Grounded Review

Grounded

Release: April 16, 2024
Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
Developer: Obsidian Entertainment
Genre: PlayStation 5 Reviews, PS5 ReviewsReviews
PEGI: 12
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Grounded, the first-person survival adventure from Obsidian Entertainment, shrinks you down to the size of an ant and throws you into the treacherous world of your own backyard. Originally an Xbox exclusive, Grounded has finally crawled its way onto the PS5, offering PlayStation players a chance to experience this unique and charming adventure.

The core gameplay loop of Grounded revolves around survival. You’ll need to gather resources, craft tools and weapons, build a base, and fend off the numerous insects that now dwarf your tiny stature. From the intimidatingly large spiders to the pesky aphids, the backyard ecosystem becomes a thrilling and dangerous landscape to navigate.

Crafting is a significant aspect of Grounded. You’ll scavenge for materials like grass blades, pebbles, and insect parts to construct essential tools for survival. A simple pebblet axe becomes crucial for chopping down blades of grass, which you can then use to build a basic shelter. As you progress, you’ll unlock more complex crafting recipes, allowing you to create elaborate bases, powerful weapons, and even helpful gadgets.

While crafting is essential, combat is where Grounded truly shines. Facing off against a ladybug feels like a boss battle, and even a lowly spider can deliver a surprising amount of pain. The DualSense controller’s adaptive triggers add a layer of immersion to combat, with the tension increasing as you draw back a crude bow or swing a makeshift sword.

The backyard transforms into a visually stunning world when viewed from an insect’s perspective. Dewdrops become glistening pools, blades of grass transform into towering forests, and pebbles morph into insurmountable obstacles. Obsidian has done a fantastic job creating a believable and visually captivating miniature world. While the PS5 version doesn’t quite hit the smooth 60 FPS benchmark of the Xbox Series X, the frame rate remains stable for the most part, ensuring a pleasant gameplay experience.

Grounded is best enjoyed with friends. The game supports online multiplayer for up to four players, allowing you to team up and conquer the backyard together. Building a base, exploring the world, and battling giant insects are all significantly more fun with a group. The shared world feature lets you continue your adventures and save your progress in the same backyard, even without the original host, making collaboration seamless.

Grounded isn’t just about survival; there’s a narrative thread woven throughout the experience. Scattered PDA entries and environmental clues shed light on the mystery of how you ended up shrunk in the backyard. Unraveling this narrative adds another layer of intrigue to the gameplay loop, motivating you to explore every corner of the world.

Grounded is a fantastic addition to the PS5 library. It offers a unique and charming take on the survival genre, with its miniature world brimming with danger and wonder. While the PS5 version might not boast the top-tier frame rate of its Xbox counterpart, it remains a polished and enjoyable experience. Whether you’re venturing out solo or teaming up with friends, Grounded provides a compelling and unforgettable adventure that will keep you coming back for more.

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