Level Zero: Extraction Review

We've all encountered games that fall into the Extraction Shooter genre; Escape From Tarkov, Helldivers 2, and Hunt: Showdown are just a few on a long list. However, the genre is a bit of a grey area since it's also quite far-reaching and difficult to get into. Well, Doghowl Games might have only been around since 2022, but this team of developers wanted to take a crack at the enigmatic genre with their first release, Level Zero: Extraction, which officially went into Early Access on 13 August.

 

Now, this genre is already a nightmare to get into, but what if there was a game that allows you to play it as a nightmare? You'll get to play as either a Merc or an Alien, each side with its own unique traits and objective, but it comes with a few flaws that could possibly break what would be a great game. So, let's take a closer look at what's going on and expose more than just Aliens to the light in Level Zero: Extraction.

To set the stage, the world of Level Zero: Extraction came to be on Planet Turion. A little scientific experimentation through cross-breeding with human DNA that went horribly wrong started this chaotic adventure of humans versus aliens. However, it's now a battle between the two, and the humans have to retrieve the old research that started it all while the aliens are simply doing what comes naturally: killing humans and hunting.

Upon diving in, you'll be greeted by the ever-paralyzing choice between playing as a human Merc or an alien. Both sides have their ups and downs, but there are a few perks that make playing as an alien a little more appealing. We'll get to that real soon. This doesn't mean the aliens are superior; they're just a bit more forgiving for several reasons.

Looking at the Merc side of things, you'll have access to several shops where you can buy various items such as guns, lighting gear, healing items, and much more. However, don't expect to just have free roam to buy what you want; the shops run on a Reputation system, and you'll need to increase your Rep to get access to better equipment. Luckily, money isn't an issue, and it's also shared between the two sides.

As you already know, the Mercs' sole objective is to get in and retrieve any research data and get out in one piece. However, you can also fulfill contracts for more obscure items to give you even better rewards. It becomes interesting to jump into the chaos against the aliens; besides filling any aliens in sight with bullets, light is also your best friend against them. Think of them as more grotesque Gollums; the light burns and can sometimes do more damage than most guns.

 

Sadly, there are two things standing in your way as a Merc: The first is a painfully long matchmaking time, and the second is friendly fire. That's right, your supposed allies can gun you down, and you'll get thrown back to the menu. There's no respawn or do-over; you either survive and get out in one piece or have a run-in with 'allies' who will simply gun you down because they were clearly not given enough attention in their youth.

On the other end of the spectrum, you'll have to go to the aliens. Simple but vicious in their design… What they lack in customization options, they make up for with respawn, versatility in their abilities such as being able to turn invisible, a much shorter matchmaking wait time, speed, and most importantly, No friendly fire. That's right; the grass is greener on the other side, and most of the time, teamwork is not an issue since you're playing on the same terms. It really just keeps getting better on the alien side of things.

Looking closer at their loadout, everything for the aliens is built in their favor as long as they have energy. Granted, energy is actually really easy to come by and even easier to recharge. All it takes is consuming a few of the eggs scattered over the maps to raise your maximum energy, and it'll slowly recharge over time. However, if that's too slow for you, just find a random live wire happily sparking away and stand on it for a nice recharge boost.

Aside from being able to turn invisible, which also allows them to walk through the light without taking damage, they can also regenerate health, place egg traps that explode, spit slime, throw acid eggs that create an acid cloud, scan for humans, and reveal their positions. The odds stack even further in their favor with an EMP that can switch off lights or a Scream Wave that slows down humans, making them much easier to pick. Once again, all this comes at an energy cost that's easily recharged.

 

The clear imbalance between them isn't the main issue; the big problem that stands out is how infuriating it is to play as a Merc when your chances of getting a decent squad can equate to finding the holy grail in your backyard. It's a horror extraction game, but there's more frustration than horror for the Mercs. It's great fun if you're siding with the aliens. Unfortunately, it seems this could've benefited from a little more thought and possibly some foresight, but the lack thereof is already shown in Level Zero: Extraction.

Now, things become a bit trickier between the two currently available maps. Each map is definitely more than big enough, and the size shouldn't be underestimated. Both sides can benefit from the twists and turns and safe havens. Unfortunately, it's still very alien-oriented, as they benefit from using tunnels for some stealth tactics. Again, if a Merc dies, it's game over for them, whereas Aliens simply have to sit through a lengthy respawn timer.

On the visual side of life in Level Zero: Extraction, the Mercs are getting the nasty end of the stick. They come off as a bit… Lacking, to say the least. They're pretty standard with their design, though the uncanny valley stare that they have offsets things somehow. However, much care was given to the alien design. Things definitely take an interesting turn with the PvE side of things, as you'll come across random mutants with unique designs, too, which adds a nice touch to the whole theme.

It seems like this whole escapade is more aimed toward the aliens, but that's what Level Zero: Extraction is doing; even their sound engineering is brilliantly done. The random noises and footsteps they make give them much more life and build a great horror atmosphere, even though you're playing as the hunter. The only downside is that aliens don't have a voice chat like the Mercs do, but at least they don't have clunky movements. So, that somehow balances out.

 

Overall, Level Zero: Extraction has so much potential that's being wasted. This release's biggest drawback is how blatantly frustrating playing as a Merc is while going as an Alien. It will literally give you every possible benefit. It seems a little more thought should've gone into the making of this and what could have been a great Early Access game, but only time will tell if it gets better or worse.
 

Jay Claassen (@R3GR3T_3NVY)
Senior Editor, NoobFeed