Imagine this: you awaken on a colossal, alien vessel hurtling towards an unknown planet orbiting a distant sun. Your memories are fractured, replaced by a primal instinct for survival. This isn’t your typical science fiction adventure; it’s “Oxygen Not Included,” a meticulously crafted simulation game that plunges you into the depths of subterranean base building on a strange, oceanic world.
Developed by Klei Entertainment, known for indie darlings like “Don’t Starve” and “Mark of the Ninja,” Oxygen Not Included throws traditional survival tropes out the airlock. Forget sprawling landscapes and open-world exploration. Instead, you’ll be managing a colony of quirky Duplicants – genetically engineered beings with unique quirks and skillsets – within the confines of a claustrophobic asteroid base.
The Importance of Air: Building a Breathable World
At its core, “Oxygen Not Included” is about one thing: keeping your Duplicants alive in a hostile environment devoid of breathable air. Oxygen is scarce, polluted water threatens your food supply, and temperatures fluctuate wildly. Your initial tasks are simple: secure a source of oxygen, clean contaminated water, and establish a basic food production cycle.
But as your colony grows, the challenges multiply exponentially.
You’ll need to design complex piping systems to circulate breathable air and manage waste heat generated by machinery. Efficient food production requires understanding plant growth cycles, while advanced technologies like algae farms and methane generators open up new possibilities but introduce their own complexities. Each Duplicant has individual traits – some are strong, others are quick learners, and some have bizarre phobias that complicate matters (who knew a Duplicant could be terrified of slime?).
Managing these personalities adds a layer of social simulation to the game, requiring you to strategically assign tasks and prioritize needs to keep everyone happy – or at least functioning.
The Intricate Dance of Systems
“Oxygen Not Included” shines through its interconnected systems, each influencing the others in intricate ways. Want to build a new room? You’ll need oxygen to power your construction bots and materials to construct walls and floors. Food production relies on clean water and electricity, while waste management becomes crucial as your colony grows.
The game encourages experimentation and critical thinking. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution; success depends on understanding the delicate balance between these systems and adapting your strategies accordingly.
A Table of Duplicant Quirks (a taste!):
Trait | Description | Effect |
---|---|---|
Strong | High carrying capacity | Improved resource gathering |
Neat | Prefers organized spaces | Reduced stress in tidy areas |
Clumsy | Prone to accidents, spills, and dropped items | Increased material waste |
Germophobic | Avoids contaminated areas | Requires extra sanitation measures |
The Delights of Discovery: Unlocking Secrets and Overcoming Challenges
“Oxygen Not Included” is a game that rewards patience and perseverance. Each successful milestone – building your first oxygen generator, establishing a sustainable food supply, or exploring the depths of the ocean planet – unlocks new possibilities and challenges.
You’ll encounter bizarre alien creatures, uncover ancient ruins hinting at a forgotten civilization, and grapple with unexpected natural disasters.
The game encourages experimentation. You can test different building layouts, experiment with new technologies, and discover efficient solutions to complex problems. There are countless ways to approach each challenge, making every playthrough unique and rewarding.
More Than Just Survival: A Universe of Creativity and Potential
While the survival elements are core to “Oxygen Not Included,” the game ultimately transcends the genre. It’s a sandbox for creativity, allowing you to build complex, self-sustaining ecosystems within your asteroid base.
The meticulous attention to detail in the game’s art style and sound design further enhances the experience. From the intricate animations of your Duplicants to the eerie hum of machinery, every element contributes to the immersive atmosphere.
“Oxygen Not Included” is not for the faint of heart. It demands patience, strategic thinking, and a willingness to embrace failure as part of the learning process. But for those seeking a truly unique and challenging gaming experience, it offers countless hours of entertainment and discovery.
So, strap in, prepare for oxygen deprivation, and dive into the captivating depths of “Oxygen Not Included.” You might just find yourself lost in this world for days – or even weeks!