Despite a Middling Launch Reception, Why is Once Human Such a Huge Hit?

As a long-time gamer with a soft spot for open-world RPGs and survival games, I’ve seen my fair share of titles that promise the moon but deliver lackluster experiences. So when I heard about Once Human, I was initially skeptical. But boy, was I pleasantly surprised!

In the beginning of 2023, not everyone was aware that the first closed beta for games like “Hi-Fi Rush,” “Dead Space,” and “Like a Dragon: Ishin!” took place. The second beta occurred in December, coinciding with the excitement surrounding titles such as “Baldur’s Gate 3” and “Alan Wake 2.” A third and final beta happened in March, during which “Helldivers 2” captured the world’s attention. Just a short while later, the survival sandbox game, filled with both cosmic terror and looting action, was released on PC.

In the year 2024, there have been some unusual successes – Nexon’s “The First Descendant” game managed to amass over 10 million players within a week of its release. However, when “Once Human” was launched on July 10th, it encountered significant criticism on Steam and various online forums. Players expressed concerns about the game’s optimization and inability to create or transfer characters between servers, which proved particularly frustrating when trying to play with friends and joining different worlds.

Despite numerous critical reviews concerning the Terms of Service requiring ID and personal info, it was explained that this was only necessary in certain regions, not North America or Europe. Consequently, its Terms of Service and privacy policy shared similarities with other digital titles. Nonetheless, the negative publicity persisted, leading to a likely “Mostly Negative” rating for Once Human on Steam.

Then something crazy happened – more people started trying the game. And liked it.

Within the initial 24 hours of launching on Steam, “Once Human” received 4491 favorable reviews and 3324 unfavorable ones, resulting in an overall rating of “Mixed.” Despite the persistent negative feedback, it was eventually overshadowed by the abundant positive responses. Approximately two weeks later, the game now boasts a “Mostly Positive” standing on the platform with a staggering 70% positive user reviews out of its total 49,104 evaluations.

Despite facing initial opposition, the game managed to draw a large crowd, reaching over 200,000 peak concurrent players on Steam during its first day. By July 14th, this figure had grown to 231,668 on Steam alone. Starry Studio reported over 300,000 concurrent players across all platforms by July 16th, leading to celebratory giveaways. The game’s player base remains robust with nearly 200,000 active users and swelling to over 200,000 during weekends.

With ambivalent feelings towards the title, I rated it a 6 out of 10. The past year in gaming has been captivating, witnessing the meteoric rise of Palworld one month, only to be followed by Helldivers 2 the next. Blockbuster live service games like Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and Skull and Bones have unfortunately gone astray. Meanwhile, under-the-radar games such as Content Warning have emerged unexpectedly, making a significant impact.

“Why does Once Human garner such positive feedback from its gaming community? While being free-to-play is a factor, this explanation alone doesn’t entirely account for its success. Despite early criticism and terms of service misunderstandings, what keeps players coming back regularly? What makes them so invested in the game that they’re willing to spend money on it?”

The game’s unique yet familiar feel is encapsulated in a comment from the closed beta trailer in December: “It somehow manages to be distinctive and completely ordinary at the same time.” This observation, though it may seem critical, is apt. In Once Human, elements from various titles such as The Division, Fallout 76, Days Gone, and Pokemon merge, infused with cosmic horrors. Encounter enemies sporting briefcases for heads and searchlights where their eyes should be; defeat them and their skulls transform into weapons. One moment you might face a colossal wandering boss that can be shot in the knees, the next an erratic bus with legs.

In simpler terms, the gunfights are entertaining, and it’s convenient if you don’t enjoy constructing bases, as you can choose pre-set designs or replicate others’ blueprints with their consent. Additionally, collecting resources in “Once Human” is a plus since the game offers survival aspects, such as Sanity depletion, weight management, and more, but it doesn’t overwhelm you with resource gathering alongside crafting weapons, ammo, and gear.

I find these games incredibly convenient and engaging, as they streamline many of the more laborious aspects of the genre, plunging me into the action much faster. Despite my reservations about gathering Blueprint Fragments and dealing with time-sensitive loot drops, the emphasis on crafting essential gear and weapons adds a unique twist to gameplay.

The community has highlighted another important point about Starry Studio: their prompt issue resolution. On launch day, they allowed multiple characters to function across various servers. Simultaneously, they tackled server problems and optimization, as well as fixing numerous bugs. These included malfunctioning buffs, vanishing Energy Links, and enhancing the probability of certain Deviations appearing.

An important feature of this game is the developer’s commitment to avoiding pay-to-win mechanics. While there’s a gacha machine for weapons, gear, and Blueprint Fragments, players can also purchase Blueprints outright. Earning Starchrom, which is necessary for these purchases, is exclusively an in-game achievement through completing goals, challenges, and activities. Notably, even the paid Battle Pass tier does not offer any additional Starchrom.

In a game with player-versus-player (PvP) features, it’s nice to find a studio that maintains this commitment. The approach to microtransactions has been well-received for being unobtrusive, making it somewhat of a challenge to locate Seasonal Goals due to their proximity to the Battle Pass. Contrast this with Suicide Squad, where the Store and Battle Pass each have separate tabs when accessing your inventory. The positive feedback towards Once Human‘s management has even led some players to spend money as a token of appreciation.

As someone who has spent countless hours immersed in various gaming worlds, I have to admit that my initial reaction to Starry Studio’s latest release was a bit mixed. On one hand, I was thrilled about the unique approach to seasons, each lasting only six weeks and resetting your level. However, as someone who values progress and the sense of achievement that comes with it, I found myself feeling a tad disappointed when I realized that certain aspects like unlocked Gear Blueprints, Fragments, Starchroms, main and side story progress, etc., carry over.

Just like “The First Descendant,” this could be described as a fleeting sensation – a popular title that may lose steam when another captivating option emerges. However, it’s evident that “Once Human” is making strategic moves to appeal to both genre enthusiasts and novices. The real test comes in the long run, but for now, its dedicated fan base finds themselves utterly engrossed in the experience.

I want to make it clear that the perspectives shared in this article are my own personal views and not those endorsed by GamingBolt as a whole. My experiences and background have shaped the way I interpret and express ideas, and it’s important for readers to keep that in mind while considering the content of this piece.

2024-07-26 17:11

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