Once Human Review (Android, iOS & PC)

Over time, various platforms have seen a steady influx of free-to-play games. Once Human joins the list of the few free-to-play games that are super immersive. While games like Fortnite and Apex Legends have set high standards in the free-to-play market, Once Human has attracted attention for its unique mix of survival and looter shooter elements. 

Its mix of survival tactics and looter shooter mechanics creates a challenging and rewarding experience. While it offers an exciting and immersive experience, it also has its share of flaws. This review will offer a balanced look at everything Once Human has to offer.

The Apocalypse 

Once Human is set in a world changed by a strange force called Stardust. Now, this force has made everything different and dangerous, creating scary monsters and strange landscapes. Players join the Mayflies, who are trying to stop the spread of Stardust and bring back peace. As you explore, you must keep track of your health, food, and sanity while fighting the supernatural threats created by the Stardust.

The game’s story follows missions and big events in the game world. Players will uncover the mystery behind Stardust and how it changed everything. You must complete quests to clean up corrupted areas, help other survivors, and fight tough bosses. Players slowly learn about the world’s downfall and their part in saving it. The mix of cosmic horror and survival makes for an exciting and immersive game.

With each quest, players go deeper into the story, discovering the origins and effects of Stardust. The journey involves solving puzzles, battling unique monsters, and finding resources to survive. The rich narrative and engaging gameplay keep players hooked as they strive to protect their world from Stardust’s chaos.

Survive the Horror

In Once Human, players experience a mix of survival, crafting, and combat in a world full of cosmic horror. The game is played from a third-person perspective, and players must manage their health, hunger, and thirst while exploring the corrupted world. Gathering resources is essential; you’ll need to craft weapons, tools, and shelter to survive. The crafting system offers over 100 different blueprints, allowing for a wide variety of weapons and gear.

Combat is a key part of the gameplay, featuring a mix of ranged and melee options. The shooting mechanics feel solid, with responsive controls and satisfying feedback. Players will face off against a variety of enemies, including giant bosses with unique attack patterns. These encounters require strategy and quick reflexes, adding a challenging and exciting element to the game. There are also world events where players can team up to take down massive creatures, adding a cooperative aspect to the experience.

Additionally, exploration is rewarded with loot and new areas to discover. Players can build and upgrade their bases using the resources they gather. The game world is divided into different parts, each with its own unique challenges and enemies. There are also dungeons with light puzzles and bosses, offering a change of pace from the open-world exploration. 

The Alliance 

One interesting thing about Once Human is that players can form alliances with factions and other survivors to strengthen their position in the fight against the Stardust corruption. These alliances provide benefits such as access to shared resources, cooperative missions, and protection against hostile forces. Players can collaborate with NPCs and other players to complete quests, defend territories, and engage in strategic gameplay.

Allied factions play a crucial role in the game’s narrative, offering quests and support to aid players in their journey. Working with allies unlocks new abilities, gear, and storylines, enriching the gameplay experience. The relationships forged with allies shape the player’s progress and influence the outcome of key events in the game world.

Now, here is the coolest part: in addition to NPC factions, players can form alliances with other online players, forming clans or groups to tackle more challenging content together. Cooperative play allows for coordinated attacks on powerful enemies and shared exploration of dangerous territories. These alliances foster a sense of community, enhancing the multiplayer aspect of Once Human and promoting teamwork in the face of cosmic horrors.

Pimp Your Arsenal

In Once Human, you can make your weapons better. You can add things to them, like scopes or stronger parts, to make them more effective in fights. Wondering how you can upgrade your weapon? There are many different blueprints to find, so you can create weapons that fit how you want to play. Whether you prefer shooting from far away or fighting up close, you can customize your weapons to match your style.

Finding new blueprints and upgrading your weapons feels rewarding. It gives you reasons to explore and fight enemies. By improving your gear, you become stronger and better prepared for tough challenges. Weapon customization in the game lets you build weapons that suit you best, making your journey through the scary world more exciting and strategic.

On the flip side, customizing weapons might feel like too much work. It takes time to find blueprints and make upgrades, which might not be fun for everyone. Plus, there are so many options that it can be confusing for new players to figure out what works best. Sometimes, customizing your weapons doesn’t seem to change much in how well they work. This can be disappointing if you were hoping for big improvements after putting in a lot of effort. While customization lets you personalize your gear, it can also make the game challenging to enjoy if it feels too much work.

The Nitty Gritty

Once Human is an amazing free-to-play RPG. However, the game isn’t without its flaws. One notable issue is its occasional lack of polish. Despite its solid foundation, you might encounter bugs and technical hiccups that break immersion. Whether it’s in intense multiplayer battles or exploring vast landscapes, these glitches can disrupt your gameplay flow.

Moreover, balancing the game’s mechanics presents another hurdle. While survival and crafting add depth, managing resources and status effects can feel repetitive. This micromanagement, though vital to the game’s survival aspect, might not appeal to everyone. It’s a constant juggle between gathering supplies and progressing through the story, which can sometimes feel too much work.

Furthermore, while Once Human boasts an expansive world with visually striking environments, some areas may feel underdeveloped. Exploring dungeons and open landscapes can reveal environments lacking the depth or narrative richness found in top-tier titles. Similarly, this can diminish the immersive experience players expect in open-world adventures.

Despite these challenges, Once Humans continues to receive updates and community feedback. The developers have time and room to iron out issues, enhance gameplay mechanics, and enrich the game world. It’s a promising title that, despite its rough edges, shows the potential to grow into a more polished and immersive RPG game over time.

The Controversy

The terms of service for Once Human have a few issues that players might find concerning. So far, the community is quite disappointed by the game’s terms and conditions. One major point is the vague wording in some sections, which can lead to misunderstandings about what is and isn’t allowed. For instance, the rules around user-generated content are not very clear, which can cause confusion about what players are permitted to share or create within the game.

Another issue is the strict enforcement policy. The terms give the developers broad authority to ban players for a wide range of activities. While this is intended to maintain a positive gaming environment, the lack of specific guidelines about what constitutes banning certain behaviors can leave players worried about unintentional violations.

In addition, the terms of service mention data collection but do not fully explain what kind of data is collected or how it is used. This lack of transparency can make players uneasy about their privacy and the security of their personal information. Consequently, the game’s Steam reviews have dropped due to issues with terms and conditions. This has affected its overall rating negatively. More detailed and clear information would help build trust and ensure players feel safe while enjoying the game.

Verdict 

Once Human presents a compelling blend of survival and looter shooter elements set in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by alien creatures. The game’s strengths lie in its engaging gameplay mechanics, which allow players to explore, fight, and build in a challenging environment. The integration of Stardust’s powers adds a unique twist, providing players with strategic advantages in combat and exploration.

The best thing about Once Human is that its enemies are unique and imaginative. The game features many supernatural creatures and bosses, each with its own look and behavior. This makes the game stand out from other survival games. Facing these enemies is exciting and keeps players interested and eager to see more.

Overall, the game offers a promising experience for fans of survival and looter shooter games, with its innovative gameplay mechanics and immersive world-building. However, its success ultimately hinges on how well it balances its storytelling with engaging gameplay and community dynamics. Ultimately, for a free-to-play game, Once Human has outdone itself.