: Below Zero is a strong 10/10 for me. The Subnautica series as a whole is 11/10, nobody can replicate the atmosphere, the love and care, the uniqueness and fun of these games. This is the peak of survival horror and underwater games, and I am ecstatic for Subnautica 2's next updates.
...especially the Trident (name pending), I loved the cyclops in the first game and I want another huge submarine to command!
