LEVEL ZERO: EXTRACTION

Doghowl Games’ extraction shooter is currently in early access, so technically, it can get better- but that isn’t the trajectory it has followed thus far. Level Zero: Extraction had a promising enough premise, but was let down by significant gameplay and balancing issues even at launch. In the time since then, the developer has consistently made updates that have proven unpopular with players, leading some to wonder just how healthy the game’s future is going to be.

The early stages of development suggest that this game has a lot of work that needs to be done in pretty much every aspect. Level Zero: Extraction at this point feels much more like a detrimental experience rather than an enjoyable one. One positive to focus on, however, is the game’s graphics. The visuals on the technical level are wonderfully rendered and conform well to modern-day standards, running at a full 60 FPS with a powerful enough graphics card.

"This game has a lot of work that needs to be done in pretty much every aspect."

Its network performance also poses no issues presenting nothing in the way of lag or delaying play. The use of lighting is also handled fairly well, and among many other elements of the game, is definitely something that has the potential to be improved upon. On the conceptual level, however, it is particularly generic, featuring many elements seen a thousand times over within the science-fiction medium, as well as sci-fi games in general, such as Halo, Deus Ex, and System Shock. The soundtrack also does very little to add to the game’s supposedly scary atmosphere.

The music that plays throughout both the main menu and the opening cutscene sounds much more action-oriented than horror. However, no tracks play during actual gameplay, but this is most likely something that will be added throughout the course of development (along with many other planned features, such as dedicated control support and additional gameplay modes. The most utterly detrimental thing about this game, however, is undoubtedly the gameplay.

The objective while playing as a human mercenary is to choose a loadout of weapons and items before the start of the game, collect as much loot as possible in-game, defend yourself against attacks from aliens and other competing mercenaries, and eventually to find an extraction point to exit the game and to level up their character over time. Unfortunately, the thing that players will spend most of their time doing in the human campaigns is switching lights on all over the place, as the electricity regularly fails, making it more difficult to navigate through to detect enemies and find loot. Occasionally, the player gets to dispatch the odd alien that infrequently appears but will most likely end up taking decisive cheap shots from either aliens or competing mercenaries before they can react in time; especially if they happen to be newcomers to this genre.

"Unfortunately, the thing that players will spend most of their time doing in the human campaigns is switching lights on all over the place, as the electricity regularly fails, making it more difficult to navigate through to detect enemies and find loot."

Players are also given a portable map to refer to so that they can reach extraction points, as well as wall maps strewn across the battlefield. But these are also by in large useless as they hold no indication of where the player is on the maps. Loot and money can be traded in for weapons the further players progress, but what also works to their detriment is that in order to get specific weapons, players need to trade in specific items, which given how easy is it to die, probably won’t have retained. There is also the option to work as part of a group in the human campaign, but the same issues exist in this game mode regardless and do little to add to the game in a meaningful way.

The alien mode is also just as frustrating. The objective is to eliminate as many humans as possible until all of them are either dispatched or extracted. A general problem with the game that hampers the experience of playing as an alien in particular is that the battlefield is too big, and squadrons of humans and aliens alike are far too spread out to begin with. As a result, players inevitably spend the vast majority of their time wandering around aimlessly trying to find faraway humans. The only difference at that point is players don’t have to keep switching the lights on because the aliens can see in the dark.

The alien’s chief ability is to turn themselves invisible in order to take humans by surprise and eliminate them using stealth. However, doing so is pretty much impossible since humans carry lights and hand torches, which burn aliens, killing the player almost instantly. It’s made apparent practically from the get-go that playing this game is far too taxing on players to be enjoyable; be that if they are either entry-level or seasoned pros when it comes to the FPS genre. One of the major plans for the future of Level Zero: Extraction’s development cycle is the inclusion of dedicated controller support. It will be interesting to see how this is handled given the sheer number of commands there are (in between having to defend against enemies, collect items, switch the lights on, switch the flashlight on whenever the power goes out, open up the portable map and adjusting the inventory as well any other gameplay elements planned for the future) and it’s not particularly user-friendly heads-up display.

"For now, there is simply not enough story to hold player interest. Certainly not enough to compensate for the many shortcomings this game currently suffers from."

It’s evident even in this early stage of development that there will be a lot of refinement required in this aspect, as passive controller support is available in the form of keyboard mapping. Playing the game this way is arguably the best indication of that. But if the developers insist on keeping as many different commands and mechanics intact, controller support will be mandatory, as it will likely be difficult for some players to play the game effectively using a keyboard. The basic premise of Level Zero: Extraction is that a human organization known as the New Horizons Corporation lands on an alien planet named Turion looking for new life forms. Upon their return to Earth, they begin to conduct military experiments by mixing the human genome with that of the aliens found on Turion. Inevitably, things go awry, and the aliens run riot all over New Horizons’ research facility.

Following this, corporations on Earth begin to dispatch human mercenaries to retrieve what data was discovered before things went south. The small snippet of story players are given at this stage is vague, unspecific, and worth next to no emotional investment. Once the gameplay has been refined to an acceptable standard during development, a short story campaign could potentially elaborate more on the basic premise and introduce characters in situations worth progressing through, whilst also expanding on the game’s (or potential series’) wider mythology, explaining further of what happened at New Horizons and what other experiments they may have been conducting.

But for now, there is simply not enough story to hold player interest. Certainly not enough to compensate for the many shortcomings this game currently suffers from. Level Zero: Extraction has the potential to offer players a more unique and comprehensive experience depending on how development is handled over its latter stages. However, there are major revisions needed from the ground up to make it work. Unfortunately, there are too many things this game has going against it for it to come across as a meaningful experience. It would be a serious shame to play the final build to realize that what players will still spend the vast majority of the time doing is switching lights on.

"Level Zero: Extraction is a pretty disappointing title."

Elements I believe could do with tweaking would be the mechanic of trading specific items for weapons and introducing a less variable system of gaining new gear. This would significantly improve the player’s chance of progressing through the game in a meaningful way. An example of a major element in need of refinement is the level-up system. Letting players simply walk away with a minimal amount of loot after dying hardly incentivizes players to keep playing, especially newcomers.

This is despite the inclusion of the safe slot boxes players can use to retain a few items after death. Experience points could be rewarded to players for getting as far as they do after dying, along with other minor awards to encourage them to keep playing for example. Level Zero: Extraction is a pretty disappointing title upon its introduction via Steam Early Access and it becomes apparent almost immediately that a lot of work is needed to offer players the rich experience that it is intended to be. In between too many ways to be almost instantly killed, its disjointed gameplay, unengrossing story, and control scheme, it’s almost not worth playing at this early stage.

This game was reviewed on PC.

Star Wars Outlaws

As the first open-world single-player Star Wars title (Star Wars Galaxies – never forget), Star Wars Outlaws launches on August 30th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. Set between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, it follows Kay Vess and her companion, Nix, as they prepare for the biggest heist the Outer Rim has ever seen. Between building – and breaking – loyalties with various syndicates, traversing through different locations, hiring experts, and engaging with space battles, there’s a lot to do, and hopefully enough compelling reasons to do them.

SteamWorld Heist 2

Turn-based side-scrolling real-time aiming strategy returns with SteamWorld Heist 2. As Captain Quincy Leeway, players recruit other Steambots to solve a rampant water crisis, as pirates do. This means breaking into restricted bases and fighting against the oppressive navy, among other threats. Alongside real-time naval combat in the overworld, there’s a new Job system, allowing each Steambot to equip different weapons to change their class and abilities. Level up, and you can mix and match skills for potent combinations. SteamWorld Heist 2 launches on August 8th for PS4, PS5, PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

Sam and Max: The Devil’s Playhouse Remastered

After what seems like forever, Sam and Max are back again, once again, this time in a remaster of Telltale’s 2010 adventure. The adventure sees the Freelance Police dealing with a galaxy-trotting group of villains after Max gains psychic powers that quickly spiral out of control. The latter allows for all kinds of techniques, like mind-reading and clairvoyance, but there’s still the usual range of unorthodox characters and baffling puzzles (now with a new hint system) to experience. With updated lighting, lip-syncing, music and more, the remaster is a great way to visit the duo’s last video game adventure when it launches on August 14th for PS4, Xbox One, PC, and Nintendo Switch.

Kena: Bridge of Spirits (Xbox)

Ember Lab’s acclaimed 3D action adventure finally comes to Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One on August 15th. It includes the Anniversary DLC for new outfits, Spirit Guide Trials, and New Game Plus, which offers more challenging battles. Xbox players also get pirate hats for their Rot (a likely nod to Sea of Thieves), alongside a Golden Rot skin and unique staff. As insignificant as those seem, experiencing Kena’s adventure for $39.99 is a pretty decent deal.

Madden NFL 25

After College Football 25 launched and captured the hearts of millions, what does Madden NFL 25 bring to the table when it launches on August 16th for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS4, PS5, and PC? Besides new broadcast teams and a revamped Franchise mode, there’s BOOM Tech for dynamic, physics-based tackling. Carrier balance and recovery have also received some retooling, allowing you to take some hits and still push through. It sounds decent, but will it be enough to compete with College Football? We’ll find out soon.

Black Myth: Wukong

Four years after its initial announcement, Game Science’s Black Myth: Wukong will launch on August 20th for PS5 and PC. Inspired by Journey to the West, you control the Destined One, wielding an extendable staff and engaging in battles with over 100 different enemies across about 15 hours of gameplay. Between the fast-paced melee combat, dodging, and magic, it boasts some truly spectacular visuals courtesy of Unreal Engine 5.

Dustborn

From Red Thread Games, the developer of Dreamfall Chapters, Dustborn is an odd adventure game where you road-trip as Pax across a dystopian republic to deliver a package. The twist is that she’s an Anomal, who can use words to force others to obey her will. When you’re not bashing robots or navigating conversations with an eclectic cast, you’re making decisions with supposedly major ramifications on the story. Dustborn arrives on August 20th and will be available for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

Concord

The Freerunner crew of Firewalk Studios’ upcoming hero shooter didn’t receive the most enthusiastic response following the open beta. Nevertheless, Concord promises 12 maps and six modes at launch with the same roster while offering hundreds of earnable customization items, several unique Variants per character, and no Battle Pass. Will it warrant a better response, especially for $39.99? Time will tell, but Concord is out on August 23rd for PS5 and PC.

World of Warcraft: The War Within

Following Dragonflight, World of Warcraft is embarking on a brand new trilogy, with The War Within as the first part. Set in Khaz Algar, with four unique zones, eight new dungeons and a brand new zone await. There are also new activities like Delves (which can be completed solo or co-op) alongside new Hero Talents, talents and abilities to go with the increased level cap. World of Warcraft: The War Within arrives on August 22nd for PC.

Core Keeper

While the year has seen several compelling sandbox titles, Pugstorm’s Core Keeper has racked up some respectable numbers (91 percent positive reviews, over 2 million players) since its early access launch in 2022. The premise is simple: Venture into a cavern with up to eight players and mine your way to the Core. Collect resources, craft better tools and weapons, automate processes, fish, explore, and battle powerful Titans across multiple biomes. With 1.0 launching on August 27th for Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, and PC, we can’t wait to see what else it offers.

Gundam Breaker 4

Gundam Evolution may be dead, but Bandai Namco Entertainment has a good substitute – the next Gundam Breaker. Launching on August 29th for PS4, PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch, the action RPG allows extensive customization using more than 250 kits. You can then take your creation into battle, breaking off more parts and further augmenting your creation. With optional online modes and a Diorama function for admiring your units, Gundam Breaker 4 promises to be an enthusiast’s dream come true (and at a far more affordable price).

Monster Jam Showdown

The month is surprisingly slim on racing titles, but Milestone’s Monster Jam Showdown may fix that when it launches on August 29th for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch. As with previous titles, you’ll control various monster trucks in off-road locations, whether it’s in the non-linear Showdown Tour or optimizing tricks in Extreme Freestyle mode. With over 40 trucks and ten modes, it’s a different racing experience that may be worth dabbling with.

Squirrel with a Gun

At first, Squirrel with a Gun appears to be just that. However, Dee Dee Creations’ title is also a sandbox shooter with some puzzling and platforming. You could spend time disposing of the strange Agents out to get you with rocket launchers, grenade launchers, six-shooters, and whatnot, or ride around the neighborhood, helping or harassing its citizens. It’s out on August 29th for PC, and Xbox Series X/S and PC this Fall.

Deathbound

If you’re seeking a more traditional Souls-like experience, there’s Deathbound, set in a medieval world at odds with its sci-fi roots. The main hook is channeling fallen warriors and using their abilities in combat. Synergizing spirits and building up the sync meter for a powerful attack is key, though plenty of challenging foes await to put you down. Deathbound launches on August 8th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC, and promises over 20 hours of gameplay and New Game Plus.

Level Zero: Extraction

Extraction shooters are probably the most well-worn trend that barely got started, but Level Zero: Extraction could break out with its twists. Teaming with two other players, utilizing various military weapons with extensive customization, your job is to garner loot and extract. However, all kinds of threats are present on each map, from mines to mutants. Opposing players can also control a powerful alien with cloaking abilities and an EMP. Level Zero: Extraction enters early access for PC on August 13th, with two maps and 16 weapons. As a weird combination of Escape from Tarkov, GTFO, and more, it could be a dark horse.

30. Level Zero: Extraction

tinyBuild’s Level Zero: Extraction pits players against a fierce alien that’s only weak to light, and it’s up to you to survive against the ferocious creature as you carefully tiptoe your way through dimly lit environments. Between an interesting-looking atmosphere and the ability to join forces with up to 2 friends, Level Zero: Extraction has quite the potential to become a surprise hit if it plays its cards right. It’s set to release sometime in 2024 for consoles and PC.