Ark Survival Evolved is a game that has been out on a variety of systems for a while. With its release on Switch, it brings itself into the handheld world. This game is definitely one that has many moving parts so it might not play as well in handheld mode.
Ark Survival is all about surviving in a world filled with dinosaurs. These monsters are out to live too, and they are often far larger. It is a troubling playing through this game as dinosaurs can come to attack at any time. These unfeeling beasts will disembowel the player as will any other beast the player comes across.
Players have to make sure they are clothed right, well fed, and that they have water. The world can truly be unforgiving and it makes sense as at the beginning the player is left with nothing. Ark will not hold the player’s hand at all and that is what makes succeeding in this game so impressive.
This game is also not going to care about what time it is. If the player is playing and the game is night, it is almost impossible to see anything on the screen. Players will need to build fires and craft housing while its light or risk seeing absolutely nothing. The darkness in this game especially unforgiving in handheld mode.
In handheld mode, there is something so vicious about the darkness. Nothing at all is visible especially when first starting. It is important to at least start the game when it is day out, to make sure players have a chance at actually succeeding in this game. Though of course playing at night time on a handheld could add an extra challenge for the daring.
Ark also has an impressive crafting system. Players will work to craft the best gear they can from items they forage for. These items even have a durability system which means the more they are used the more they break. While generally, I hate that kind of system it makes the prospect of survival even less likely. This game will test the mettle of any player willing to jump into it and that is a challenge that I’m sure many will be up for.
There are over 80 creatures in this game and players can bend these beasts to their will. It will test the player and make them think about what creatures they want by their side. There are so many great choices, but ideally, a dino that can fly or a dino that can fight would clearly be the best options. This game won’t hesitate to wipe the player out so why not stack the deck in the player’s favor.
Creatures that are tamed even have an inventory. This means more storage space which in a survival game is definitely going to give the player an edge. Player’s will need to consistently train their pets to make sure they follow them. If player’s want they can even breed their pets together and have babies!
Players will also want to keep an eye out for special items. These items allow the player to summon mythic creatures to fight alongside the player. These creatures are ready to go and will be deadly to anyone they face. With so much to do, it might be worth it to work to find and summon these creatures.
Ark Survival Evolved is a game that exists on a server. Will players find friends or foes? It is never assured that players will find people as the map is so large but there is always a chance that someone could come out of nowhere and wipe the floor with the player. It’s good to pick the right server or risk having some power hungry player come in and cause trouble. This game doesn’t need to have people attacking honestly, as the dinosaurs and other creatures should be enemy enough.
The other crazy thing about this game is that everything you have exists on the server. When the player logs out they will be leaving their bases and items unattended. It makes this game one that players must keep playing and that is a cool thing. Often times when a player logs out of an online based game their items are protected. Here players will want to at least check everything every day to keep things as they were.
Players will stay asleep in this awful world when they aren’t playing. There is always the chance that someone could steal everything the player has. Or even worse, they can even enslave people for their nefarious deeds. This game is one that wants to be played and there just aren’t that many games out there like this anymore.
Ark Survival Evolved is a game that is meant to test the player’s will to survive. There are so many creatures to fight and tame. A vast world to take on and weapons and items to find and craft. Player’s will constantly need to be on guard from everything if they are going to even have a remote chance of surviving. In this game only the strongest and smartest will survive, is the player up for the challenge?
*A code was provided for purposes of review