Why You Should Play Abiotic Factor - Abiotic Factor Review and Analysis

2024 seems to be going through a bit of a multiplayer game renaissance. With the huge launches of Helldivers 2 and Content Warning, the sustained prevalence of Lethal Company, and even an indie gem like Enshrouded, it's pretty stacked with games you just have to convince your friend group to play with you. Abiotic Factor has elements of almost every one of the games, yet feels quite distinct. I could point out thirty different places where ideas in it come from other games yet it never feels cynical. Abiotic Factor is a game made of games because it just loves games. Already, I've said the g word a bit too much here. You should think about picking up Abiotic Factor and here's why
Normally, when I play an early access title, I go in with a bit more charitability in me. I understand, due to the circumstances of its launch, that I need to cut it a bit of slack when I come across problems. After all, putting that money down is closer to an investment to many than just purchasing a product outright. It's putting a little less cash on the table now to get something much bigger in the future, and you get to watch the game grow while you play. However, early access can also be a risk. When you analyse it, you have to take what you have in front of you, whilst being aware of where it will land in the future, without ever fully believing the game will make it to its end point until it does. Abiotic Factor hasn't just set expectations early on but has given me a sense of fun and adventure rivalling any full release out there. You just need to be prepared for its quirks
An Abiotic Factor is a part of an ecosystem that affects things in the ecosystem but is not itself living. It could be your source of water to keep you hydrated, food to keep you sustained, or those little things that keep your mental health in check. It is what keeps you happy and content. Being what is essentially a mumbo-jumbo faux scientific way of saying the things that keep you alive, this is honestly a perfect name for the game.
It's a survival crafter where you play a scientist who is both trying to keep themself alive and figure out what is going on in the facility they have found themself in. Though, naturally, one might want to compare Abiotic Factor to Subnautica, The Forest, or Don't Starve (For its story-driven elements, spooky creatures, and grim aesthetic respectively), the single biggest influence here appears to be Half-Life and Abiotic Factor thrives because of it.
Starting with the textures and the general aesthetic, there's a certain polygonal charm to everything, blurry enough to let you piece in the gaps between what things look like and what they are, yet distinct enough to make things out from afar. This is key to a survival game that allows those hectic moments to feel freeing, rather than oppressive. It doesn't feel like a game designed with realistic rock movement as you stop on them, or flashy animations to water that you wade through. It's minimalistic by design, and this allows you to pick up the language of the world almost instantly. With nothing but a very basic tutorial, you are taught that you can use nets to trap enemies, weapons to break boxes, and electricity to power the most important tools and crafting elements. Perhaps the most important thing you are taught is to attempt a way around the problems in front of you.
Though not as complicated or intricate as an immersive sim, Abiotic Factor encourages you to think about your approach as you will die without proper prep work. Despite this, death isn't so punishing that you don't want to immediately get back out there and start searching once more.
Just after the tutorial but before entering your first world, you have to finish creating your character by choosing their career and traits. Each career type comes with certain stat increases, and even some unique items. Some classes are based on damage, while others are based on healing you and your friends. It's a fun bit of character-building that not only works to explain some of the game's systems but works especially well in multiplayer games as it encourages players to be the guy you go to for certain skills. Why waste your time growing plants when the dedicated harvester can grow plants quicker and more efficiently?
My Twitter: / jamesmbentley
Thanks, Abi for letting me hit you with a forklift: / abigaileshannon
Code provided by publisher for critique purposes

[@ICarverI]

Super glad you enjoyed the experience so far! I am one of the Level designers and its been super cool seeing people enjoy the project so far, cheers!

[@RadicallyMisinformed]

Thanks for your comment! Can’t wait to see what the team does with the game next. Congrats on the launch!

[@mrtomato5132]

I'm really enjoying abiotic factor. you guys have made something special! excellent work!

[@capitalplayground]

Hi ICarverI wish I could have sent a personal message, but youtube doesnt allow that. But i saw your comment out of the blue, so yea. I'm just asking for any friendly advice on how you got into level design in a studio? Ive worked on a few small indie projects with a few friends that never really went anywhere I've don't most of the environment and level design in them and developing games around normal work and with friends who are also busy is pretty hard. So I'm just asking for any friendly advice on how you got your foot in the door basically and any tips/advice you might have. Would greatly appreciate it. :)

[@Lewdisu]

This game is amazing and a good portion of it is the level design, good job man

[@ICarverI]

@@capitalplayground Hey I'm not the best to ask on that subject, very similar to you I enjoyed map work as a pass time and was lucky enough to know a handful of the team and they decided to take a chance on me.

[@Yousef71017]

very well put together video man, you make great points. i personally quite like this game, solo, with friends and even with randoms.

[@NicksyBruvs]

This game is amazing but having mouse smoothing/acceleration on as default is a little strange. I turned it off immediately after I realised what was causing the off aim feeling. So much better.

[@beastied6886]

Wow cool video! Thought you were going to have way more subscribers based on the quality. Keep it up!

[@sammdrish]

best video i’ve watched on the game, got me to purchase the game AND sub!

[@RadicallyMisinformed]

That’s very kind of you! Let me know what you think!

[@qvcybe]

i hope that they do add something of a skill tree so you can flesh out builds more that is alway more fun when you can be the odd ball in your friend group who plays a sneaky dude in every game that allows it btw the skill tree idea is more of a idea i had for rewarding the player for being extra clever for figuring thing out and give small effects that change the game up slightly ( aka like slightly better vision at night or other small boost )

[@Fratz.]

good vid hope this channel blows up soon, gj man

[@RadicallyMisinformed]

I appreciate it. Thanks!

[@t3floz]

Good video thinking of buying this. Can I save the game and then keep playing from where I saved it or do you have to restart from the beginning every time? If I play with my friend do we share a save or how does it work?

[@RadicallyMisinformed]

Yep! You can save and continue from that same save when you turn it back on. If you play with a friend, the person hosting the world keeps the save file so the person joining can only play from that save when joining the same world

[@PhantomMelody1876]

i love this game

[@Jarboe420]

Sub'd like your content, keep it up.

[@projectgorgonfan]

2:03 I feel insane bcs I keep seeing the Half life influence mentioned everywhere, and sure, the visuals and setting are a homage to that series, but I feel like it gives the wrong expectation because the gameplay is not at all like those games. I think calling out System shock 2 instead as an inspiration makes more sense

[@RadicallyMisinformed]

System Shock 2 is a fair example, though I think that could also set the wrong expectations too! I think I very intentionally move away from saying “this is basically Half Life” and try to move towards “this element is like Half Life” and I think Half Life comparisons go deeper than just the aesthetic too. The way Abiotic handles atmosphere, the structure of its story elements, and even some of its enemy designs feel reminiscent to me (though i was cautious of spoiling too much of the surprise of the game) I think Half Life felt like a grounding point for the way I wanted to tackle the video but I could easily do an entirely different video about System Shock and the games that inspired modern day immersive sims! Looking forward to trying out the enhanced edition of the second game!

[@NORKIE]

NO! PLEASE! IM WITH THE SCIENCE TEAM!

[@kirshak7007]

I enjoy Abiotic so much, so did Helldivers2 but SONY ruined it, I pray to god Abiotic will stay away from Corporate overlords

[@INoahZI]

Dont worry. Psn is optional now for good. While AH is trying to get the countries unblocked from steam

[@dubbybeats]

spoilers man wtf, good review until you start talking about the later enemies

[@RadicallyMisinformed]

Apologies for spoiling anything on you. I intentionally left out any information on enemies or environments that aren’t already in promotional material on the Steam page, trailers for the game, and Abiotic Factor’s own social media accounts. However, I acknowledge you may not have seen them prior There’s still plenty in the game I didn’t touch on so people can discover it themselves

[@dubbybeats]

@@RadicallyMisinformed all good man I never watched any of the trailers or anything so I just assumed we were supposed to figure stuff out on our own.

[@YoRepLay]

Conetent warning is ass . Lethal comapny and abiotic factor are on top

[@frezzypop4973]

Eh content warning has the ability to record the funny moments of these games and it’s just a flanderized version of these games😊