Subnautica is a bona fide classic, boasting a 'Very Positive' (97% positive) rating on Steam. Its unique take on deep-sea exploration offers an experience unlike any other, and the colossal leviathans lurking in the abyss certainly deliver on the tension and primal fear of encountering something truly massive.

Now, its sequel, Subnautica 2, is set to launch its Early Access on Steam on the 15th. It's held the top spot on Steam wishlists for quite some time, and to sweeten the deal, it's launching at the same price as its predecessor: a rather tempting 33,700 KRW. With such anticipation, we dove headfirst into the abyssal depths of Subnautica 2 to see what awaits.

The core experience of the Subnautica series has always been the sensation of exploring the alien ocean. Subnautica 2 stays true to this, delivering a beautiful and awe-inspiring alien environment that forms the backbone of its exploration.

The gameplay loop won't feel entirely alien to returning players. You're a survivor of the crashed Seida ship, diving into the ocean to survive. The survival crafting simulation is central, tasking you with gathering various minerals to craft tools and equipment. Crucially, most tools require you to first discover their blueprints and then 'scan' them, meaning early gameplay is heavily focused on crafting scanners and base-building tools. From there, you'll explore different regions, find new tools, and in the process, combat a strange and eerie alien affliction known as 'Bloom' to gain new abilities.

Subnautica 2's alien world is rendered with a greater degree of realism and beauty than its predecessor. While the first game opted for simpler, cuter fish designs, this sequel presents them with a more direct and lifelike depiction. The flora, coral, and rocks on the ocean floor are vibrantly realised, truly selling the alien and abyssal atmosphere. Your own constructions boast a sleek, modern aesthetic, and when combined with the ocean's surface, sunlight, and particularly the sunset, the visuals become positively cinematic.

If you're worried these detailed visuals might diminish the sense of dread, think again. Visibility rarely extends beyond 20 meters, leaving the surroundings murky. Even with your flashlight, the beam only pierces the immediate darkness. This limited view, coupled with the eerie calls of deep-sea creatures, the oppressive darkness, bizarrely patterned rocks, and the constantly dwindling oxygen supply, creates a visceral shiver down your spine. Yet, the allure of the dark seabed inevitably draws you in, compelling you to explore its depths.

Upon starting Subnautica 2, you're immediately greeted by an AI named 'NOA,' informing you that the planet's atmospheric pressure is a staggering 60 atmospheres. Considering Earth's standard atmospheric pressure is a mere 1 atmosphere, and that this is akin to the crushing pressure found at depths of 600 meters underwater, the protagonist's evolution to overcome such conditions is inevitable.

Indeed, shortly after exploring the ship, you'll encounter a peculiar pink, spore-like organism. Interacting with it grants you the first genetic trait, enhancing your resistance to high pressure. To venture into new regions, you'll need to discover further traits from these 'Angel Beam Jellyfish.' However, after the initial two abilities, the Angel Beam Jellyfish become infected with 'Bloom,' making its eradication a necessary step.

These enhancements and mutations are also implemented through 'Bio-Mods,' allowing you to harness the abilities of various creatures in passive and active forms. Initially, these might be simple perks like dashing faster through water or marking your path. However, as you upgrade your scanner for more detailed observation, you can unlock a variety of Bio-Mods by gathering information from diverse flora and fauna.

For instance, scanning a Water Leech, which can provide hydration, grants you a passive ability to obtain water more easily. Scanning a Jordi, which crackles with electricity, allows you to unleash an 'Electric Discharge' to fend off aggressive creatures. At this point, you've arguably transcended mere humanity.

Subnautica 2 greets players with a menagerie of deep-sea creatures and plants. As with its predecessor, a remarkable variety of species are implemented, and observing them is a significant part of the game's charm. Since the setting is different from the previous game, the ecosystems and their inhabitants are also distinct. While the designs are more lifelike and perhaps less overtly cute than before, smaller species like the Sea Slug, Moon Jelly, Glow Snail, and Spinner Dolphin are quite charming at a glance. Of course, they all serve as valuable energy sources.

The level of interaction has also increased compared to the previous game. For example, Electric Jellies will dart out to drain power from your vehicle when they spot it, and Spinefish will charge at any approaching object. This includes even the colossal Coral Crab Leviathan. The Anglerfish, resembling a large, spherical anglerfish, devours all surrounding smaller fish. And yes, that includes you, the player.

Personally, the Spinefish left a particularly strong impression. Several of them resided directly beneath my newly constructed base, which I initially didn't consider a major issue. However, once I crafted the Tadpole vehicle, these fish relentlessly attacked it, eventually leaving it half-destroyed. At the time, I lacked even a repair tool and had no effective way to drive them off, leaving me in quite a predicament. This realistic level of interaction truly stands out as a compelling feature.

The game's iconic 'Leviathans' are also present in abundance. While the non-aggressive Leviathan Sea Dragon Mother, the Great Jaw Shell that awakens when disturbed, and the Collector, whose appearance triggers ominous music, were all memorable, the Void Leviathan guarding the boundaries of the Early Access section proved to be the most formidable. Venture too far beyond its territory, and it would appear with alarming speed, a harbinger of despair capable of destroying both the player and the Tadpole in a single blow, reminding even a strengthened protagonist of the deep sea's true terror.

Subnautica 2 is currently in Early Access, with the development team announcing a projected development period of approximately two to three years. Despite this, a considerable amount of content is already available to enjoy. There are over 11 types of minerals, and the flora is equally diverse. While distinct biome boundaries can be elusive, the game features a variety of environments, from the Magma Zone, where lava and flames impede exploration, to areas where the Collector Leviathan makes its grand entrance and colossal structures dominate the landscape.

When you find yourself at a standstill, unsure of what to do next, the AI 'NOA' will chime in, guiding you to new locations like ancient ruins or shipwrecks. Visiting these spots often yields clues to blueprints, various tools, and resources, proving immensely helpful. Along the way, you'll also indirectly learn about the fate of previous inhabitants and the dangerous secrets the planet holds.

The variety and number of vehicles are not yet extensive. The Tadpole allows for 'chassis' attachments, with the initial one being a Manta Ray wing. This enhances turning radius and speed, and its handling feels remarkably nuanced. The freedom to manoeuvre through the deep sea provides a satisfying tactile experience, yet the ability to control its momentum makes it difficult to spot leviathans ambushing from above, and sharp turns are impossible, heightening the tension.

Over approximately 20 hours of gameplay, I encountered moments where progress stalled, but never did it become tedious. The fun continued through constant base expansion and establishing new outposts in different regions. The timely introduction of higher-tier equipment and upgrade modules for tools created a sense of progression that made time simply melt away, offering an immersive and engaging play experience. While occasional bugs like fluctuating base power or disappearing items, along with some UI visibility issues, were present, they weren't severe enough to detract significantly, especially considering it's Early Access.

Subnautica 2 successfully inherits and builds upon the excellent gameplay of its predecessor. It masterfully balances the terror and allure of the deep sea, delivering content so engrossing that it's hard to pull yourself away. The audiovisual experience is outstanding, and the optimisation, packing all this into a sub-20GB file size, is nothing short of astonishing. With further content planned for future development, it seems poised to become another magnificent masterpiece, following in the wake of Subnautica 1.