Deathground

Deathground is a dinosaur-themed survival horror game that has been in development for five years and recently released in Early Access. Players appreciate the game's unique concept and atmospheric maps, which blend elements of stealth, horror, and cooperative gameplay. The dinosaur models, especially the Utahraptors and Compys, are well-designed and add to the immersive experience. The game offers a mix of objectives, such as scanning dinosaurs and rerouting systems, which provide some variety across its limited maps.

However, many players express disappointment with the game's current state. The AI is widely criticized as unintelligent and easily exploitable, with dinosaurs often behaving unrealistically. The gameplay loop is repetitive, lacking meaningful progression, and the content is sparse, with only a few maps and dinosaur types available. Numerous bugs, performance issues, and clunky animations further detract from the experience. Communication tools like voice chat are missing, limiting cooperative play. Overall, while the game has potential, it needs significant improvements and more content to fulfill player expectations.

Highlights

Players praise the atmospheric and well-crafted maps that enhance immersion.

The dinosaur models, especially the Utahraptors and Compys, receive positive remarks for their design and visual appeal.

The game’s horror elements and tense cooperative gameplay create moments of genuine fear and excitement.

Objective variety, such as scanning dinosaurs and manipulating environmental systems, is appreciated for adding depth to missions.

Some players find the game fun and engaging when played with friends despite its current limitations.

Criticisms

The dinosaur AI is consistently described as dumb, slow, and predictable, reducing the game’s challenge and tension.

Content is very limited, with only a few maps and two main dinosaur enemy types, disappointing players who expected more variety.

Gameplay mechanics are repetitive and lack meaningful progression or rewards, making replayability low.

Numerous bugs and glitches, including soft locks, animation issues, and performance problems, hamper the overall experience.

The absence of in-game voice chat and poor matchmaking hinder cooperative play.

Animations are stiff and robotic, detracting from immersion.

The game’s advertised features, such as the T-Rex, are missing or only present in the tutorial, leading to false expectations.