The survival MMO Population Zero launched in May on Steam. However, the initial reviews of the game are rather negative. Still, many players hope that the MMO could turn things around.
Update May 7: In a State of the Game on Steam, the developers discussed current issues. Players can already use Steam features to play with friends, and they are currently working on an in-game solution. Technical problems are set to be addressed with upcoming hotfixes.
The questionable DLCs with special equipment have been temporarily disabled, and players who purchased them will be compensated. Additionally, a roadmap for May and June is expected to be released in the coming days.
What are the problems with Population Zero? The new survival MMO was released in early access on Steam on May 5. Currently, it is fully playable and includes a 7-day cycle, one of the features that aims to set the game apart from other titles in the genre.
However, some core content is missing, including many social features such as:
- a promised factions feature that allows players to join a culture
- groups
- guilds
- or even the ability to play with friends on a server. Currently, players are just thrown onto a random server at the start.
This has led to a lot of criticism, as for many players, the joy of an MMO lies in playing together.
In addition, there are technical problems and missing settings options, including no options for custom key bindings. Further criticism has been directed at the current tutorial and the situation with different modes and servers, which is not immediately clear.
As of now, May 5 at 5:30 PM, 64% of the 359 reviews on Steam are negative.
Why is there still hope? In some negative and, above all, positive comments, there are still voices that see great potential in the game.
Because while the mentioned points are currently very serious, they can all be “relatively easily” fixed. The fundamental gameplay, the idea, and the combat system, on the other hand, are praised in many comments.
That is why many hope for a comeback like No Man’s Sky, which was in a questionable state at release and only became a really good game with a later update.
Many good approaches and a lot of potential create hope
What do the positive voices say? The positive reviews of Population Zero especially see a lot of potential for the future. For example, user DasMario*8 compared the current content in his review with a pro and con system:
+The optimization is not as bad as some comments suggest. 1440p, 78 FPS on average at high settings (5700xt)
+The combat system is easy to understand
+The servers are always full. Other players help with killing monsters
+10 hours of playtime and still enough to do
+Talent trees and crafting systems are very user-friendly
+Fun to play-Co-op mode has not yet been released
-Something is missing in the lore at the start
-The DLC is mediocre
The mentioned DLC refers to special equipment that is useful for getting started and will not be lost if you are killed.
The user Ser. Swett primarily writes about the existing potential. He was one of three users in the reviews to draw a comparison with No Man’s Sky:
The game has extremely much potential and I like the idea of the survival MMO. It definitely does not deserve the overwhelmingly bad criticism, as it is just an early access title and also the first game released by Enplex Games LLC [the developer].
Population Zero will probably be like No Man’s Sky … A big flop at launch and then becoming a pretty good game. So yes, just give the game some time […].
The user Darrin, who has already invested 13 hours in Population Zero, writes about the game:
I don’t understand why people give the game such bad reviews. I have been playing for about 6 hours now, and the combat system is quite fun, the grind to get better gear isn’t too bad, and yes, it’s annoying that you can’t form groups right now, but it’s still fun.
The only problem I occasionally encounter is that there are lags and I get kicked out once in a while. Then it takes a while before I can play again, as the servers are apparently overcrowded. And if they really are overcrowded, then it should show you that there are people who like the game and find it worth the price.
However, he also warns against the DLC:
However, stay away from the DLCs. They give you starter equipment that is unique and cannot be destroyed, but I don’t think they are worth the price.
An advantage – The PvE mode: Population Zero offers various modes in which you can play. One is a pure PvE mode where you can theoretically explore the world and complete tasks together with other players. It is where your adventure begins.
Thus, Population Zero already has a certain advantage over its survival competitor Last Oasis, which currently only focuses on PvP.
What other features does PZ offer? In addition to various modes, including one hardcore PvP mode with permadeath, Population Zero also ensures that you become a huge alien if you die too often.
This is meant to allow you a last desperate attempt to complete some tasks and quest goals. However, if you die as a super alien, the entire cycle is over for you, and you have to wait until the restart after 7 days.
A turn would be possible, but communication is needed
What does Population Zero urgently need? In addition to the missing social features, communication is currently also being criticized. Many players would like to know if and when the features will be added.
In social networks and on Steam, the Russian developer Enplex Games has so far been rather reserved. This has also led to criticism on Twitter and in Steam reviews.
However, with appropriate updates and good communication, a turnaround is possible. Because the most important thing is usually the gameplay. And there, Population Zero seems to be rated much better than the reviews would suggest.
