Two early access reviews grounded – Honey, I’ve shrunk my kids again

tA nostalgic feeling that technology is still fantastic. I don’t know much about it, but the bravery that comes with not caring what adults think. All the uncertainty and excitement seem to look bigger than it actually is. In other words, growing up, in the early 90s. Ground 2like a very successful sandbox survival title since 2020, it captures it perfectly. Brookhollow Park towers above the players, common objects that look like far-off monuments marking your trip, and various horrifying threats loom around its reach, both underground and underground. But, although the appeal to adventure is contagious even in early access, there is a way to go from an optimization perspective.

Set two years after the event of the first game, Ground 2 It hits the ground. A short opening cutscene reveals the tragic explosion that took place in Brookhollow Park. Dr. Wendell Tully, the director of the original reduced experiment, became seemingly ferocious and tore off Berg’s head. It is trying to control one of the original four teens and shrink again, trying to unravel the role of Tech-Corp Ominent in all of this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9m4ewayeock

Ominent is not a shadowy villain hidden in the background, at least from the beginning. You will spend decent time communicating with Chief Strategy Officer Sloan Beaumont over video calls. It’s enough to say that the developers are nailing the Skeezy Corporate Vibe. While dialogue choices have no impact on gameplay, Ominting and their “compassionate” words can be “compassionate.” It is also an interesting contrast with video logs recovered from scientists all over the world, and they desperately plan to trust their work (and others’ achievements).

If that’s not enough, it seems that a mysterious individual is testing you from the shadows. Suspicious, but they may have the answer you want. The story draws you in several different directions, but it’s cohesive and paced, especially when balancing the overall progression. The voice acting is pretty good overall, but I hope the teenagers have had a more unique dialogue during gameplay. If you’re constantly asking how salt and chilli sauce are needed for roasted GNAT meat, then I’d like to thank some variations (or less frequently).

Those who played the original game or survival sandbox title know what to expect Ground 2. Harvest resources, build shelters, build workbenches to create better armor, weapons and items, and manage hunger and thirst-making pieces. Just like before, shrinking means being creative with specific needs, such as knocking down dewdrops by hitting the grass blades they are attached to (and hopefully they don’t merge with muddy puddles).

It’s all as robust as before, allowing you to use hot craft ingredients for your recipes without switching tabs or temporarily setting up structures or stations, while systematically adding and realizing the materials makes it easier to make the smoother experience. Adding this even further is the new Omnitool, which will meet all the survival craft features you need. It doesn’t need to repair it or create a new version, freeing up space to collect more material. As you go further, discover new parts and collect clever science at all times, you can upgrade to tackle tougher materials, gain more new resources for better weapons and armor, and even go out to the park.

The formula is tried and true, I’ll be grateful when Ground 2 Infiltrate not one but two places that are swarmed with ants and drive me out of my comfort zone to find the red soldier ant eggs for incubation. It’s appropriately scary to hit Orb Weaver to harvest some acorn shells for the task, and encourages you to try other parts and observe patterns to harvest and get out of the material. As my base develops, the threat escalates slowly but certainly.

Of course, you also need better armor and weapons. And there’s no different stuff here, like the usual dual nails, sabers, lances, and more. It has made great progress in combat as it can dodge attacks. In some cases, it may be recommended to take it as a risky damage. Identifying the narratives of some bug attacks can be obscure at first, but when you fight for your life, it can eventually turn into a seductive dance.

Learning towards a specific fighting style is beneficial as it unlocks perks and mutations that can enhance them. You can also find your molars by upgrading your health, stamina, maximum number of mutations equipped, and even water and food drainage rates.

But perhaps the biggest new addition – and my favorite is the new ant mount or buggy. Not only does it significantly enhance exploration, it also introduces new combat dynamics in mounted combat. You can recruit fewer workers ants and fight with you or jump and turn them into 3v1. Buggies are also a game changer for collecting and transporting materials, further reducing building boundaries.

Survival Craft title mounts are nothing new. However, there are many ways buggies can improve ground The experience is incredible. That being said, you rely purely on buggy attacks, not your weapon, so attachable combat can be a bit boring. I know it’s about balancing extra survivability, but there’s a bit more variety outside of light attacks, charged attacks and blocks. I also don’t care if the collection mode moves slightly faster.

Apart from that, Ground 2 It has a significant portion of the bug beyond what I encountered throughout the park, but I didn’t face anything that would break the game, like a drop of dew floating in the air, rather than lowering it after cutting the associated grass. Mounted combat can sometimes make you feel a little ill at times, especially if the buggy does not sail and attack via the intended target. Whether this is an elevation issue or something else, it can cause occasional frustration.

Secondly, there is performance, but it can be quite uneven. Running at 1440p with high quality was a bit more wanted. I knocked it down to something medium improved, but eventually lowering the resolution to 1080p was even more helpful. That is until I venture beyond the initial range and beyond the buggy range. When I opened up new ground, stuttering and frame rate drops became more common. Certainly, it’s not impossible to play. It also uses RTX 4060, 11th generation Core-I5, and 32 GB of RAM, so better hardware can definitely go through brute force.

It should be noted, especially if the hardware does not meet the recommended requirements but cannot be denied. To ground 2 Visual charm. Brookhollow Park is spectacular, especially when the blades sway through the grass, or when the blades sway as the sun shine through the grass. Design around the world is equally addictive. You can trace your goals and move on to different points at the request of Beaumont or mystical individuals.

What does that crumbling donut hold? What about the opening in that cave? How terrifying is it just to see dozens of ants’ eyes suddenly glow red and think you’re among your friends (spoilers: very)? There’s a lot to watch and I’m excited about how much the developers will add throughout the early access period.

If you can handle the hiccups of current optimizations, Ground 2 A new sandbox title to create survival and a simple recommendation for longtime fans. I call it “more” ground“It’s not too far, but more than a variety of changes, improvements, additions, and new environments guarantee your time.

This game was reviewed on PC.