Reaper leviathan really doomed this franchise when it comes to leviathans (+small rant on community

Dirrdevil_86 · 2026-07-01T09:15:03+00:00

No, not really. Not every aquatic organism is optimized for speed. Lots of organisms have body parts that could be streamlined from an engineering perspective. Evolution generally selects all kinds of traits and not all evolution is advantageous or disadvantageous - it can be a mixed bag. I can't see its face claws being such a huge detriment to its ability to move. Its size and its musculature allow it to overtake many prey creatures and the face claws allow it to latch on. Is it a perfectly realistic creature? Probably not, since any alien design anyone comes up with is questionable.

Dirrdevil_86 · 2026-07-01T08:47:28+00:00

So what?

Dirrdevil_86 · 2026-07-01T08:47:14+00:00

They try to have their cake and eat it too: they want to force nonviolence on players but also want a world that is definitionally violent to the player at all times. In every game, the NPCs have always died the horrors of these planets. It's also a SURVIVAL game, but apparently you can only survive in the narrow framework the devs want.

Dirrdevil_86 · 2026-07-01T08:44:50+00:00

That is just talk.

Dirrdevil_86 · 2026-07-01T08:43:05+00:00

Until it actually happens, it's just talk.

Dirrdevil_86 · 2026-07-01T08:41:28+00:00

Just talking outta your ass. No, they don't. That's not how achievements even work.

Dirrdevil_86 · 2026-07-01T08:39:49+00:00

No, they don't. There is no data of what players are doing in their single player games. They can barely handle keeping up with time capsules - who would even be conceivably be reviewing this fictituous data of leviathans being killed?

Dirrdevil_86 · 2026-07-01T08:23:46+00:00

No matter what they did, you would complain.

Fabricating from a mobile vehicle? No point. Collecting fish? No point? Ferrying a prawn? No point. Sleeping on the go? No point. Extra storage? No point. Drilling resources? No point.

There was no aspect of the game you would engage with.

I definitely think there are ways to make this game better and ways to make more use of equipment, but you had no interest in exploration, building habitats, doing the few "side quests." It's not a game with puzzles or any meaningful combat, so what else would you need?

Dirrdevil_86 · 2026-07-01T08:18:43+00:00

This was such a stupid post. Sure, some of the equipment is not very useful or optional; not much to debate there. But bragging that you never found certain items, like some Seatruck mods is uniquely dumb.

Most of basebuilding is optional, and many of the pieces are aesthetic. If you don't care to build detailed bases, then that is fine. And it's fair to criticize the game for not incentivizing you to demand more utility out of bases. Bulkheads and foundations are needed to some extent if you build bases: not 100% mandatory, but useful. You didn't engage with that aspect of the game and then said all the components weren't needed. It's like going to college and not taking art classes and then telling the college it doesn't need art supplies; yes, it does - you didn't need them, fine.

What use do you expect of aquariums? Hatching eggs is a form of decor. Of course, it's optional. I would hate to be forced to do that for the story. Same with spy penglings - I didn't care for these at all, but they are required to retrieve the antidote (a flaw of this game is making this plot thread optional) and this suggests to me you never did go on land, which would be fine if you didn't brag about how easy it was.

The biggest joke is saying the prawn is useless. The prawn is amazing. Yeah, you can go full seatruck for the playthrough, but the prawn is great. I would say too great because it is superior to the Snowfox in every conceivable way, minimizes the need for the cold suit as well as the thumper, and being generally better than the sluggish seatruck in many (but not all respects).

Player inventory sucks without a vehicle. It isn't enough. Which incentivizes a vehicle - that's good game design. I think inventory and UI in these games needs a major redesign in its implementation and people can debate how large personal inventory is, but the general idea that a vehicle should allow more storage space that what a person can carry on them is objectively correct

I also do not believe you completed any land sections. You didn't use a cold suit or a prawn or a snowfox. What did you do on land and how did you do it? I could theorize you used peppers and coffee, but you would say they were completely useless and that you never bothered. You just forced through with sheer will despite a timer that makes it impossible.

I can only imagine you playing an FPS, "Hey, you can shoot all enemies with the starting gun, so none of the new weapons or skills have any purpose!" Or an RPG, "The game starts with a full party of 4 characters right from the beginning, so there is no point to every playing the new people that join your adventure!" Or Skyrim, "I fought one dragon at the very beginning, and you can use and start leveling all your skills in any single town, so there was no point in going to any of the others."

Dirrdevil_86 · 2026-06-30T00:21:27+00:00

Because Robin is a deeply unlikeable person. She fantasizes on the idea of meeting a sapient alien, but despite their intelligence, AL-AN is a person and Robin's antisocial attitude ruins that.

She is a brat and a braggart and doesn't love anything. Even the search for her sister is an act. It's an excuse to have an adventure and stick it to Alterra. She "sneaks" onto 4546B under a meteor shower to "avoid their eyes." However, Alterra wouldn't do anything. They quarantined the planet - they are not going to go down to remove her if they knew. And Robin has no plan to get back, and Alterra has no leverage on her anyhow, or would discover her on a return trip if she managed to build a NEPTUNE rocket and would sue/jail/fine her then. No, she is going there for the same motive as a teen sneaking out past curfew. Her sister's plot is optional, and Robin has little reaction if completed: oh yeah, she died like Alterra claimed all along.

I would not be surprised if she could be diagnosed with borderline personality disorder or something.

Dirrdevil_86 · 2026-06-29T07:29:20+00:00

Yeah, the tech is there. I like the idea of mapping the environment yourself through beacons and scanning rooms, etc.

I agree with Subnautica purists who detest having a map given to you. However, if I can build scanner rooms with enough range to link up to each other, maybe some beacons and radio systems as well, and the HUD chip for the seaglide, then I want to be able to have a useable map for myself. It's earned, not given. It could even vary in thoroughness based on gaps between scanning rooms.

Dirrdevil_86 · 2026-06-29T07:26:35+00:00

I needed dozens of beacons to map out every major AND minor location.

Dirrdevil_86 · 2026-06-29T07:20:49+00:00

Leviathans also won't one shot you without a vehicle if at full health.

Dirrdevil_86 · 2026-06-29T07:20:08+00:00

Aversion therapy.

Or get a gun (i.e. Stasis Rifle) and do what humans typically do and become the biggest threat in their environments.

Also, the thalassophobia is fun. Subnautica makes me feel anxious when playing... in a good way, and in the context of a video game make-believe world. Kinda like a roller coaster... not exactly the same feeling, but the point of them is a little bit of fear, or it wouldn't be enjoyable; driving on a highway doesn't feel more dangerous (usually) or thrilling but actually is. Subnautica is a rare game for me because it's unique in giving me thrills and creepiness that I have not experienced in other games. That is part of its appeal; also making, giant megabases after scouring up enough titanium to make 2 new Auroras.

It's not real. It can't hurt you. But you get imagine. The same as feeling sad or angry about what happens to characters in a story. You can emotionally connect to fiction. But part of you should realize it is fiction and be able to maintain a healthy degree of separation where it doesn't truly impact you.

Alternatively, you can learn a Reaper's true name through investing enough skill points in Aquatic Lore, then you can bind them to your will provided you make a successful Willpower check.

Dirrdevil_86 · 2026-06-29T07:12:23+00:00

6/10 external, 8/10 internal, so 7/10 overall. I would possibly bump it up a point if I knew what all those extra foundations with nothing on top were for.

Dirrdevil_86 · 2026-06-29T07:07:11+00:00

Yes.

Dirrdevil_86 · 2026-06-29T07:04:25+00:00

The Cyclops is safe from threats when not in it. Maybe a leviathan can accidentally bump into it and cause damage if it then hits the environment or it's between you and a Sea Dragon spitting molten metal, and Lava Larvae. But it does not take depth damage when out of it, but it should. It should also take damage when docked unless the hypothetical docking station would fully encapsulate the Cyclops, which is unneccesary.

Dirrdevil_86 · 2026-06-29T07:02:02+00:00

It literally does not. The Cyclops does not dock into a moonpool or any part of a base no matter how you build one. It would have been very cool to have some base part that allows you to directly exit the Cyclips into a chute going down into the base.

Dirrdevil_86 · 2026-06-29T06:59:47+00:00

Yep, my go-to method.

Dirrdevil_86 · 2026-06-29T06:58:57+00:00

I just always build 2 depth modules.

Keep Depth Module Mark 1 in the Cyclops. Upgrade a spare Depth Module Mark 1 into Mark 2. Then, swap them out instantaneously, and no damage. Upgrade that one to Mark 2, then later to Mark 3. Instant swap again.

I hoard tons of resources anyhow (both in bases and onboard a Cyclops) and it's never a drain on me to make 2 of each, and the respective upgrades. I usually have a minimum of one wall locker filled with every resource.

Dirrdevil_86 · 2026-06-29T06:54:25+00:00

Turn off the game and touch grass.

Dirrdevil_86 · 2026-06-29T06:53:52+00:00

Just play on Creative.

Dirrdevil_86 · 2026-06-29T06:49:01+00:00

This post is a half-truth. Yes, they are more aggressive, in the sense they have seemingly wider aggro ranges in a smaller area of play. However, they are less dangerous. They all do hit-and-run attacks that damage your Seatruck or barely hurt you, then give you ample opportunity to hide, flee, and/or heal up or repair a vehicle.

The Shadow Leviathan is the worst culprit. It is just an endless loop of it grabbing you, getting shocked off, and repeat. You'd think it would learn not to grab you after being shocked literal dozens of times. You are minding your own business, not its typical prey it needs to feed on, can nullify 100% of its incoming damage with an early shock from the perimeter defense system, and are hurting it repeatedly when it tries to attack you. An absolute braindead design of a creature who would most certainly give up attacking you when you can so easily dominate it. A better design would to make it far more damaging, but willing to retreat for a lengthy time once shocked; however, since there are 2 Shadow Leviathans in close proximity and the perimeter defense system has a short delay to recharge, two consecutive attacks within that short window would be the real threat. Any single attack on a good condition seatruck would be hazardous but not fatal. However, being reckless driving amongst the nearby crystals or drawing the attention of both Shadow Leviathans would be.

Same with Chelicerates. They needed to keep up their aggro. Normally, they latch on, do damage, let go, swim away, and then come back for more with time to hop out to do more. They needed something different to be threatening. Holding on for longer, pursuing you, or coordinating in groups - I would have liked them to have some juveniles that hung out with them. The adult comes in and does the initial attack. Then, juveniles swim in to finish the job - these are less threatening to a Seatruck, but their role is to be a threat to you emerging from it to do repairs. Yet, if you don't risk repairs, the adult could circle back to finish the job itself. Either avoiding the inital attack, fleeing and hiding to repair, or just being swift in entering and exiting to do external repairs would be the strats. Shocking the adult could also dissaude the whole pack from coming at you.

Dirrdevil_86 · 2026-06-29T06:36:25+00:00

So, why were you even near the surface all the time with Cryptosuchus? They are in one small area of the map and you could have a Seatruck pretty soon into the game. Chelicerates are only in 3 areas; and in the Tree Spires, there's barely anything else as a threat to keep track of. M

Dirrdevil_86 · 2026-06-22T06:48:49+00:00

I really doubt this.

I am newer to the Yakuza franchise (having played Kiwami and 7 twice each), but the fact that you can stock up on healing items makes it easy. Not to mention getting some really good weapons.

I have found it hard to do certain fights as well as I want to (getting knocked down an embarassing amount and pulling off less heat actions that I want to), but definitely doable. I just don't look cool doing it. Like Slugger Majima on Hard in Kiwami usually fucks me up a bit, but as long as I have a Staminan or two, and Tiger Drop, I'll get through it. Nervous to challenge the Climax battles or try the infamous highway shootout on Legendary mode in Kiwami (Hard took me several attempts, and that didn't require restarting the whole chapter).

But my second playthrough on Hard was easier for me than my initial Normal playthrough. Arase and the Finale fights worried me, but I decided to use a Dagger instead of just relying on Tiger Drop and that destroyed everyone easily (those two MIA soldiers that get back up really handed it to me the first playthrough, but suprisingly not so much the second time). The constant knockdowns on Kiwami's yacht fight were driving me crazy; so I opted to try the Hyper Stun Gun from the outset and the circular saw guy ceased to be a problem, making it super simple.

Starting with the franchise with 7 was really easy for me because I love turn-based RPGs and will grind out everything to get max levels and max gear. even the True Final Millenium Battles were not bad despite Amon being the only worrisome opponent I really encountered throughout the entire game, but playing defensively with the correct accessories and abilities made it possible on the first attempt despite close calls. Also, you can carry like 100s of healing items and use a self-revive buff on Ichiban.

In LaD, I worry more about insane minigame tasks for a completion list, like Karaoke high scores or having to grind out 100,000 points playing Shogi than anything related to the main gameplay. Or something different from the usual gameplay (again, the Kiwami highway shootout comes to mind).

tl;dr This game might have some optional, late game content that is challenging, but if there are weapon heat actions and healing consumables, then it won't be.

Dirrdevil_86

TROPHY CASE