Intro

Welcome to the untamed world of Ark: Survival Evolved on the PlayStation 4! A game which is nothing like the promotional videos. They only show the moments of action you achieve after hours and hours of tedious preparation. Luckily, most of this preparation is fun to do, up to a certain point.

Gameplay

ARK Island

The first world in ARK: the Island

ARK offers multiple vast open worlds: from a paradise island to an inhabitable radioactive world. Each world gives you unlimited freedom to build, tame dinosaurs, and explore at your own pace. Forming tribes and surviving together with friends makes the experience even more enjoyable.

Conan Exiles

You’ll feel right at home when you’ve played Conan Exiles. ARK is very similar with the biggest difference the presence of dinosaurs. The survival aspects are roughly the same in both games where the menus are a bit friendlier in Conan. And where you can ride a horse in Conan, you can ride practically every dino in ARK, even the flying ones. And there’s shit.

A lot of shit

One of the weirdest things in ARK is the fact that every creature in the game (including your character) shits every few minutes. You’ll hear a farting noise and find a turd behind the shitting creature. Additionally, the message “You’ve pooped” pops up when your character shits. You can imagine the sounds an army of dinosaurs make…

Difficult start

The gameplay can be a double-edged sword. While the open-ended nature is exciting, the learning curve is very steep. I played the game with a friend and we had a tough time setting up our first camp. The game offers zero guidance and a very bad Dutch translation (which can’t be changed) of the menus left us guessing what certain items or options were for.

Dying

We died a lot in the beginning. When you die, all your gear and items are dropped in a package next to your body. This means you can retrieve your stuff, but most of the times the cause of your death (like an aggressive dino) is still around. Also, if you don’t have a spawn point (bed), you get spawned in a random location some distance away from your dropped gear. This makes it really hard to get a solid start in the game.

Multiplayer

We chose a non-pvp server, meaning players can’t attack each other. We were on a server with mostly kind people. There were exceptions like some guy named Simmes who kept pointing a gun at us even though he couldn’t harm us. When we got further in the game, we stole his dolphin’s saddle and put some giant dinos on his roof.

ARK Ice Wyvern

Ice Wyvern

ARK Shadowmane

Shadowmane

However, some other player watched us struggling at the start of our game and gave us some super rare dinos (see images above). This made things a whole lot easier and we had a camp setup in no time. Most of our time playing went into building, gathering and exploring. We spent over 200 hours doing this and didn’t even come close to progressing in the story. Eventually, things got repetitive and when one of our lion-dino died, we quit.

Story

While ARK sells itself as a survival game between dinosaurs, the actual story is much more sci-fi. Each world is like a level in which you have to beat some bosses. The road to beating these bosses is super hard and requires a lot of preparation, grinding and dedication. We didn’t even come close to beating one boss in fear of losing our gear and dinos (you can’t revive fallen dinos).

After beating a final boss, you travel to the next world. That is, if you have purchased them because nothing is for free. The actual story takes place in space where your body is stored in a space capsule and your mind is uploaded to each of the worlds which are all simulations. Dodgy stuff. With each world, the game turns more and more into a shooter until you’re Iron Man (no joking).

Graphics

Visually, Ark delivers a stunning and immersive world. The attention to detail in the dinosaur designs and the diverse landscapes is commendable. You’ll find yourself in awe of the lush forests, mesmerized by the sunsets over the sea, and trembling in fear as you encounter the colossal creatures roaming the land. The graphics truly transport you back in time, where survival hinges on your wits and courage.

Audio

The audio in Ark: Survival Evolved is a treat for the senses. The roars of dinosaurs and the ambient sounds of the wilderness create an atmosphere that draws you deeper into the game’s world. The musical score complements the intense moments, adding to the excitement and thrill of the adventure. However, there have been some concerns about server-related audio issues, where laggy servers can dampen the overall experience.

Memorability

Ark has a way of leaving a lasting impression. The freedom to shape your path and the bonds formed while playing with friends make for unforgettable memories. The moments of triumph after overcoming challenges and taming mighty creatures are incredibly rewarding. On the flip side, the grind to complete the story can be tedious, requiring dedication and patience, which might test your commitment.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Ark: Survival Evolved on the PlayStation 4 delivers a remarkable and wild experience. The game’s abundant freedom, vast world, and intriguing storyline make it a must-play for survival enthusiasts. However, it’s not without its challenges, as the steep learning curve and punishing gameplay can be daunting for newcomers. Additionally, the occasional lag on servers may disrupt the otherwise immersive experience.

If you’re willing to embrace the wild side and dedicate yourself to the journey, Ark will reward you with unforgettable moments and adventures. So, grab your virtual gear, muster your courage, and venture forth into this prehistoric paradise!