#Dune Awakening assessment – An exhilarating journey in a lethal but lovely desert – Destructoid

Whereas many Survivalcraft and MMO video games have come earlier than it, Dune: Awakening is a outstanding instance of an expertise that builds off preexisting concepts and transforms them into its personal id.

Dune: Awakening takes place on the earth of Arrakis, a harsh desert planet inhabited by scavengers, scrap assets, and dangerous sandworms. You, then again, are a overseas prisoner despatched to Arrakis to be taught extra concerning the Fremen’s disappearances. All of the whereas, you’re compelled to outlive on this planet by gathering assets, avoiding its numerous risks, and both working alongside or preventing different gamers.

Even past gaming, it takes a longtime story, Dune, and builds off it utilizing trendy recreation mechanics and exquisite visuals whereas nonetheless sustaining its core concept. Whether or not you develop a civilization with quite a few different gamers or go on a solo journey and fend for your self is fully as much as you, providing you with a couple of completely different paths that can have an effect on your expertise.

I’ve been a fan of MMOs and survival video games for many of my life. I began with Runescape in early 2006, with Dune: Awakening being the newest entry in my ever-growing library. I used to be largely a solo participant, making my playthrough tougher but exhilarating as I labored further laborious to assemble all of the assets I wanted to remain alive, not to mention progress. If you need an MMO with gradual development and a noticeable lack of hand-holding except for preliminary tutorial pop-ups, Dune: Awakening shall be proper up your alley from the beginning.

At its core, Dune: Awakening is all about survival. Whereas there are questlines that dive extra into Arrakis’ setting and the circumstances of the Fremen’s disappearance, survival is your prime precedence till you get your bearings and set up your self sufficient to securely discover with out stressing about water and shelter. When you’re there, you may get to the enjoyable half: the hazard.

All the things about Arrakis is harmful. It’s a desert, so you might want to consistently take into consideration having sufficient water readily available to remain alive and discovering shade to keep away from burning to a crisp. Alongside the way in which, chances are you’ll unintentionally come across a scavenger’s base of operations and should combat or run away from them. Even should you survive that, there’s the prospect of a sandworm discovering you and gobbling you up or a sandstorm killing off your character, making you lose every thing readily available. It’s unforgiving and merciless, which is strictly what makes Dune: Awakening so fascinating.

The place there’s enjoyable, although, there are some downsides. Dune: Awakening closely depends on gunplay when preventing enemies, with melee being a considerably viable, albeit noticeably weaker possibility. NPCs additionally aren’t significantly troublesome to battle, making them extra of a senseless impediment like in most MMOs. Even the sandworms pose little menace, as you may simply keep away from them until you exit of your manner to attract their consideration.

Dune: Awakening encapsulates every thing I would like from a survival MMO recreation. There’s an attention-grabbing storyline, a wonderful world price exploring, and a few grindy points to maintain me enjoying for so long as I would like. If I’m solely restricted to an hour, I can shortly collect some assets and progress by way of a few quests earlier than leaving. If I’m out there all night time, I can get a couple of buddies to tag alongside to construct a large base in the course of the desert and chortle when one among them will get eaten by a sandworm. It has some room for enchancment with its fight, however with some polish, it will probably simply stand among the many greats inside each survival and MMO gaming genres.