One of the best survival games I’ve played
A year later and Dune Awakening is finally ready to welcome console players onto the scorching sands of Arrakis. When it launched on PC originally, I reviewed it and as a fan of both the universe and survival games I gave it a 9; the original review can be read here. Lots of things have improved over a year, not the least of which is being able to complete the story of the search for the Freman people who are native to the planet; as all chapters are available. Another huge drop for this console release (the PC game will also receive this update) is the addition of a true single-player mode. For this review I played exclusively using this mode as the lone server that was set up for us to use for review had an issue.
MSRP: $49.99
Platforms: XBOX (reviewed), PlayStation, PC
Price I’d Pay: $49.99
In a nut shell, Dune: Awakening is a survival RPG game that is set in an alternate reality Dune universe; one where the savior Paul Atraides is never born. As a fan of the source material, it’s been really interesting to see this story unfold. Truly the setting is a Dune fan’s dream but if I were someone who came into this with no knowledge; I think I would be super confused. Fans of the book know all about the Shai-Hulud, Muad’Dib and the Lisan al Gaib and the game will drop terms like this all the time with no real explanation as to what or who they are. To its credit, the game does include a good glossary that is available but call me crazy, it should just be explained in game. Regardless of that little issue though, the story is pretty solid and even the uninitiated should be able to enjoy it.
Much like the studios other game Conan: Exiles, Dune Awakening is made to be played online with lots of other players. For the most part the game is PvE but it has a pretty substantial PVP competent that comes with endgame play. With the single-player mode the developers took the world and rebalanced everything for a lone person to be able to complete. This starts with the ability to be able to tailor the experience to your liking. All of the settings have a default value but players are free to tweak everything from how much XP is gained to how quickly crafting takes. Having played the game before I made it so I could get leveled and jump in very quickly and I have to say it was a great experience.
Don’t get me wrong, as I said above, I am a fan of the grind of these games. Starting with a small base in the Hagga Basin, hiding from the sun in the shadows of all those rock formations, and of course trying not to get caught up in the open sand for fear of the sandworm. But I have done it before, and when I do it again it will finally be with friends. But it was so much fun to be able to collect 100 fiber off just one plant or have enough stone to build a base by mining just a few rocks. It made the experience of getting to the combat part a lot faster and enjoyable. Best of all, my changes didn’t ever make me feel overpowered; I mean I died lots of times to enemy bullets and blades. I compliment the team for finding that balance between fun and being overpowered, it really made an already great game a lot better and more accessible to players.
I was already a fan of Dune: Awakening and as I said I have been waiting for this console release in order to play with friends. A year worth of patches, updates and DLC has done this game good; the console players are not only getting a game that performs really well but is also a lot of fun to play. The addition of the single-player was such a great move and will open this game up to so many more fans of Dune and survival games in general. Dune: Awakening is one of the best survival RPG’s out right now and one that makes excellent use of its license.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.