Barotrauma Review (Steam)

by Jim Smale · March 21, 2023

For this Barotrauma Review, we play a 2D co-op submarine simulator – in space, with survival horror and RPG elements. Steer your submarine, complete missions, fight monsters, fix leaks, operate machinery, man the guns and craft items, and stay alert: danger in Barotrauma doesn’t announce itself!

Barotrauma Review Pros:

Decent graphics.
Download size.
Steam achievements.
Training/tutorial section that is optional and repayable.
Graphics settings – resolution, line of weight effect, display mode, lighting resolution slider, v-sync, texture compression, visible light limit slider, fish eye lens effect, chromatic aberration, and particle limit slider.
Can rebind controls and aim assist strength.
Text settings – language, Hud scale slider, inventory scale slider, and text scale slider.
Full mod support via Steam Workshop.
Two game modes – campaign and multiplayer.
The campaign has story and training modes.
Multiplayer has a server browser and host server options/modes.
Customise – mods, submarine editor, and character editor.
Inventory and equipping items can be dragged and dropped or double tapping the item.
Movement is like that QWOP where the limbs are like a puppet and it’s a lot looser with animations. WASD moves you and the mouse changes your direction.
Pumps can be used to drain or flood rooms.
Puzzle elements.
Five character roles – Captain, Engineer, Mechanic, Security, and Medic. Each has strengths and weaknesses.
Light only shows in rooms you are in and having doors open for light to travel.
Multiple choice encounters.
Map seed entry field.
15 submarines to unlock and use, each varying in size and how many crew members are needed along with a difficulty level.
New game settings you can tweak are – tutorials, Jovian radiation, starting supplies (low/normal/high), starting balance (low/medium/high), difficulty (easy/medium/hard), and max missions per round (one to ten).
Crew creation can be randomized or you can tweak gender, name, hairstyle, accessories, hair color, and skin color.
Decent loading times.
The store allows you to buy and sell items.
World map level selected with each showing a difficulty bar, and any available missions.
Give orders to your teammates who will then go do them, or idle them.
Hotswap between crewmembers.
Driving the submarine can be manual or set to autopilot.
You get a checklist of missions to complete.
The later submarines can house up to 16 players and you can choose how many are real people and how many are bots.
Chat with the bots via the radio.
Play how you want.
The goal is to take on missions and survive in your submarine.
The submarine can flood, get damaged, be set on fire, invade and so much more.
Has an FTL meets Starbound type of vibe to it all.
The slight horror aspect in that light is minimal and even more so when swimming out in the ocean. That and creatures jumping out at you.
The periscope allows you to freely look around.
The radar used for steering allows you to change how the sonar works along with setting routes.
So many systems at play.
Playing with friends is a true experience.
I like how it goes from calm and dull to fast and frantic in mere minutes.
Kinda reminds me of when Starbound first launched with a slow ramp-up and then a slide down in madness as you strive to survive.
The systems you use and are simplified but still impactful.