In the immersive world of Dune: Awakening, players encounter a variety of terrain features, such as moisture seals that serve as makeshift shelters amidst the harsh environment of Arrakis. These moisture seals, while providing temporary respite from the relentless threat of dehydration, sparked an intriguing question: what if players could create their own moisture seals, adding an additional layer of strategy to their survival experience? This notion underscores the potential for a game that fosters a deeper connection with the game’s geography, teaching players to recognize and utilize their surroundings for survival.
However, the current beta experience of Dune: Awakening feels somewhat routine within the survival MMO genre. Players find themselves crafting sterile, geometric structures like habitats and power generators that seem out of place in the rich, dynamic landscape. Developer Funcom has even called for players to manage their abandoned bases, indicating an overwhelming clutter amidst individual player objectives.
Resource gathering is a fundamental aspect of gameplay, with players needing to continuously collect materials like copper and plant fibers. While the inclusion of a mining minigame aims to enhance this experience, many may find it quickly becoming a chore rather than an engaging pursuit.
Dune: Awakening does incorporate some unique mechanics inspired by its source material, such as the heat stroke mechanic that forces players to navigate the shifting shadows created by the day-night cycle. This adds a layer of strategy, allowing players to feel the urgency of avoiding sun exposure rather than merely overcoming the initial enemy encounters.
One of the more exciting features is the presence of sandworms, iconic to the Dune universe. These massive creatures react to player movements, adding an element of thrill and tension as players traverse the desert landscape. There’s even potential for employing sandworms against competitors in spice mining endeavors, further emphasizing the competitive edge within the game.
Despite these intriguing aspects, the game tends to revert to formulas that feel overused in the survival genre. Players may find themselves bogged down by repetitive tasks, such as constructing a more powerful power generator, which run counter to the rich storytelling that the Dune narrative provides. Notably, the grim activity of extracting drinking water from enemies lacks depth, feeling more like another task to grind through than a meaningful narrative encounter.
Importantly, players do not assume the role of the Fremen, the native people of Arrakis, but rather as travelers from another planet under the guidance of the Bene Gesserit. The opening phases of the game allow for character customization, granting players specific abilities that reflect different backgrounds, although these elements can feel like constraints rather than empowering options.
The developers seem to grapple with marrying gameplay mechanics with the narrative essence of Dune. For instance, they considered implementing a ‘sandwalking’ mechanic to mimic the natural world but decided against it due to aesthetic concerns. This decision raises questions about the game’s priorities: is it more focused on traditional gameplay methods than truly immersing players in the Dune universe?
While Dune: Awakening holds the promise of exploring intriguing themes and setting, its current repetitive gameplay may overshadow the potential for a deeper narrative experience. The hope is that future updates will expand upon these ideas, leading to a richer interaction with the landscape and its inhabitants, ultimately allowing players to engage more meaningfully with the iconic world of Dune.