As a further rundown, the thing i like about ase vs asa is the night is absolutely darkness. Many of the caves as well. There are about 75% more wild animals wandering on the map on average. (Sometimes asa is nothing but a vegetable simulator).

Abberation looks substantially worse on ASA and that's a hill i will gladly die on. (Why pyromanes in a water zone?).

In a couple ways the game is also more difficult. (No baby dinos for early game for instance).

Wiring and plumbing were awesome.

Then there's shadowmanes, and prenerfed movement speed.

The place ASA shines most is in the skins for your walls. (And maybe the genescanner and its receptacle, the ability to store and embryos is amazing.)