When comparing Epistory - Typing Chronicles vs Subnautica, the Slant community recommends Subnautica for most people. In the question“What are the best singleplayer games on Steam?” Subnautica is ranked 2nd while Epistory - Typing Chronicles is ranked 111st. The most important reason people chose Subnautica is:
The game takes place underwater, and it looks very good especially because of the new candy eye update. Looking up at the sun through the ocean looks pleasant and real. Coral reefs have multiple colors and look real as well. Graphics wise this game looks great and pulls off its theme of an underwater survival quite well.
Specs
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Pros
Pro Interesting controls
Instead of the normal movement used in a game on PC (WASD) the player uses the E F J I keys, as the game wants the player to have both hands on the keyboard as they would when typing. This means movement is done through both hands on the keyboard only. This allows the player to quickly type words when in combat with no need to transition to a different control scheme.
Pro Unique graphics
The graphics are styled to look like folded origami pieces. As the player progresses in each stage, the map will fold out on a isometric plane in a way that looks like paper folding out to form objects. This gives an original look to the game that is actually a treat to watch.
Pro Great for a laptop
Due to the unique controls, there is no need for a mouse to play this game, which means it will be a bit easier to play on a laptop as no external mouse is needed nor the use of the touch-pad. This is a keyboard only game, and that lends itself well to laptops.
Pro Great theme and looks
The game takes place underwater, and it looks very good especially because of the new candy eye update. Looking up at the sun through the ocean looks pleasant and real. Coral reefs have multiple colors and look real as well. Graphics wise this game looks great and pulls off its theme of an underwater survival quite well.
Pro The sound effects really set up the overall atmosphere
The sound design in Subnautica is amazing. Even though the soundtrack can be bland at times, the sound effects for the ocean noises are incredibly atmospheric and really help to get the player in the mood for exploring a vast, alien ocean.
Pro Interesting creature design
The creature design in Subnautica deserves some major praise. Spotting a new, never seen before creature is extremely rewarding and there's a large variety of alien creatures to look for.
Pro Has a mode for people who just want to explore
Subnautica has four game modes: survival, freedom, hardcore, and creative. The first one pits the player against the elements and forces them to think about food and water through its thirst and hunger mechanics.
The second game mode basically removes every mechanic that is related to surviving, such as the aforementioned hunger and thirst mechanics. It also leaves all the items in your inventory after you die. In other words, it's a game mode for people who want to explore without having to bother with surviving. Which is nice, since Subnautica has a lot of stuff to explore.
The third one, as the name tells us, is more difficult. Not only do you have to worry about health, oxygen, water and hunger, you will have to worry about your life. Since this game mode gives you one chance to live, no respawning. If you die, you'll lose your progress and will have to start over again.
The fourth one will let you build a base of your dreams without worrying about food, oxygen, or thirst. It is the best mode for people who want to build and don't want to gather resources.
Pro No pointless multiplayer
Not every damn thing needs multiplayer, and multiplayer can often ruin an otherwise incredible experience. There's none to be found here, and that intensifies the lonely atmosphere. Also, the creators didn't waste resources on something that would fundamentally undermine the experience so they could focus on making the game the wonderful thing that it is.
Pro Very interesting for both new and long-time players
But it goes faster when you learn the game. Because everything is done manually.
Pro Incredibly satisfying tool-building mechanics
The whole process of creating new tools is mostly done using a sophisticated 3D-printer available from the start of the game. You gather various resources and transform them to create tools that you will need for your survival.
For example, organic matter gets printed into raw carbon, combine carbon with some zinc and you get a battery; combine that battery with some glass and you get a flashlight that helps you see in the dark. It's very straightforward but incredibly satisfying when you build your tools, especially since you are doing all of this while swimming in an ocean filled with predators.
Cons
Con Progression is simple and formulaic
The basic premise of the game is, start a stage, earn a new power, clear out the dungeons on that stage that require that power. This is done for each stage, of which there are four. It can get pretty repetitive and become boring pretty quickly.
Con Gets very difficult
The later portions of the game can be quite demanding on ones typing skills. This means that no matter how much a player wants to see the game through, if their fingers are not equipped with the skill required, they most likely will not be able to finish the game. This is actually a physically demanding game and only the most competent typist should go into the game with the goal of completion.
Con Same words used on different enemies at the same time
This is an issue, as one enemy may be closer than the other and it can be a mixed bag as to which one will be hit with the attack when two enemies have the same target word. This leads to frustration and death due to the game not allowing for a way to target a specific enemy when the same word is used on both.
Con Lacks Co-Op
This game was meant to be a survival game (and a bit of horror), most survival games are difficult, may get boring to play alone after time and this game has both. Having a second survivor in the story would mean to rewrite it again, but having a friend in an alien world would be better.
Con No real story
A bit underdeveloped story. Only in notes and some short cgi animations.