Hide & Hold Out H2O PC Preview by SoDopeStavi

Hide & Hold Out H2O PC Preview by SoDopeStavi
Genre:
 Action, Adventure, Massively Multiplayer, Simulation
Developer: Red Abyss Software Publisher: Red Abyss Software
Release Date: April 9, 2016

Welcome to the Apocalypse. The earth has been submerged under leagues of water, leaving only remnants of what once remained dotting out of the deep blue around you. Hide & Hold Out is an early access multiplayer-crafting-survival game relying mostly on PvP and social interactions. Set in a rather beautiful environment void of any substantial landmass spanning 8 km² and boasting some of the best water reflections I’ve seen in any game recently.

Developed and Published by Red Abyss Software and currently on Steam for $17.99 USD. You start with humble beginnings upon entering a server. Provided with bare provisions such as a loaf of bread, a collection tool, a makeshift raft, and a flashlight for the dynamic (and dark), day and night cycles.

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It is at this point that you must scour the land masses, which are connected by makeshift walkways, to search for the most basic of materials: Wood, Iron, Copper, Steel, Aluminum, etc. With these resources, you start to unravel the really convoluted, but powerful, crafting mechanics. It took me nearly 20 minutes just to figure out how to put a wall up on a floating platform. In my frustration, I decided to go make some friends and see what could be created if you actually have the patience.

I was somewhat blown away. The server I played on had a rather active RP community of “ex-Navy turned sea police” players who patrol the waters, helping those who may still be alive. Their creations were really spectacular. Massive, floating prison barges and shipyards could be seen from any point on the map.

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What really caught my attention wasn’t what players created, but what lies beneath the surface of this water world. Massive husks of drowned buildings teeming with countless materials. I had an incredible experience exploring the flooded cities before eventually dying to a combination of shark bites and lack of air. The way the camera changes to a fisheye lens, and even the first person animations of swimming, are praise-worthy.

To me, underwater exploration is what really makes this game immersive and fun. But there are ways to get around dying from sharks and drowning, and that’s through the crafting/building system I mentioned earlier.

The crafting and building mechanics in H2o are very intimidating at first glance. There are many layers in which items need to be crafted in order to craft much bigger, and more intricate items. It’s not necessarily a bad thing that you must scavenge for about an hour just to put up a home. Fans of this genre should be very used to the initial grind. Although, I wasn’t a huge fan of the monotony of it.

Seeing some of the ships that can be crafted is pretty remarkable. From patrol boats, to warships, to merchant ships, to jet skis, to even flying vehicles. Donned in scrap metal and boasting some serious firepower which makes the open sea PvP really exciting and extremely punishing. As well as the numerous firearms which can be crafted and equipped if you are more of a fan of infantry warfare.

Survival is also a must, and exploring the deep waters does have it’s risks. That’s where armor and wetsuits come into play, allowing you to deep sea dive and explore the massive structures that lurk beneath.

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All in all, for an early access game, H2o is certainly unique in it’s genre. There is quite a bit of potential here and I am glad that I had the opportunity to mess around in the world and make a few friends along the way. Despite my initial frustrations.

Pros:

  • Large world with much to explore
  • Friendly community
  • Expansive crafting and building mechanics
  • Stunning visuals

Cons:

  • Unimpressive player animations
  • Extremely grindy resource gathering
  • Lack of substantial player base
  • Annoying base building

Stavi gives Hide & Hold Out (H2o) a Drastik Measure 6.4 out of 10 (64)