Welcome to the lush, prehistoric landscapes of ARK: Survival Ascended, where survival of the fittest takes on a whole new meaning. This latest iteration of the ARK franchise not only ups the ante with Unreal Engine 5, bringing jaw-dropping visuals and a host of quality-of-life improvements but also carries the legacy of its predecessor into a new era of gaming. However, with great power comes great responsibility, and ARK: Survival Ascended finds itself navigating the treacherous waters of performance issues and familiar bugs, all while offering a sandbox of dino-taming and civilization-building that’s as compelling as it is challenging.
Visual and Gameplay Enhancements
ARK: Survival Ascended dazzles with its visual upgrades. From the dense, realistic jungles to the beautifully rendered dinosaurs and enhanced water effects, the game feels reborn. The sunrise through a foggy jungle or the vibrant underwater particle effects are testaments to the graphical prowess Unreal Engine 5 brings to the table. These improvements aren’t just for show; they enrich the gameplay experience, making the world of ARK more immersive and engaging than ever.
The game introduces significant quality-of-life improvements, especially in base building. Structures now interlock with ease, removing much of the frustration associated with the original game. The introduction of slightly higher walls and the ability to cycle through wall, door, and window options from a single base element are thoughtful touches that streamline the building process, allowing for greater creative freedom.
Performance and Stability
However, for all its visual splendor, ARK: Survival Ascended struggles with performance. The leap to Unreal Engine 5 demands considerable hardware, with the game sometimes feeling more like a test of your rig’s endurance than your survival skills. Players report issues ranging from frame rate drops to game crashes, reminiscent of a prehistoric extinction event. Despite these challenges, the game’s immersive world and the depth of its gameplay offer a compelling reason to brave these technical wilds.
A Familiar Yet Evolved Experience
ARK: Survival Ascended carries forward the core of what made the original game a hit, from taming dinosaurs to building civilizations, but not without its share of inherited and new bugs. The gameplay mechanics are refined, with additions like GPS tracking for pets and improved hitboxes making the experience more enjoyable. Yet, the game’s ambitious expansion also brings teething problems, with stability and optimization issues that can detract from the overall experience.
Comparisons and Similar Games
ARK: Survival Ascended, much like its predecessor ARK: Survival Evolved, offers a unique blend of survival, crafting, and dinosaur taming that sets it apart in the genre. Comparatively, games like Rust provide similar survival mechanics but without the prehistoric creatures, while Jurassic World Evolution focuses on dinosaur management from a different perspective. ARK: Survival Ascended distinguishes itself with its open-world adventure, combining elements of survival horror, strategy, and sandbox gameplay into a prehistoric package that’s both familiar and fresh.
Pros
- Stunning visuals powered by Unreal Engine 5.
- Quality-of-life improvements in base building.
- Rich, immersive world full of dinosaurs and prehistoric flora.
- Refined gameplay mechanics and improved hitboxes.
Cons
- Performance issues and demanding hardware requirements.
- Persistent and new bugs affecting gameplay.
- Localization issues in certain languages.
