But those who are concerned about Below ZeroВ forgetting its seafaring roots need not worry, as Robin must hit the water on short order to reach her life pod and starting fabricator. This heat conceit enables a host of new technology designed to help RobinВ stay warm in freezing temperatures, ranging fromВ cold suits to heat recharging coffee thermoses. OverlandВ travelВ is a much larger part of the sequel, with harsh, arctic weather and plummeting body temperature serving asВ rate limiters on exploration, similar to how oxygen gates early exploration in the sea. The game's opening is very similar to the original Subnautica, with Robin crash landing on 4546B, though the first things players will notice is that they come to a halt on solid ground rather than the open ocean. RELATED: Everything Announced at Nintendo Indie World Showcase on 8/18 The game kicks off with Robin sneaking onto planet 4546B to investigate the suspicious death of her older sister, Sam Ayou, a fellow xenobiologistВ working for Alterra. Players step into the swim fins of Robin Ayou, intrepid xenobiologist and employee of Xenoworx, a research initiative that was recently devoured by the avaricious and insidious Alterra megacorporation. While all of these areas have been changedВ or expanded, the narrative is the area where Below Zero makes the greatest strides over the original Subnautica, featuring a fully-voiced cast and a welcome break from the silent protagonist trope. The original SubnauticaВ made a splash among critics and gamers for its unique setting, deep crafting tree,В non-violent approach to survival, and clever use of non-linear, distributed storytelling. Independent developer and publisher Unknown Worlds is a big believer in open development, and Below ZeroВ has spent most of its existence in Steam's early access, where the game is currently available for purchase. Subnautica: Below Zero is Unknown Worlds Entertainment's forthcoming underwater, sci-fi, survival game, which started life as an expansion toВ the original SubnauticaВ beforeВ gradually evolving into a stand-alone sequel.

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