Or take the section of the map that is completely toxic due to weed killer being sprayed in that area, the player needs to craft protective clothing to traverse it. For example, a discarded mint box can be used to mine mint, a strong substance used for late-game weaponry. The creative ways these objects have been given gameplay implications is particularly pleasing. The Backyard is very messy (who discards that many juice boxes without cleaning up?) and that adds to the player’s drive to explore, finding random household items half-buried in soil has never been so satisfying. Creatures aside, the map itself is a huge triumph. From corner to corner, there’s so much to see and explore. It’s a cool concept that’s been well-executed creatively. This brings us to what I think the core strength of Grounded is. I found myself walking around the Backyard searching for various household items just for curiosity’s sake, it was entertaining. There is some clever environmental storytelling in Grounded, a certain metallic item at the bottom of the Pond had me very curious about its story implications. If there were other human characters giving contextual information to the players it would erase the intriguing mystery of the narrative, logs are a good way to fill the gap. While I feel audio logs are a tad overdone in gaming, they do work in a game like Grounded where isolation (or group isolation if playing multiplayer) is a part of the experience. We learn more about Tully from audio logs that have been scattered about his various labs in the Backyard. Higher-tier creatures pose more of a challenge but the same basic concepts apply, time your blocks and then pick your moments to unleash a barrage of attacks. Creatures can be kited into locations that are inaccessible for their pathing, allowing the player to freely rain arrows upon them (though this is time-consuming). Much like their real-life counterparts, many of the creatures you face will struggle with the geometry of the Backyard. Sure, each insect has a variety of moves but that rarely changes the player’s strategy to any great degree. Taking down a ladybug or bombardier beetle isn’t that different to fighting an airborne mosquito. The strategy of move in, hit the creature three times, move out, block their attack and repeat the process holds true for many of the game’s insects. In terms of actual combat, it can feel a bit lacklustre. The proportions of Grounded do well to make the player feel small, achieving the obvious role reversal. Poison-flinging bombardier beetles, lumbering stinkbugs, rapid stabbing mosquitoes and the horrors that lurk at the bottom of the Pond all serve to turn the game into a survival horror at times. The horror in Grounded doesn’t stop with spiders either. And yet their blood-curdling noises still have me springing away in abject fear. The terrifying arachnids now resemble two pieces of faeces slapped together, complete with a pair of eyes. I play on arachnophobia safe mode (boo!) with the slider pushed to the maximum. Cast your eyes above the ground level and you’ll see towering grass, weeds, bees buzzing far overhead and occasionally a gargantuan crow which despite looking very imposing, has a very non-threatening aura about it. There is a lot to see, the ground is littered with collectable pebbles, plant fibres, sprigs - everything you need to get started in Grounded’s crafting tree. I created my base in the starting area and never escaped the constant Waluigi-esque noises of the roaming weevils and the ants that refused to let them live in peace. Much like a real-life bustling ecosystem, both your eyes and ears are kept busy. Sun-dappled blades of grass dripping dew during the early hours of the morning is a sight to behold. Lighting is utilised very effectively in the crowded world of the Backyard. NEXT: Solium Infernum Is About Taking Over Hell Through Politics And Cunning A combination of the premise being a shrunken player surviving in an everyday suburban family garden, the parodying of the early ‘90s and the game’s appealing visual style had me inexplicably excited to cut grass aimlessly. Well, something about Grounded drew me in. Why are you reviewing a survival base-building crafting game then? I hear you ask. Survival games tend not to be my thing, I don’t like sandboxes, I don’t like building and I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed gathering resources. While I had a steeper learning curve than most, I like to think there was a lot of upside to having a fresher perspective on Obsidian’s foray into the survival genre. I never played Grounded in early access, I’m likely a rare breed in the forthcoming barrage of full-release reviews.
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