![]() ![]() Captured on Nintendo Switch (Handheld/Undocked)īefore we get too into the weeds, we think it bears mentioning that this re-release on modern platforms brings with it the opportunity to finally play the game KOTOR II was originally envisioned as before the demands of the deadline necessitated that the dev team cut content. As a standalone that was evidently rushed to market, KOTOR II may overall feel weaker than its predecessor, but it also does a fantastic job of maintaining the high standards previously set in storytelling and gameplay. Considering that an entirely new development team of just seven people took over for this entry while still meeting that narrow deadline, it’s truly a miracle that the final product turned out as good as it did. Much akin to how Majora’s Mask came out barely a year after Ocarina of Time changed the game, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II was fired out as soon as developer Obsidian Entertainment could possibly make it and released a little less than a year and a half after its predecessor. While the visuals themselves get repetitive pretty fast (you’re going to see a lot of dried grass and dirt mounds), Grounded uses the full spectrum to support its “sideways angle on everyday objects” art style.After Bioware's Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic wowed audiences with its in-depth storytelling and RPG mechanics in 2003, publisher LucasArts decided that a sequel would have to be made as soon as possible. Grounded is a vibrant game, with verdant greens grass, deep brown dirt and crystal-clear dewdrops, contrasted against harsh purple soda cans and angry red ants. The most striking part of Grounded’s visuals is its use of color. It’s easy to imagine a slightly more directed version of Grounded, where the story complements the gameplay rather than just providing a distant carrot and entirely too much stick. ![]() It’s a huge missed opportunity, particularly since Grounded does not do a good job of introducing players to the general gameplay loop, or the myriad systems therein. While you need to do both, the “survival” part of the game seems largely unconcerned with the “story” part, and vice versa. You survive by crafting shelters and tools you advance the story by seeking out laboratories. The trouble is that the gameplay and the narrative never intersect in any meaningful way. The major difference in Grounded is that the “how did we get here?” mystery plays a big role in the plot, and you’ll have to track down a series of tiny laboratories to unearth a slightly satirical “science-gone-wrong” story. Four teenagers get shrunk down and thrown into a suburban backyard, where they must match wits with environmental hazards and belligerent insects in order to survive. If you’ve ever seen the 1989 comedy Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, then you pretty much know the story in Grounded as well. I didn’t mind the difficulty, or having to overcome obstacles I did mind that the only way to learn this was through a grueling trial-and-error process that cost me hours of progress. After a rare plot mission directed me toward a hidden lab, I sought it out - only to find that the entrance was on a completely different side of the map, hidden behind dozens of impossibly tough insects, and requiring all sorts of traversal items that I didn’t have yet. ![]() Improving your gear, shelter and survival skills over time can feel rewarding, especially since newer items often offer a substantial benefit over older ones.Įven when you know where you need to go, exploring the map can be a joyless slog. You come back to your base (which you can also build up and customize via crafting), make better items, and repeat the process. ![]() Slaying tougher insects nets you tougher hides going further afield can get you more exotic plants, such as blueberries or dandelions. You craft a few basic resources, such as a pebble ax and some clover armor, then go out exploring. You can analyze the resources you find to gain “Raw Science” (essentially experience points), which teaches you new recipes over time. Just about everything you find in Grounded - plants, pebbles and insect parts, primarily - is part of at least one crafting recipe. But once you get past the initial thrill of discovery, gathering food and water is simply a bit of busywork that you have to do every day.Ĭrafting is the most substantial part of the game, but whether you find the process engrossing or tedious depends a lot on your tolerance for the genre. Roasted meat and fresh dewdrops work much better, particularly when you find a way to store additional supplies and carry them with you. Raw insect meat is a no-go, as is stagnant water you find lying on the ground. At first, figuring out what you can eat and drink feels rewarding. ![]()
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