Overdue Reviews is an occasional series in which I pretend to be a videogame journalist. This week: Subnautica on PC.
I don't want to say much about Subnautica, because most of the joy of it is discovering it for yourself. If I described it in any detail, it would probably sound a little boring. But it isn't - and sound itself plays a key role.
From the moment you first plunge into the alien ocean of 4546b you're surrounded by it; the splash of water, the intermittent gurgle of bubbles from your breathing gear, the swishing sounds as you propel yourself through the depths.
As you begin to explore your surroundings new sounds begin to emerge. The distant grumble of some unseen aquatic creature, the screech of a startled fish, the roar of an undersea predator.
There's more to discover as Subnautica progresses. The sound of burning and the terrible creaking of the wreck of your ship as it strains against the ocean. The hiss of the hatch as you enter a habitat, followed by the clunk as it snaps shut behind you, leaving you alone in a corridor with the sound of water dripping onto the metal floor. The crackling, bubbling noise as the cutting tool burns through sealed doors deep inside a wreck, and the heavy clang as the cut fragment comes to rest.
Some sounds are designed to unsettle. Each species of fish and creature makes its own noise, often unseen in the dark beyond the reach of your lights; a range of clicks, buzzes, hums and howls. Other sounds reinforce actions, such as the clink of metal on rock as a resource is broken open, and the varied jingle each one makes when collected.
The voice work also adds to the experience. Some technologies have their own distinct tone to reflect their role, from the harsh electronic bark of some of your vehicles to the softer and more reassuring voice of your personal computer. This includes touches of humour - at one point it reports the presence of multiple large creatures in the area ahead, then asks "are you sure what you're doing is worth it?".
Audio logs provide brief insights into unseen characters, adding more to the depth of the universe being created. Short exchanges between shipmates over matters important and trivial. The grim determination of explorers, about to set out on a purpose that they clearly failed to achieve. The last words of another crash survivor, accepting their fate trapped far below the surface.
Layered beneath all of this is some carefully crafted music, which serves a variety of purposes. Short bursts act as rewards for finding things, while longer and more subtle pieces build tension at key points.
All of this works together to bring more to Subnautica than the sum of its parts. Diving into a darkened wreck might not seem too daunting, but add in an unexpected noise followed by some gradually building music, and the game doesn't even need to throw in an actual sea monster - the unseen potential is far more terrifying.
I recommend a good pair of headphones and a darkened room to play it in. Although, maybe not too dark.