Scavenger SV-4 Review 2021: Alien Isolation meets Duskers

Scavenger SV4 is one of the most unique and immersive indie games that I've come across. It's basically Duskers in first person, and it's absolutely worth checking out.
In this review I'll be highlighting what makes this game so special, by telling you about one of the many stories that are to be found in Scavenger SV4. Find it on Steam here:
store.steampowered.com/app/77...
"Scavenger SV-4 is a highly replayable atmospheric first-person science fiction game. Part simulator, part roguelike, it has elements of action, combat, resource management, and a dash of horror. It is not quite like any game you have played before."

[@patrikohrnell1336]

Found this one by accident a couple of years ago. Have spent well over a hundred hours on it, mainly trying to find and use some of the more exotic items in the game. Not going to spoil anything by telling you what, but there are a lot of fun stuff to equip on your rover! And a lot of ways to die... Edit: Went back and checked. 450+ hours played. Not sure if game active but paused counts into those hours, so lets say at least 350+ hours. I *like* this game!

[@horoarch6052]

Hi, Chuck! I got tipped off to the existence of this video by Patrik. I've got to say - thanks for taking the time to review the game I wrote, and for putting together such a well produced video outlining the flow of play. I'm glad that you found it worth your time as a player, and worth recommending as a reviewer. Made my day. Cheers!

[@ChucksIndieGalaxy]

@@horoarch6052 I'm glad to hear it, thanks for making such a great game! Somebody recommended Scavenger SV-4 on the channel and I'm glad they did, it's truly a hidden gem on Steam. The video has seen a step up in views recently so here's hoping it brings more Scavenger SV-4 players over time :)

[@gloverelaxis]

@@horoarch6052 Bless you for making such a creative, original, and artistically bold work of game design. I really enjoyed my time with SV-4 and I wish you the best with whatever you choose to work on next

[@hopelessdecoy]

​@@horoarch6052 I don't have 300 hours but the 3 or 4 plays I did left a mark on me. Amazing game!!

[@acasualweeb.2394]

The interesting part i found out about this game while trying to get the music out of it: You might be thinking that menu music is just an MP3 or a WAV laying in the resources folder that game just plays back. Nope, the Music folder actually has separate OGGs for every instrument: Bassline.ogg, Choir.ogg and so on. There are also 5 .bat files that contain different mixes of said files. The game is not just playing a single music file. It's mixing and playing the different audio files for different music in real time while you're watching the menu. Amazing!

[@ChucksIndieGalaxy]

Thanks for sharing, I had no idea!

[@nacuset1717]

I've been waiting years for a game like this. Planet exploration, you can move inside your ship, manage and repair systems, etc. Alien visitors is something that I didn't see coming XD an awesome feature. This title is a fantastic discover. Great video!

[@ChucksIndieGalaxy]

Glad you like it! I had a lot of fun with this one as well.

[@ioele1000]

Reminds me of Rodina. I've also been heavily waiting for a space game that has you managing the systems on your ship, possibly with a crew, as well as exploring and fighting in the galaxy. There was another game that which actually had multiplayer but I can't remember the name. Unfortunately it was pretty barren as these games tend to be.

[@deviloon8611]

Ngl it reminded me of outer wild a bit

[@gofr36]

U should try to play barotrauma U pilot submarine on europa (Jupiters moon)

[@gofr36]

Outer wilds is a great game too

[@johnlesterr8927]

As someone who played Duskers for quite a while. I can definitely see where the game will bust your balls open if you mess up though messing up is entirely your fault. Deaths do not feel unfair in duskers unless there is a radiation leak in a critical room. Still you hear the ship creaking so to an extent the death and damage is still your fault. I assume this indie title is on steam.

[@ChucksIndieGalaxy]

Yeah I found Duskers to be slightly more punishing although both games rely on the player making the right decisions to keep their drones and themselves alive. It's on Steam, I've now linked the Scavenger SV-4 store page in the video description for anyone that's interested in trying it out.

[@johnlesterr8927]

@@ChucksIndieGalaxy Oh god Duskers will absolutely have one of the devs fly out on first class plane tickets just to kick you in the balls personally after mistyping "D4" when you meant to say "D3". Unless you have a drone with Turret on it you are just doomed too.

[@Nodjia]

This game reminds me so much of "Starflight" for the genesis. I loved that game so much as a child, and the rover, and supply management is really interesting in this game.

[@nomad_boreal]

Just got back into Duskers last night after a one-year hiatus. I've been craving a first-person version, and it looks like this game is as close as it gets. Also I agree that indie devs are doing the right thing by emphasizing gameplay over high-end graphics - something that many AAA companies seem to have long forgotten. Anyway, thank you for the recommendation. I'll go grab this on Steam now.

[@RogueBeatsARG]

Reminds me of an old space game, where you could explore planets on foot and it was pretty dark and creepy, i think was like an old DOS game tho

[@TheYvian]

Never even heard about this game before, thanks for spreading the word about this. Looks interesting for sure!

[@advorak8529]

The remote control first person of a rover, outfitting the same, suffering damage, fuel/power limitations, ... does remind me of Carrier Command, though CC is having more than one rover at a time and allows you commanding them from top-down map view, RTS style, on top of FPS style.

[@casedistorted]

Master Chief is the perfect example of opposite Ludonarrative dissonance. The reason I love that story so much and the gameplay is that Master Chief is every FPS player's dream, he is stronger, faster, more heroic, and can do everything you want in a video game. But in the story he is also those things because he is one of a kind. This video reminds me of the reason I got into watching KZbin back in 2006-2012, original videos that got me loving video games again.

[@LittlealxYT]

just for making me aware of this game, you've gained a permanent subscriber. you have a great narration voice also. cheers.

[@ut8072]

the atmosphere and graphics is so unique man. Just wished it was more horror orientated.

[@oscarlove4394]

imo immersion is the little things. i remember playing this janky alien game where you scan for aliens or ufos, it was mostly boring but also very immersive and suprisingly compelling. It was the little chores that really made the game, you scanned by aligning giant radar dishes, but occasionally they'd get out of wack and you'd have to hop into your golf cart for a bit to go tweak them by a degree or two. Not to mention that while you where working at the station you could put on some light music and get yourself a cup of coffee, it doesn't do anything but it was nice.

[@derekdrake8706]

Imo, immersion is achieved by tactile gameplay. Give players buttons, switches, toggles, levers and have those things have some kind of corresponding animation. Immersion is mostly User Interface, Animations and a decent story doesn't hurt either. Ray tracing not required.

[@shadowfax743]

Original space hulk

[@Zeithri]

Welp you sold me on this game just as Mandalore sold me on Duskers. This looks incredible.

[@Atova]

I need to try this!

[@Atova]

6:25 actually, I’m good 😂

[@patrikohrnell1336]

Hi Chuck! Just wanted to make sure that you noted that my last comment got an answer aimed at you from the games creator!

[@ChucksIndieGalaxy]

Thanks for letting me know! I would have missed it since I only get notifications for primary comments and direct mentions

[@danyael777]

It reminds me a bit of 'Consortium' if someone happens to know it.

[@ChucksIndieGalaxy]

I haven't tried Consortium yet but I'll check it out, thanks

[@gloverelaxis]

I should really give that another playthrough

[@CrumblingLeech]

This is a sick game, kinda gives me extraction shooter + Duskers vibes

[@timidapollo]

Another interesting indie game to try out, Cheers.

[@asdfgh6906]

Brilliant review

[@theloweffortchannel7211]

This game looks like it can take place in Babylon 5, with you as part of the EA Explorer corps or the IPX

[@theairacobra]

My character backstory was so depressing I just got a laser gun to blow the ship up

[@nikitaelizarov7444]

Since you asked for it, have you played Event[0]? I searched your channel and haven't seen a mention of it. But it's my guess you're gonna dig it. Granted, it is not the same type of gameplay, as here, and it is much more linear but to me it is a harbinger of an awesome genre that is yet to come.

[@ChucksIndieGalaxy]

I've picked up Event[0] but I haven't gotten round to playing it yet. Definitely on my list though, thanks for the recommendation!

[@nikitaelizarov7444]

@@ChucksIndieGalaxy Can't wait for your reaction! I've played it two times in a row (it is quite short -- about two hours) and four times in total. I'd call this new coming genre "an AI giving you a mindfuck." Now, with GPT-3 and the following tech, the possibilities are finally open.

[@gloverelaxis]

Event[0] is a really, really unorthodox concept pulled off very well imo. I absolutely *hate* IF with open text prompts and almost every extant form of natural-language human-computer interface, and I still found Event[0] really engaging.

[@gabrote42]

0:07 Either this or Duskers. Meaninglessness of survival without living included :D 13:05 I have known this game for years and it's amazing. You could have also reset landing zone and ran in another direction if you wanted to risk the rads :D

[@raidermaxx2324]

i went on Steam to purchase a copy of this neat game, and to my astonishment apparantly i already own it somehow.. and i dont remember buying it... anyways ok! cool! thannks for the recommendation!

[@ChucksIndieGalaxy]

That has occasionally happened to me as well, perhaps something you picked up on a sale or a bundle purchase. You should definitely give it a go, great game

[@raidermaxx2324]

@@ChucksIndieGalaxy yea im absolutely firing it up!! its right up my wheelhouse, its good to add your channel to splattercats in my rotation, im getting reminded of so many indie games that i somehow purchased real cheap at some point but then forget about, because a game like Dyling light 2 or something similar would also drop at the same time and i would forget about the indie game in the process! lol.. but anyways good times, i appreciate when you guys revist these games. I never even knew Project Zomboid which i bought years ago, bounced off it the first time i played it, and then splattercat fired it up and had new 3D models and the game is fire!!! lol Indie games are the future man. Keep up the good work! Not too many of you guys in this niche.. :)

[@TCrag]

Great video.

[@panickal]

Interesting game. Thanks for making this video.

[@NotLordAsshat]

What did this kind of immersive horror and mystery for me was (and still is) Voices of the Void. Gathering and processing deep-space signals while maintain your forest base and your own needs, all the while constantly concerned about paranormal stuff happening.

[@ChucksIndieGalaxy]

Interesting, I haven't seen it before. I just had a look online, seems to be similar to Signal Simulator?

[@Mogi06]

​@@ChucksIndieGalaxyits an upgrade, try it!

[@Mogi06]

ive beat the game and i want more! do u have any games like it?

[@MinecraftAOE]

I've been thinking.. perhaps a game like this one on the scale of that of EvE.. I'd be fine with those graphics, like Star Citizen but more easily attainable, why aren't we funding this?

[@daminguez]

Thx! :)

[@ARStudios2000]

This is like a mix of everything I wanted from a scifi horror game.

[@shygybeatsTAC]

awesome vid

[@kolinako6872]

very unique game

[@barrettkepler7618]

I noticed that there are placeholders in the backstory for random generation. And it's interesting For example, your hero may be denied a report about an unexplored planet for various reasons. Too long, too short or no pictures Who the hell will notice this?

[@grimgrahamch.4157]

Would it be easy to install texture packs? Because I'd rather have a cleaner (not necessarily higher quality) than something purposeful retro.

[@MrAmad3us]

I love this kind of games 😁 reminds me of interstellar Rift

[@roberine7241]

the game is on sale until the end of october

[@wombat9793]

I really wish I could find another game with SV-4's research/exploration gameplay, was wondering if you'd seen anything like that?

[@ChucksIndieGalaxy]

Have a look at Duskers, another great indie title. Also check out this discussion on Steam: steamcommunity.com/app/779590/discussions/0/2919976282217172947/

[@Richthofen100]

How do you get radiation when you are not even in the rover?

[@ChucksIndieGalaxy]

It's been a long while since I played Highfleet, but it's something I may revisit in the future

[@AHHEUS]

Duskers

[@MarcusJGrey]

You sound awfully South African for a Singaporean!

[@ChucksIndieGalaxy]

Indeed! Grew up in SA :)

[@CeceliPS3]

I don't mind old or bad graphics at all. Not a bit. But this huge green mouse cursor they chose... Jesus!! Why????

[@karry299]

It's not artifically padded, instead it's artifically starved. Cant even read item descriptions in peace because of the damn radiation ticking away. That turned me off more than anything else. The planet map seems HUGE, but you;ll never know for sure, since you can only explore a very tiny patch of the surface before death.