As MMO game adapted from the movie of the same name, many players’ first impression of Dune Awakening is that it may be another terrible game that uses IP as a gimmick to make money.

But after experiencing the game, our stereotypes may change, because it actually provides a very cool survival setting for players to immerse themselves in.

Background Story

Dune: Awakening is set in a parallel reality that is different from the canon universe. In this world, Paul Atreides never existed, but his sister took his place.

But because she is a woman in the world of Bene Gesserit, Arrakis’ ending is slightly changed, and we experience a slightly different reality.

This game has a rich background setting, and although its graphics may be a generation behind for stand-alone games, it is already excellent for a survival MMO game.

In addition, the cutscenes of the main storyline also complement such a background setting. There are a lot of alliances with major factions that tie into the main storyline, and quests and favorability will change based on the choices and decisions you make in the game.

PVP

The biggest source of stress for some players who don’t have the quick reaction time and hand-eye coordination to master PVP in these games is PVP part of Dune Awakening.

There are bases and resource collection points in this survival sandbox, as well as PVP combat areas, but these areas are specific, and from what I understand, you can go quite a while without dealing with others in the main storyline, just playing by yourself.

In general areas, you can only target hostile monsters and NPCs, and chat with anyone who passes by the dungeon or camp we are looting. Don’t worry, we were the ones who initiated the close chat, it wasn’t uncommon for NPCs to come up and say hello, and it did make for some pleasant interactions and even provided some useful tips in some cases.

As far as we can see, Dune: Awakening has the kind of relaxed feel we want and the tension we need to keep us engaged. Basically, any PVP-related stress shouldn’t exist because you don’t need to interact with it.

But since this game is not PVP-centric at all and is mainly tied to the story, I’m curious to see how the late game performs in terms of staying power in an MMO.

Survival System

So, let’s talk about the survival cycle in the game.

From a baseline, it’s just like you’d expect. You need to constantly collect resources, whether it’s mining, scavenging, or just looting monster corpses.

You can then build a base as an outpost, collect Dune Awakening Solari, store resources, upgrade your gear, and brave the elements.

Note that in Dune Awakening, the hunger simulation has been replaced by a hydration system that works in conjunction with Heat system. You need to constantly have access to water or you’ll get stuck, and the high temperatures exacerbate the depletion of water.

As you progress through the game, you can acquire some lore-specific items that make it easier to get water.

If you remember, the suits in Villeneuve’s films could recycle every ounce of used liquid so it could be used again. These suits become available soon after the tutorial and are optional equipment compared to the ones that are probably more tactical and armor-oriented.

Another aspect mentioned in the second film is not to waste water on the dead. When someone is defeated, they are usually squeezed dry of every last drop of liquid, as water is a key resource in the desert.

This point also comes relatively quickly after the tutorial, and you’ll feel like a half-vampire looting the loot and blood of your enemies after every skirmish.

It may sound a bit creepy, but this subtle tweak to the survival system is actually quite fascinating.

Enemies

Direct sunlight is the biggest enemy in the barren desert, so using the shade of a rock to sprint to the next rock becomes a daily activity until faster survival methods are mastered. With this in mind, night is actually a more active time, as the heat is no longer a major factor. But the threat of Sandworms is ever-present.

I have to say that when we first booted up the game, the rumble and power of these Sandworms as you perform basic survival challenges was terrifying. Even after playing enough games to understand their timing and the inner workings of the safe zones, they are still scary.

Loot can be obtained after death, but it does not include worms, so as we walked around, there was a constant lingering fear that a large number of worms would overwhelm us in an instant.

Since Sandworms only move in loose sand, rock formations are safe zones, and all bases and camps are located in rock formations.

When you enter an area of ​​loose sand, the amount of noise you make will show up, especially when a worm is approaching you, the noise will be very obvious, so running on sand is unwise unless it is only moving briefly between rocks.

As the game progresses, you will gain faster transportation that allows you to cross the desert, and sand travel will become less risky.

But long distances are still scary, especially when you’re just starting out, if someone’s targeting you. This makes keeping an eye on enemy movements a very important part of the experience.

In addition, the developers added different types of sandy terrain to these travel areas, one of which amplifies noise and completely lures out any Sandworms that fly in your direction.

Honestly, I’ve never experienced anything like this in a survival game, where the fear of the outdoor world even lasts into the game, which in survival games usually fades away after the opening, bringing an unprecedented sense of excitement!

Related: Dune Awakening Sandworms Guide: How To Avoid These Monsters?

Combat

Another key factor when discussing survival games is combat.

The game has a unique class and skill tree system, but these are almost locked in the early stages until you can expand other skill trees through MASTER.

Here, we chose a safer route, which is to have a Sentinel Turret that automatically locks on and quickly eliminates any enemy.

Since this game relies heavily on safe movement in the early stages, this can give us the ability to get to the target quickly. In addition, this skill tree also provides combat enhancements, such as gun proficiency or damage-related upgrades.

However, the real headache is the melee combat.

Why would anyone choose a sword in the midst of a fast bullet attack? That’s because in the game, when the player is about to be hit by a bullet, time will slow down, allowing them to break through the preset attack and cut the enemy.

This system is cool to imagine, but it is not as good as expected in practice. Then, when you engage in melee combat, you also need to block at the right time and perform a slow stab to complete the attack. You may encounter a firefight with an enemy camp and then be attacked fiercely by the enemy.

You may not be sure which button will trigger the cold weapon while being bombarded by the enemy, and if you are not careful, you will become one of the piles of corpses.

Overall, from a PVE perspective, the combat in Dune Awakening is enough to meet the needs of the game and the world, but as a person who has never been involved in PVE, the melee combat really needs to be improved.

In the end, Dune: Awakening truly provides players with a fun time with its innovation in survival gameplay, as well as the addition of environmental and combat mechanics. So if you are interested in survival games, Dune Awakening is actually a good choice.