The Solus Project: Early Opinions

A few weeks ago I got a code for the Xbox One preview of The Solus Project. Since it is in Xbox One Preview program, I’m holding final judgement until the game is 100% finished. The Solus Project is another in a long line of recent survival games, although this one is much different than others. Read on for more!

I really want to get something off my chest. I really do not like this game. Unlike other survival games, this game doesn’t really introduce anything that you would expect. As a lost / missing space marine soldier, it is your job to search an earth like planet for sustainability, and the potential resettlement of many people. There are no wild, alien animals to dismember you. You won’t stumble across a weird alien tribe either. It is you against the elements, in true survival fashion.

Don’t get me wrong, the game LOOKS great, the game SOUNDS great, and on those two fronts, I’m not sure anyone can complain. But yet I didn’t enjoy myself. Exploring was fun, for a bit. But it quickly became…boring? You fashion tools, re-utilize natural elements as hammers and ‘knives’ and look around for food and water. When the elements begin to throw their full force at you, it’s time to either live or die. Myself, I died. However…

My wife LOVES this game. She can play it for hours. She enjoys attempting to survive, moving through the linear world; here again, we noticed another difference in survival games – this one is not really open world. Sure, you get some larger open environments, but it is fairly linear. My wife loved it all, scavenging for food and water, crafting useful items, and exploring the uniquely colorful world. Each cave was something new to her, and each area offered new crafting options. Her response to my disdain? “Are you sure you don’t just suck at it?”

And that is why this will be a difficult game for me to review at the end of the day. I really am terrible at it. My ability to manage all the various levels of need was non existent. I either died of hunger / thirst, or got stuck out in the elements without the necessary tools. I. Just. Suck.

The Solus Project appears to be one of those games where perhaps, you might want to watch some videos, read some impressions, and make the call for yourself. I hated it, my wife loved it. This could be that polarizing of a title. Some will deem it boring, others will find it exciting. Which one will you be?