Welcome to the world of Once Human, a new MMO survival game that takes you into a desolate, post-apocalyptic setting filled with mystery, danger, and adventure. Developed by Starry Studio, this game combines elements of survival, combat, and faction-based gameplay, creating a unique blend that challenges your wits and skills.
If you’re into games that require resource management, strategy, and intense multiplayer interactions, Once Human might be just what you’re looking for. In this review, we’ll look at its survival systems, combat, minimum system requirements, progression, story, and characters. We’ll share our thoughts on what works well and what could be improved.
Surviving the Post-Apocalypse
Gameplay Mechanics
Once Human takes you straight into a harsh post-apocalyptic world where survival is your primary objective. To thrive, you need to manage critical resources like hunger, thirst, and fatigue. These basic elements make the game both challenging and realistic, reminding you that every choice you make matters. The tension and urgency you feel while scavenging for food or looking for clean water create a gripping atmosphere that keeps you on your toes.
Scavenging is at the heart of survival in Once Human. You will find yourself searching abandoned buildings, forests, and even dangerous territories to locate the essentials. It’s not just about staying alive; it’s about making sure you have the right tools to deal with any challenge that arises. You’ll gather materials for crafting, which is a huge aspect of the game. Crafting isn’t limited to just weapons; you’ll also need to make shelters, tools, and defensive mechanisms that help you carve out a safe space for yourself in this desolate environment.
What makes this system engaging is the crafting complexity as there’s always something new to build, whether it’s a secure base to avoid nightly ambushes or traps to fend off aggressive creatures. This means that every piece of junk you pick up could be the difference between surviving the night or ending up as prey.
Combat in Once Human: Fight or Flee?
Combat is another critical component of Once Human. You have to think strategically about when and how to engage enemies because fighting isn’t always the best option. Combat in this game is varied; you have melee weapons for close-quarters battles and ranged weapons like guns for when distance matters. But beware, ammunition is often scarce, which means you’ll have to decide carefully when it’s worth using a bullet and when you should stick to a more silent, melee approach.
You’ll face both AI enemies and rival players. The AI is smart enough to put up a decent fight, employing tactics that keep you from getting too comfortable. The thrill of these encounters lies in their unpredictability – sometimes you may find yourself outgunned and outnumbered, while at other times, a cleverly set trap could turn the tables on your enemies.
The multiplayer PvP elements add an exciting layer of complexity. You can raid other players for resources or form temporary alliances to defeat particularly tough foes. Trust, in this world, is always fleeting, and that’s what makes each interaction exciting. The rush of defending your base from real players, or outsmarting someone else to grab some precious supplies, keeps you constantly engaged.
Once Human Review
- Developer(s): Starry Studio
- Publisher(s): Starry Studio
- Released on: July 10, 2024
- Campaign Mode: Single Player, Multiplayer/ Third Person Perspective
- Minimum System Requirements: Windows 10 (64-bit) OS/ 3.2 GHz Processor/ 8 GB RAM/ 55 GB Storage/ 4 GB Graphic card required.
- Age-Rating: 16+
Progression System and Character Growth
Progression in Once Human is well-designed, making you feel like every challenge you overcome has a tangible reward. As you play, your character will level up, earning skill points that you can use to enhance your abilities. Whether you prefer to specialize in combat skills, resource gathering, or utility functions like crafting efficiency, there are options that let you adapt the character to your own play style.
Every time you level up, you get to pick new abilities or improve the ones you already have. This helps create a sense of continuous growth. You start off feeling vulnerable and ill-equipped, but as you level up, you become more formidable, turning the tide in encounters that would’ve overwhelmed you at the start.
Customizing your character is also a major feature in Once Human. The gear you acquire isn’t just for show because it makes a difference in your survival rate. Adding new armor, upgrading your weapons, or equipping accessories can significantly boost your defense and attack power. There’s also a fun aspect of discovering gear with special effects that can enhance your abilities, giving you an edge in combat or survival situations.
Faction-Based Gameplay
Choose Your Allies Wisely
In Once Human, you’re not just alone against the world. The game features various factions, each with their own backstory, goals, and territories. Choosing which faction to align with can have a significant impact on your experience. Factions offer specific quests, rewards, and even access to unique resources or safe zones that make survival a little bit easier.
The interplay between factions is a big part of what makes Once Human stand out. Aligning with a faction means you’re not only making friends but also enemies. Faction warfare can erupt at any moment, and as you take on missions for your chosen side, you’ll have to deal with rivals looking to stop you. These relationships can be quite dynamic; sometimes a former ally can become a bitter rival if circumstances change.
The faction-based dynamics add a whole new level to the multiplayer interactions. You might team up with others for a major raid to take over a territory or defend your faction’s assets from an enemy assault. The unpredictability of these multiplayer moments where the human element always means someone could betray or surprise you, makes the game feel alive.
The World and Story
Piecing Together the Past
The setting of Once Human is bleak, yet captivating. Set after a mysterious global disaster, the game’s world is full of remnants from the old civilization, hints of what went wrong, and questions that beg to be answered. The developers have clearly put effort into environmental storytelling as you’ll find ruins, notes, and even diaries that give you glimpses into the lives of people before everything fell apart.
The main story is focused around the struggle between various factions and the player’s journey through this chaotic world. While it may not reach the narrative depth of some purely story-driven games, it does a good job of giving context to your survival journey and motivating you to explore different regions and learn more about what happened.
Character development in Once Human is also tied closely to the story. The choices you make affect how NPCs react to you and how your relationships with different factions evolve. You may end up being a hero to some or a villain to others, depending on your actions. This adds a personal layer to the game, making your character’s journey unique to you.
Strengths and Weaknesses of Once Human
Strengths:
- Survival Elements: The need to manage hunger, thirst, and fatigue is compelling, keeping you constantly on edge and making each decision count.
- Crafting and Base Building: The crafting system is deep and varied, allowing you to build a real home in a dangerous world. There’s a lot of satisfaction in building up a base that can withstand attacks.
- Combat: Whether you prefer stealthy approaches or all-out gunfights, Once Human gives you the tools to fight as you see fit. The tactical combat keeps you thinking and reacting quickly.
- Multiplayer Dynamics: Faction warfare and player alliances bring a level of unpredictability that keeps the game exciting. You never know if a friendly player might turn into an enemy, and that tension keeps you hooked.
Weaknesses:
- Technical Issues: There are times when Once Human struggles with technical problems like frame rate drops and server issues. These glitches can break immersion and frustrate players, especially during key moments.
- Slow Progression: Progression can sometimes feel grindy, with certain levels taking a long time before you see significant improvements. This pacing may deter some players who prefer faster character development.
- Story Depth: While the story has potential, it doesn’t always dig as deep as you might like. The world-building is solid, but the narrative sometimes lacks the emotional hooks to keep you fully invested in your character’s journey.
Graphics and Atmosphere
Once Human excels in creating a visually impressive environment that captures the bleakness of a world torn apart by catastrophe. The graphics are well-done, offering a mix of sprawling urban decay, overgrown wilderness, and creepy, mutated zones. You’ll feel the desolation, the beauty, and the threat all around you.
The sound design is also on point. From the distant howls of enemies to the unsettling silence that surrounds you during exploration, the atmosphere is immersive. It’s clear that the developers wanted to make sure you felt every tense moment of your journey. Every clink of metal, rustling of leaves, and sudden explosion adds to the overall feeling of survival in a cruel world.
Conclusion: Should You Play Once Human?
Once Human is an engaging MMO survival game that offers a fresh take on surviving a post-apocalyptic world. It’s a game that rewards strategy, careful planning, and tactical thinking, whether you’re deciding how to approach a fight or just figuring out where your next meal will come from. The survival systems keep you invested, and the multiplayer features – from faction dynamics to PvP, add layers of unpredictability that make each play session feel unique.
Sure, there are some flaws – technical issues and a somewhat shallow story are hard to overlook. But if you love survival games that challenge you to think, adapt, and evolve, Once Human is worth considering. The game is available for free on Steam, making it accessible to a wide audience of players interested in exploring the post-apocalyptic survival landscape.
FAQs
What game modes are available in Once Human?
Once Human has single-player and multiplayer modes. The multiplayer mode focuses on factions fighting for control in a post-apocalyptic world.
Is Once Human just like Rust?
Once Human and Rust are similar in their survival mechanics, like resource gathering, base building, and PvP combat. However, Once Human stands out with its post-apocalyptic setting, a stronger narrative, and faction-based gameplay that adds layers of story and alliance dynamics.
If you enjoy Rust but want a game with more story elements and faction conflicts, Once Human offers a unique twist.
What is the point of the game Once Human?
The purpose of Once Human is to survive in a harsh, post-apocalyptic world by managing essential resources, crafting tools, and building safe havens.
You need to engage in combat, align with factions, and navigate both PvE and PvP challenges, all while uncovering the story behind the world’s downfall and growing stronger through progression.
