Polish game developer 11 Bit Studios made waves this June by venturing into the sci-fi survival game genre after launching the sensational Frostpunk series, introducing the highly acclaimed The Alters. Since its release, this game has garnered praise from players around the globe and comes highly recommended for anyone who loves sci-fi themes.
In The Alters, players take on the role of a member dispatched to outer space in search of resources, but a flight accident leads to the squad's complete destruction, leaving you as the sole survivor. Although you manage to reach the base, you must survive alone in the vastness of space until the rescue team arrives.
The design of the base incorporates cutting-edge technology, equipped with all necessary facilities to support the development of new tools and enable energy conversion. Additionally, the base serves as a safety shield for players against solar storms and space radiation. As the storyline progresses, players can research new technologies within the base, utilizing a system similar to a skill tree that allows them to construct facilities, enhance equipment, and improve resource gathering and development efficiency. While some research missions are time-sensitive, players can choose the timing for other technological developments on their own. Even though this requires time and resources, successful research will undoubtedly make your exploration and survival journey much smoother.
Players need to gather basic resources including metals, minerals, and organic energy. They can locate energy supply points using scanners on the map and then build mineral stations at these locations to transport resources back to the base via pipelines. Since the base consumes a tremendous amount of resources for its operations, and with limited time available for exploration each day, plus the constraints on the base's storage capacity, effectively managing time and ensuring a reserve of energy becomes a crucial strategic consideration.
In the game, players also need to collect a special resource called Xun Qi. This natural gas represents a completely new energy source for Earth, possessing the potential for life regeneration. If players can recover large amounts of Xun Qi, it will hold tremendous value for research in the science and medical fields. However, players must first become users of Xun Qi before bringing it back to Earth.
The concept of Replicant is one of the trending topics surrounding The Alters. Players need to use Xun Qi along with their own genetics to create replicas on the quantum computer at their base. These replicas may share the same genes as you, but their personalities and memories are unique. The player character yang faces various challenges in life, prompting players to reflect on how their past choices lead to different life paths. Every decision the player makes can result in vastly different outcomes, potentially altering their future identity.
In the game, these replicants are not only a source of labor but can also become loyal companions for players navigating their solitary lives in outer space, sharing in the ups and downs together. Unfortunately, as the narrative moves into Chapter Two, players will face a challenging ethical dilemma: should these replicants continue to exist after returning to Earth?
Overall, while The Alters is an independent work with a niche theme and currently lacks support for Traditional Chinese, its unique gameplay mechanics and deep ethical explorations undoubtedly offer players a fresh perspective and opportunities for reflection. Reports suggest that the game has sold nearly 3 million copies worldwide, receiving widespread acclaim for its challenging and profound content, making it a must-try for fans of adventure and science fiction. The game is currently available on Xbox Series X|S (Game Pass), Steam, and PS5.
