The survival MMO Population Zero is celebrating its early access release on Steam today, May 5, 2020. How does the title from Enplex Games stand out from the genre competition and who should take a look? MeinMMO takes a look at Population Zero.
This is Population Zero: The survival MMO Population Zero from developer Enplex Games LLC started early access on Steam on May 5.
As a surviving colonist, you have crashed on the alien planet Kepler. Your task is to repair your reactor and restart the sleep capsule within 168 real hours, or 7 days. If you fail, you will turn into a monster.
These are the features: At first glance, Population Zero may seem like a normal survival MMO where you have to gather resources, craft equipment, and try to survive, but it offers some cool features that go beyond the genre standard:
- Action-based combat in PvP and PvE modes
- A story that guides you through the game
- A perk system to build your character individually
- 2 factions that you can switch between through quests. These factions also influence the player’s biology
- Global level system to level up your account
This is your player account: Once you create a character, you can only play the PvE mode. This mode allows you to experience the basics of the game for 24 hours and gather initial impressions.
When the 24 hours are up, you will receive experience points for your player account based on the tasks you have completed. As your account level progresses, you unlock the other modes and additional features.
If you don’t want to wait for the 24 hours, you can also give up the current “world” and immediately receive experience points.
This is how your account develops up to level 10 – unlock modes
This can be unlocked: Up to level 10, you can unlock the following:
- Level 1: Standard PvE mode
- Level 2: Standard PvP mode
- Level 3: Unlock crafting of cocoons
- Level 4: Base building level 1
- Level 5: True story mode
- Level 6: Base building level 2
- Level 7: PvP mode with only one life
- Level 8: New perks for your character
- Level 9: Base building level 3
- Level 10: Elite status
Anyone who wants to see everything must repeatedly play the PvE or PvP mode.
This is what sets Population Zero apart
This is the special aspect: If you die too often, your mutation gauge will increase. When it is full, you will eventually turn into an all-powerful monster.
The so-called Voids are very powerful. As a monster, you can easily take out other players and thus cause chaos and destruction. Only groups can stand a chance against you.
These are the factions: Later in the game, you can join one of the two factions, the Technocrats or Xenobiotes. The Technocrats are more human in nature, while the Xenobiotes fully embrace mutation.
Both factions offer you their own advantages:
- Technocrats have better building and crafting skills and can create advanced tools
- Xenobiotes use plants for crafting and ally with creatures instead of killing them. In certain biomes, they can build and create objects faster
Who is Population Zero suitable for?
Then you should take a look: All survival fans who want to experience a “science fiction” story can take a look at the title. Those who are less interested in pure sandbox and prefer to pursue quests and PvE elements will be satisfied with the PvE mode or the true story mode.
If you want to play the bad guy and crush other players as a mutated monster, Population Zero is also worth a look.
The developers also state that their title is suitable for beginners and hardcore players alike.
Then you should stay away: It’s better to stay away from the survival MMO if you don’t like the genre or early access isn’t your thing.
The game is in an early version and there may be several bugs at launch. Also, some grinding is required to gradually unlock all features.
This is how long early access lasts: Whether the special features and the story will keep players engaged in the long term will show during the early access phase. This is supposed to last at least 9 months and introduce more regions, resources, clothing items, game modes, and even new mechanics.
Currently, you can purchase Population Zero on Steam for €23.23 instead of €27.99. If you are looking for other survival MMOs, we recommend taking a look at the 20 best survival titles.
