Once Human, the new free-to-play open-world survival crafting game from Starry Studio and NetEase Games, had the potential to be something special. A bizarre post-apocalyptic world filled with mutated creatures and a unique blend of genres – survival, crafting, MMO elements – promised an engaging experience. However, a closer look reveals a game riddled with questionable design choices, frustrating mechanics, and a grindy slog that quickly extinguishes any initial spark.
A User Agreement Nightmare: A Chasm Between Fun and Privacy
Before we even delve into the gameplay itself, let’s address the elephant in the room – the End User License Agreement (EULA). Once Human’s EULA is an opaque and concerning document. It demands broad permissions, including kernel-level access to your system. Kernel access is a serious intrusion, granting the game the ability to interact with the core functions of your operating system. While some games may require this for anti-cheat measures, Once Human offers no such justification. This also ignores there are better ways to implement anti-cheat than Kernel Level access. This level of access raises serious privacy concerns, and the lack of transparency around its purpose is deeply unsettling.
Graphics: 8
Sound: 6
Controls: 5
Story: 4
Engaging: 5
Overall: 5.6
This is coupled by the inclusion of the EULA giving them permission to demand your Government Issued ID if they believe your account is compromised. But the details that warrant that are scant and a valid cause for concern for many gamers. Security excuses are not a valid reason, as they do not have the information to start with, so anything provided isn’t helping resolve any security issues.
Push-to-Talk Annihilated: Discord and Third-Party Apps Left on Mute
Further fueling these concerns is Once Human’s impact on third-party programs. The game overrides any push-to-talk settings you might have configured for applications like Discord. This effectively disables your ability to seamlessly communicate with friends outside the game, forcing you to rely on Once Human’s potentially unreliable in-game chat system. This is a baffling decision that isolates players and disrupts established communication methods within the gaming community.
Shooting on Point, Enemies on Autopilot: A Combat Conundrum
Once Human’s saving grace, at least initially, is its gunplay. The shooting mechanics feel responsive and satisfying. The variety of weapons, from pistols to rifles, provides some tactical options. However, this glimmer of enjoyment quickly fades as you encounter the game’s enemies. Here’s the problem: they’re laughably weak and about as intelligent as a particularly dull rock.
Combat devolves into a monotonous exercise of pointing and shooting at enemies who stand around like target dummies, offering minimal challenge. Their predictable attack patterns and sluggish movement make them easy prey, even for the most inexperienced players. This lack of enemy variety and AI sophistication quickly renders combat a chore rather than a thrilling test of skill.
Building Frustrations: A Foundation of Clunkiness
The building mechanics in Once Human are another source of disappointment. Placing structures feels clunky and unintuitive. The snapping system, meant to align structures seamlessly, often malfunctions, resulting in misaligned walls, difficult to position tiles, and some objects unable to attach to things they are supposed to. Resource gathering, a crucial aspect of base building, becomes a tedious affair due to the slow collection rates and the sheer amount of materials required for even basic structures.
Furthermore, base destruction feels unearned. Raids by other players, a core feature of the open-world PvP system, often devolve into demolition derbies, with attackers able to quickly reduce your base to rubble. This lack of balance discourages investment in base building, as the time and effort required to build a decent base simply doesn’t justify the risk of it being easily destroyed. The PvE base defense is equally frustrating, as the bases just feel slightly stronger than paper.
A Feast for the Eyes, a Famine for the Storyteller
Visually, Once Human is impressive. The post-apocalyptic world boasts stunning landscapes and detailed environments. The creature designs are grotesque and unsettling, in a good way, adding an unsettling atmosphere. However, the visuals can’t compensate for the game’s narrative shortcomings. The story is a confusing mess, lacking a clear direction or engaging characters. The voice acting, while passable, can’t salvage the poorly-written dialogue and predictable plot beats.
The Grind is Real: Early Access or Early Frustration?
Even in the early stages of the game, the grind becomes a suffocating presence. Basic tasks like gathering resources and crafting essential items take an inordinate amount of time. The inclusion of a sleep mechanic, where your character needs to rest in-game, further exacerbates the grind. This mechanic, often found in hardcore survival games, feels out of place in Once Human and only serves to extend playtime artificially.
Real-time food spoilage adds another layer of unnecessary tedium. Players are constantly forced to scavenge for food or dedicate valuable time to farming, making hunger a constant threat that disrupts the flow of gameplay. Especially since a good portion of your food will spoil between sessions. These mechanics, while seemingly designed to add realism, ultimately add frustration rather than immersion.
Monetization and Microtransactions: A Looming Shadow
While Once Human is free-to-play, the shadow of monetization looms large. The game throws subtle hints at microtransactions, with a premium currency readily available for purchase. It’s easy to imagine the grind becoming even more unbearable without spending real money. This creates a nagging suspicion that the core gameplay loop might be intentionally designed to push players towards microtransactions as a shortcut. To the credit of the developers, they currently are only cosmetic. The suspicion looms large, however, as many free-to-play games start this way.
A World of Potential, Lost in a Maze of Frustration
Once Human had the potential to be a compelling open-world experience. The unique blend of genres, the intriguing setting, and the decent gunplay offered a promising foundation. However, the execution falls far short. The intrusive EULA, the baffling push-to-talk issue, and the overall clunkiness of core mechanics like building and resource gathering create a frustrating experience.
The weak enemy AI and the tedious grind quickly sap the enjoyment out of combat and exploration. While the visuals are impressive, they can’t mask the shallow story and questionable design choices. The looming presence of microtransactions only heightens the suspicion that Once Human prioritizes profit over player experience.
Who Should Play Once Human?
Honestly, it’s hard to recommend Once Human to anyone at its current state. Players seeking a challenging and engaging survival experience with deep crafting mechanics will find themselves sorely disappointed. The presence of a confusing story and shallow characters makes it a poor choice for those looking for a narrative-driven adventure. Fans of open-world PvP might find some fleeting enjoyment, but the unbalanced base raiding and frustrating grind are likely to turn most players away.
Final Verdict: A Once Promising Premise Drowned in Frustration
Once Human is a game overflowing with missed opportunities. Its intriguing concept and beautiful visuals are overshadowed by a multitude of flaws. The intrusive EULA, the frustrating building mechanics, and the relentless grind create a suffocating experience that quickly extinguishes any initial spark of enjoyment. Until the developers address these core issues and inject some much-needed depth into the gameplay loop, Once Human remains a frustrating slog best avoided.