Grounded (PS5) Review
Obsidian Entertainment takes an unexpected twist by crafting an intense survival experience for Grounded, taking players deeper than expected into what was once their familiar backyard and turning it into a perilous terrain that tests your mettle as much as it charms and frustrates.
Glitches and Gritters in Our World
Grounded’s core gameplay focuses on crafting. Grounded follows a familiar cycle within survival games — harvest, refine, and build — but when seen through an ant’s eyes the everyday becomes extraordinary! Craft a massive spear out of an ordinary dandelion stem or construct an impressive castle from spider webs! Repurposing backyard debris keeps gameplay intriguingly fresh as blades of grass become bridges or pebbles become tools.
Crafting Can Be Repetitive
While crafting systems are comprehensive and robust, they can become tedious over time. As I pointed out, crafting in Grounded is often seen as an “endless grind.” Materials need to be collected then basic tools constructed before more materials need to be acquired for advanced tools — this cycle repeats itself endlessly until finally your first base has been constructed, however, the process becomes less appealing after each iteration is finished.
Small Technical Glitches at Launch
Technical glitches, expected at launch, can sometimes detract from an enjoyable gaming experience, as bugs — the physical ones, not software ones — become trapped in environments, with their health reset after you attack them and making strategic planning more challenging than planned. I hope they will fix the issues fast as occasionally, building bases may become more about exploiting “glitches” than actual planning (although, worth noting, not game-breaking). Minor, but pesky, these moments still interrupt immersion into this fascinating miniature universe.
Tales from the Fields of Flowers and Grasses
As many players point out, Grounded takes an unconventional approach to its narrative. Though there may be vague traces of an emerging conspiratorial plot buried among audio logs and environmental clues, these don’t engage us enough; where it truly excels is exploration and survival — two aspects it excels at doing well. Anyone should buy Grounded as its true strength lies in this shift of perspective — in making familiar objects seem strange and dangerous, each step carrying with it potential danger and every discovery an exciting moment of surprise and discovery. Grounded embodies this constantly shifting perspective with its constant feeling of vulnerability within familiar environments.
Combat and the Co-op Conundrum
Combat is the main dish of Obsidian’s Grounded and it is a permanent state. Some players might find the constant tension tiresome. While the world itself is gorgeously rendered, its hostility can often feel relentless — there are few “safe zones” where one can rest their breath or strategize effectively, and although combat is functional enough, relying solely on basic dodges and parries without providing depth in strategy playback. Make from this whatever you want: probably those inclined to a slower-peace kind of combat will have a different opinion than those that thrive in such situations of continuous stress.
Is it an RPG Survival Game?
Some reviewers often compare Grounded to an RPG rather than a survival game, which does contain elements of truth: its combat system requires strategic thought when playing co-op mode; sharing these experiences and victories brings additional pleasure; however, its lack of character development or an engaging narrative keeps Grounded firmly anchored as a first-person survival title. I hope this will not stop you from playing it, especially if you buy cheap Xbox games. So, in short, Grounded may feel like an RPG at times but it does not have the mechanics to sustain it. It is not.
Conclusion: An Engaging First-Person Survival Experience
Grounded is an endearing and creative survival experience, shrunk down but wide-eyed at what could happen next. Though some aspects could benefit from more depth — more engaging stories or smoother gameplay would do well here — overall this game makes a compelling and accessible addition to its genre. Be ready for some grindy encounters (with spiders!) while simultaneously marveling at this miniature universe from new angles; just bring bug spray for any glitchy issues you come across along the way!
