Sublevel Zero

 PC
Metascore
71

Mixed or average reviews - based on 13 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
  1. UploadVR
    Jul 11, 2017
    80
    Sublevel Zero Redux isn’t a shooter for everyone. It’s intense and demanding, and that simply isn’t something some people will want inside their VR headsets. For fans of Descent and the emergent rougelike genre, though, this is something of a treat. Polished, tight gameplay gives this unique brand of action an engaging edge. 6DOF is enjoying a small resurgence right now and, if that’s something that interests you and you’d love to try the genre in VR, Sublevel Zero Redux is your best bet.
  2. Riot Pixels
    Feb 26, 2016
    56
    Sublevel Zero has some cool ideas, and it valiantly attempts to mimic the classic Descent series, but loses its steam in just a couple of hours.
  3. DarkZero
    Nov 13, 2015
    70
    It is an expertly crafted 6DOF game with tight controls, but the rogue parts of its cross genre appeal are rough enough around the edges to be problematic.
  5. Multiplayer.it
    Nov 6, 2015
    60
    Sublevel Zero is a great idea, but lacks content and has some design problems.
  6. Digital Chumps
    Oct 27, 2015
    70
    Sublevel Zero's novelty is how faithfully it resurrects concepts of a fallen genre. It's cool that Sigtrap Games made a game like Descent, but pressing those ideas inside the mold of a roguelike leaves a significant amount of empty space.
  7. COGconnected
    Oct 18, 2015
    68
    It’s a game with a striking presentation, but suffers from problems that no amount of sheen can cover up.
  8. CGMagazine
    Oct 15, 2015
    80
    Inching closer to demise in Sublevel is a tightening vice that’ll persist past every destroyed core and through every wormhole.
  9. Hooked Gamers
    Oct 15, 2015
    80
    For now, Sublevel Zero is a game that has at once reminded me how much I love space combat, whilst at the same time introduced me to a whole new, old genre of game. Though story and presentation are a little rough, the gameplay and core mechanics are such that I’ll keep coming back over and over again.
  10. Digitally Downloaded
    Oct 13, 2015
    50
    Fans of Descent from way back when should have a pretty good idea of what to expect here, as it is very much a modern take on the genre - to the point where it could be argued as a spiritual successor. It plays well and does its job, but it's also a thin package that doesn't offer a great deal of substance beyond the endless loot grind.
  11. Brash Games
    Oct 11, 2015
    70
    Sublevel Zero is fantastic, it’s hard enough that you want to keep pushing yourself, although after a while it can get frustrating and a bit repetitive but it’s a game you can keep going back to, it’s cheap and hardly takes up any hard drive space, which is a bonus.
  12. We Got This Covered
    Oct 9, 2015
    80
    Taking inspiration from a number of genres and combining them to make a fresh and challenging experience, Sublevel Zero is a great experience that's definitely worth your time.
  13. The Escapist
    Oct 8, 2015
    80
    Great addicting roguelike space game where the punishment is balanced perfectly with reward.
  14. Softpedia
    Oct 8, 2015
    80
    Sublevel Zero is a really good take on the genre pioneered by Descent. The roguelike mechanics are a bit punishing, but the gorgeous visuals and the procedurally generated levels manage to keep things fresh and get you to come back.
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  1. Rock, Paper, Shotgun
    Dec 7, 2015
    So there Sublevel Zero lies, this peculiar mix of instantly entertaining and disappointingly hollow. Tidying up the crafting, and making it meaningful, would add a lot. And gosh, it desperately needs a rethink about those unexplained, unpredictable dead-ends. But heck, I want to keep on playing anyway.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.1

Mixed or average reviews- based on 9 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 9
  3. Negative: 1 out of 9
  1. cidian
    Nov 21, 2015
    10
    This is one of the most refreshing games I've played in a while. The atmosphere is completely old school, from the pixel graphics and 8bitThis is one of the most refreshing games I've played in a while. The atmosphere is completely old school, from the pixel graphics and 8bit sounds down to the keycards and logs! If you're not an older gamer, you probably won't appreciate this.

    The progression system is fair and interesting and while I'm not a big fan of permadeath games (roguelike), I don't find it annoying in Sublevel Zero. After my ship blows up it still feels like progress as I learn from my mistakes and unlock new gear, and take on a different play style in the next play-through.

    Highly recommended for those that gamed in the early 90s    … Full Review »
  2. zeepster
    Oct 17, 2015
    9
    Have you played Descent? This game finally delivers the same thrill as i got from that series.
    6DoF games don't get much better than this.    Have you played Descent? This game finally delivers the same thrill as i got from that series.
    6DoF games don't get much better than this.

    In short: Procedural generated maps, so the routes, items, enemy location and numbers are always different.
    Nice chipsound / crossover music. Good sound effects. Smart AI, all with their own style of attack.
    The game looks really cool with beautiful lighting. I don't know what this graphics style is called but just go look at some gameplay and get captivated.    … Full Review »
  3. Sjalka
    Oct 15, 2015
    6
    Nice but very low detail graphics, good AI ... average usage of the 6 direction environment and a fair unlock system that slowly unlocksNice but very low detail graphics, good AI ... average usage of the 6 direction environment and a fair unlock system that slowly unlocks weapons, recipes, ships etc. .

    The ships however are not different enough - the ammo system is rather annoying ... cause i had the feeling that you simply ran out of ammo sooner or later (for some reason the auto-replenish never seems to work sufficiently for me)

    The stage design is procedurally generated (or rather - it is randomized at the level start out of rather large set pieces). The cores/reactors are rather lame (yes, i am not a fan of that feature - but it is better than Descents "run for the exit in limited time, which i hated")

    UI and controls are crisp and precise - hit detection however is a bit wonky - as the gunship seems to eat a lot more bullets than expected. Especially the map and orientation is well done (a feature often messed up in similar games) - but then .. the dungeons are not really too complex (no where NEAR as complex as Descent)

    The game does not offer a native 4:3 resolution - the closest thing it offers is windowed mode - or stretched fullscreen. (a big minus for that - cause even if the game - according to the devs - is meant to be played widescreen... which i understand ... they should at least offer a letterbox)

    All in all the game is average - well worth the money, but it does not quite revitalize the 6 direction genre.    … Full Review »
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