'Grounded' Xbox preview: This Pixar-styled survival game is actually amazing, terrifying

Grounded Screens Source: Windows Primal

Grounded is an upcoming survival game from Obsidian, known for The Outer Worlds, Pillars of Eternity, Fallout New Vegas, and diverse other class-A RPGs.

Grounded is Obsidian'due south first foray into the first-person survival genre, although the house'due south experience with showtime-person games and RPGs is pervasive throughout the small slice we experienced in the game's airtight tech examination on Xbox I.

Grounded was something on the periphery of my radar since its initial reveal, every bit a fan of survival games and Obsidian in general. I didn't anticipate, though, how far upward my list of nearly anticipated games information technology would move after going hands-on. I think Grounded could exist a hit, and hither's why.

A microscopic struggle for survival

Grounded

It's a large globe out in that location

Grounded is Obsidian Amusement's latest title, offering a unique survival experience where the player is the size of an ant, and everything in the lawn wants to make you its side by side meal.

Pixar brought to life

Grounded Baseball Source: Windows Central

At that place's really no other fashion of describing Grounded — it feels like being inside an interactive Pixar movie, cover to comprehend. The cutesy blitheness style Obsidian has leveraged is a constant source of delight. Tiny Aphids will bounce up into the air and then scurry away in fear at the outset sight of y'all, and worker ants will curiously probe you lot with their antenna.

I had no idea how terrifying a ladybug could be until Grounded.

Similar whatsoever good Pixar movie, though, the art delivery certainly has a dark side. Grounded uses day and night cycles like whatsoever self-respecting survival game, and in the sunset, the lawn backdrop can get harrowing. Spiders go on the chase, with scarlet glowing eyes that scream just of murderous intent, equally they barrel towards you through the grassy forest. Some of the game's story beats also call upon you to traverse clandestine tunnels too, lit only by torches cobbled together with twigs and tree sap.

Indeed, the use of lighting is excellent in elevating the game's mood, from the sun rays flooding between the towering grass blades, to the comforting glow of a night time camp burn down, as you cook aphid meat. Globules of water bounce effectually, reflecting the light every bit they fall. I suspect you'll see a lot of comparisons to Pixar in other previews — you can really feel the love in this game's presentation.

Grounded Stuff Source: Windows Central

Grounded also has dynamic music which ramps upward and down based on the state of affairs. Being chased by a giant spider? You're going to feel that cinematic tension urging your escape through the game'southward music. On the flip side, at that place'south an virtually Minecraft-like tranquility when you lot're simply exploring, twinged with a sense of curiosity and, perhaps, potential danger.

Things take on new life when yous're shrunk down to an ant's perspective

The demos timed out inside thirty minutes each fourth dimension yous play, putting a limit on how much you can practise in a single session. I have tried to explore the game's "lawn" map, running every bit far as I could to each corner, and I have yet to find the cease. The game'southward story seems to revolve around some scientific discipline experiment gone wrong, every bit the garden is filled with strange home-fabricated aparatus, although much of information technology was disabled for the demo. In my excursions I found a wolf spider den, filled with webs, a giant pond swarming with gnats, towering litter landmarks, and endless mitt-crafted grassy forests, total of opportunities for exploration.

I have no fashion of knowing just how big the game volition be at launch, but the setting alone feels incredibly unique, and surprisingly underserved past the medium. The last time I can retrieve feeling this sense of marvel and Honey I Shrunk the Kids-mode nostalgia was playing Toy Story on the PlayStation i, or one of Unreal Tournament 99's modded maps. It'due south surprising how seemingly mundane things take on new life when you're shrunk down to an ant's perspective, and that includes the threats as well. I had no idea how terrifying a ladybug could be until Grounded.

Remembering that ladybugs are predators

Grounded Screens Source: Windows Central

My very first idea when playing Grounded was that "it feels similar ARK: Survival evolved without the jank." Although admittedly, I haven't played ARK for a few years, I had expected Grounded to feel less polished than it does, with surprisingly high-quality beast animations and A.I. behavior, and a robust crafting arrangement that feels deep and ripe for expansion.

Aphids wait weirdly appetizing in this game.

Although I have nowhere almost fully explored Grounded's map, the game is full of all sorts of creatures and critters, each with unique behaviors. Aphids move around the map creating honeydew, fleeing vertically up blades of grass or skittering away on the ground in fear of your presence. Ladybugs mostly movement around hunting aphids, but if you upset them, they volition come up at you like a mad dog, relentlessly persuing until they can chomp yous to death.

Worker ants will probe y'all inquisitively, but simply attack in retaliation, and they'll swarm you with their friends if there are any nearby. Spiders roam around the map attacking other insects, leaving web traps effectually that can get you stuck if you're non conscientious. In that location likewise mites, stinkbugs, gnat swarms, and other creatures that will give yous a bad solar day if you're caught off guard.

I was impressed with the general quality of the A.I. behavior, although there could be some improvements. A ladybug I was contesting got very stuck on the terrain, assuasive me to slowly stab it to expiry. I was impressed past the fashion gnats and other insects swarm effectually yous, though, rather than simply chase yous in a robotic line equally seen in other similar games. As well the gulf in quality between the insect animations and the human animations is strangely large.

The aphids and other insects have tons of personality with their movements, but the human characters are rigid and move unnaturally. Information technology wouldn't matter if you planned to play entirely in commencement-person style, but since this is a co-op game, yous'll be seeing other players strangely wobble around with their movements and attacks. This is one expanse I'd dearest to run across Obsidian put more effort into.

Grounded Stuff Source: Windows Primal

Once you have murdered a bunch of bugs, you tin can take their parts and use them to craft armor and other items. The more powerful the bug, the more than powerful the armor, Monster Hunter-style, with starting sets fabricated up of emmet giblets. You as well need to manage hunger and thirst, as such, you'll be drinking raindrops off of leaves, or purifying your own water from puddles and other sources. You lot'll also be chowing downwards on insect meat, considering beggars can't exist choosers, I suppose. Aphids look weirdly appetizing in this game, though.

To round out my session, I built a modest shack with a cooking stove, made from grass "planks" using the game's surprisingly-robust edifice system. Fortnite kids will feel correct at domicile hither, or at to the lowest degree, if their home has giant homo-eating spiders in it.

Big things in small packages?

Grounded Stuff Source: Windows Primal

Grounded is existence built by a comparatively smaller squad at Obsidian, but it already seems to have huge potential. The edifice mechanics will be familiar with anyone who has e'er played a game like ARK or Conan Exiles, and the art way will appeal to younger gamers who are familiar with things like Fortnite, or even Disney Pixar movies. It might not be as "hardcore" as some of its contemporaries, but I experience similar I've barely scratched the surface of what seems to be a far deeper game than I'd previously expected.

If Microsoft's long-tail back up of games similar Sea of Thieves and State of Decay 2 is whatsoever indication, I feel equally though Grounded's unique setting and creative arts and crafts 'em up-manner gameplay is ripe for endless expansion. The setting is uniquely under-utilized for gaming in full general, and seeing things from a bug's perspective has truly endless potential. Praying mantis boss battles? Angry gecko smashing up your fortress? New crafting recipes and technologies? Tiny angling mechanics? Truly, this came could go anywhere, and it'south one I think whatever survival game fan should rigorously keep an center on.

Pint-sized survival

Grounded

It's a big world out at that place

Survival games are typically set in exotic locations, merely this ane takes place in your very own back yard ... admitting with a small twist.

Grounded

Master

Grounded: Everything You Need to Know
Grounded: Is it adept?
Grounded: Beginner'southward Guide
Grounded: List of creatures
Go Grounded's all-time weapon
Grounded: How to get the level two axe/hammer

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