Review of Abiotic Factor – An excellent Survival Game with a clear Goal, but lacks on the execution
Abiotic Factor is a game plagued with numerous technical issues, but once you manage to overcome them, you’ll find a surprisingly rewarding experience. It’s a survival title with elements of crafting and horror that, much like many recent entries in the genre, focuses heavily on co-op gameplay. Its main advantage is that you won’t have to face other players, giving it a refreshing twist.
Exploration is key to figuring out how to move forward in this adventure. The story is quite intriguing and clearly inspired by Half-Life. You play as a newly hired employee at a secret laboratory conducting experiments with dimensional portals. Upon arriving at your new job, you find yourself trapped within the facility and must escape either alone or with the help of other players.
The game stands out for the sheer number of systems it incorporates. Beyond managing hunger and fatigue, you’ll even need to deal with unexpected elements like physiological needs. In addition to crafting tools and weapons, you’ll take on objectives such as traveling to different universes. Enemies are varied, and in some cases, the worlds you explore reference other games or movies, adding a unique charm to the experience.
Unfortunately, Abiotic Factor is far from flawless. Its retro-styled visuals, while clearly an artistic choice, often feel underwhelming and somewhat outdated. Gameplay also suffers from issues: controls feel clunky, attacks lack impact and feedback, and while objectives are clear, the game doesn’t always explain how to complete them. This often forces players to spend hours searching for items that aren’t visually obvious due to the design, leading to unnecessary frustration.
In the end, Abiotic Factor is an excellent survival game that expands on what we know of the genre and injects it with fresh, addictive, and innovative ideas. Sadly, its technical and gameplay shortcomings prevent it from being fully enjoyable.
Final Score: 3/5
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