Skip to content
Home » Ark: Survival Evolved – Scorched Earth DLC Review – Brutal but Fun

Ark: Survival Evolved – Scorched Earth DLC Review – Brutal but Fun

ar0

Ark: Survival Evolved – Scorched Earth DLC
Studio Wildcard

I know, I know…it seems like every time you turn around, someone else is coming out with yet another survival game. Whether it be post-apocalyptic zombie survival (H1Z1, Day Z, 7 Days to Die), purely post-apocalyptic (Rust), science fiction survival (Osiris – New Dawn, Empyrion – Galactic Survival), or survival horror (Outlast, Resident Evil 7: Biohazard), survival games are more popular than ever and see no signs of slowing down.

But what if you wanted a survival game that evoked the style and sensibilities of Jurassic Park, where you had to struggle against all sorts of cool dinosaurs roaming the lands? Well, the fine folks at Studio Wildcard have an answer for you in a game called Ark: Survival Evolved.

ar2

A gaming friend and I actually picked Ark: Survival Evolved up a few months ago. However, we’ve been playing other survival games such as Rust, 7 Days to Die, and Miscreated, as of late, and haven’t had the time to really try anything else out. Ark has just recently released a few pretty hefty updates, and so I became more interested in playing it. Since I’d read that Ark’s DLC, titled Ark: Survival Evolved – Scorched Earth DLC, was a much more PvE experience compared to the vanilla game, which is more PvP, I convinced my friend to also pick it up during a recent sale.

What I conveniently didn’t tell him was that unlike vanilla Ark, which takes place on a tropical island, Scorched Earth’s setting is based within highly inhospitable desert. Call me a masochist, but I secretly wanted to test our ample survival mettle, honed and forged by many hours of Rust play, against the harshest Ark experience that could be offered up. Well, this is what happened…

First of all, Ark, like many other survival games out there, is a game where you start off with nothing (in this case merely your underwear), and have to scavenge for your basic needs (health/food/thirst), build a base, craft weapons, equipment, and clothing, and survive against the denizens of the land. My friend and I soon found out that in Scorched Earth, the environmental weather factors are also a dangerous threat. Not only that, but hydration is much more of an issue in Scorched Earth than it is in vanilla Ark.

ar3

No sooner had we both spawned in and began looking for food and water than we noticed that the game’s primeval creatures are everywhere. Literally anywhere I looked, I saw something large, lumbering, and terrifying—a giant multi-horned beastie here; a large flapping bee-like monstrosity there; a cute, cuddling-looking big eared creature, semi-concealed in some nearby bushes. Wait…a soft, innocent looking cute thing hiding out within close proximity to me? I promptly leapt at the cute creature and bashed it brains out with my bare fists. That would be our dinner for the evening.

Scorched Earth really brings out the “S” in survival, because you really feel as though you are just a small cog somewhere in an vast ecosystem, and that just about everything around you is higher up on the food chain than you are.

The very next thing that we noticed was that our thirst meters were practically empty within a few minutes of spawning in. Luckily, we’d begun our little adventures in an “Easy” spawnpoint, which was within a canyon area containing a few little water ponds scattered about. I couldn’t imagine spawning in one of the medium or hard areas, which contained mainly arid deserts.

ar4

But navigating down to the water sources wouldn’t be that simple. In our first few attempts at getting to them, we became food for some of the more cantankerous dinosaurs. After finally making it down to the shallow pools of glorious water, we dove right in and splashed about like little over-excited girl scouts. Then my buddy yelled out something to the effect of: “Oh…no…please…no!” I glanced over, and swooping right above us was an absolutely gigantic dragon.

If my character could have turned pale blue with fright, he would have. All we could do was marvel at the apex predator, one of the new creatures featured in Scorched Earth (there are 11 new ones added to the base game in total). I did hear my friend’s character defecate…or had that been mine? That’s all we could really do—attempting to flee such a gargantuan beast would have been pure folly.

“Hey there, guys,” someone suddenly said. Strangely, the voice (Scorched Earth featured local voice controls) seemed to have been emanating from the dragon. A talking dragon—I wondered? Then we spied another player’s head and shoulder atop the hulking beast’s form. That’s right, many creatures in Ark are tamable and can be ridden as well—I suddenly remembered. I’d also read somewhere that because Scorched Earth is so inhospitable that it’s much more of a PvE affair.

ar5

We meekly greeted our new acquaintance, as two other lads riding giant eagles landed nearby. They asked us if we needed anything, and before we could answer, began dropping weapons and supplies in front of us. Apparently, we were such a non-threat that they felt sorry for us. We inquired as to a few survival matters, and they answered us courteously enough. And then we were off to begin building our very first base. Long reared in Rust’s kill-on-sight atmosphere, Scorched Earth was indeed a breath of fresh, friendly-player air.

After erecting our first wooden base, we learnt more about Scorched Earth’s decently varied crafting and building system. We also figured out how the experience system works—each time you level up, you can increase your stats, as well as gain access to new crafting and building recipes. All pretty standard survival game stuff. Ark players certainly will be at home here.

ar6

In all, my experiment of skipping the vanilla Ark: Survival Evolved base game, and trying the much harsher DLC out first, has paid off. It’s extremely challenging, but with the right bit of ingenuity (and hopefully some teamwork and cooperation), you can eke out a living within Scorched Earth’s environs. Now that I’ve played it, I’m curious about trying out the base Ark game, and I’d imagine that I’ll have a natural advantage now that I’ve played its much harder expansion.

SCORE: 83%

Ark: Survival Evolved – Scorched Earth DLC comes complete with some excellent visuals that suit its dinosaur-tastic theme. However, you have to have a fast gaming PC or gaming laptop in order to play it at a decent framerate. So, you may just want to invest in a decent gaming rig:

 

Visit CyberpowerPC’s website to check out all of the other great deals as well!

 

116 thoughts on “Ark: Survival Evolved – Scorched Earth DLC Review – Brutal but Fun”

  1. What a web page you have here. You have a actual knack for making a site readable and easy about the eyes. Some sites appear like train wrecks, but not this 1 – it is a joy to learn. Don’t have time to learn all the content pieces right here, I found your web site while searching for something else on Yahoo. But I’ve bookmarked your homepage and can go to it regularly to study what’s new
    cole haan bags sale http://colehaan.angigreene.com

  2. Your blog is fine. I simply want to touch upon the design. Its too loud. Its doing approach an excessive amount of and it takes away from what youve got to say which I think is basically important. I dont know in the event you didnt suppose that your words may maintain everyones consideration, but you have been wrong. Anyway, in my language, there usually are not a lot good source like this.
    lv handbags outlet http://www.smiele.co.uk

  3. I would like to voice my gratitude for your kindness in support of people that should have assistance with this important area. Your personal dedication to getting the solution along became exceedingly productive and have truly empowered women like me to get to their pursuits. Your important useful information indicates this much a person like me and far more to my office colleagues. Regards; from everyone of us.
    mbt shoes sale uk clearance outlet http://www.mbtoutletonline.store

  4. The strongest secret to boosting gross revenue is email marketing. The key is being repetitive, consistent, fast, and personalized. Email advertising campaigns can double your web sales. Through follow-up marketing and pr you are able to faucet into your previous customers and produce more sales. An auto-responder simplifies the complete process and places your e-mail marketing crusade on super auto-pilot. E-Mail marketing and pr is among the most powerful techniques guru marketers use to optimize their business income potential. Each marketer should make an attempt it; this is a proven instrument for success.
    barbour gloves sale http://barbour.francarrilloguerrero.com

  5. Almost 40 of a strong population are affected by tinnitus. For around one on 100, it have been a strong very serious long-term problem. Most people at permanent tinnitus learn t cope by using my own problem. For some people, tinnitustinnitustinnitus perform lead capital t problems such as depression plus sleep disorders.
    mammut usa store http://mammut.angigreene.com

  6. Can I make a suggestion? I feel youve bought something good here. But what should you added a couple links to a web page that backs up what youre saying? Or possibly you would give us one thing to take a look at, one thing that may connect what youre saying to something tangible? Only a suggestion. Anyway, in my language, there arent a lot good source like this.
    prada on sale handbags http://www.cheapprada.online

  7. I want to thanks for the efforts you have made in composing this article. I am hoping the same best post from you in the upcoming as well. In fact your creative writing abilities has inspired me to begin my own blog now. Truly the blogging is spreading its wings rapidly. Your write up is a fine model of it.
    marmot on sale http://www.marmotshop.online

  8. The Awards Ceremony will take place at 7:30 pm, Friday, January 9 at the Herbst Theater in San Francisco. Its an elegant, old world theater with 900 seats that will help give the awards the air of importance we believe they deserve. General admission tickets will be released in December. When angry count four; when very angry, swear. Mark Twain 1835 1910 Take That Tickets and RAC Motoring Services
    emu sale boots http://www.emuboots.online

  9. informacje 3. Nastêpnie z listy menu wybieramy Konfiguracja domen. Prosimy o podanie ³¹cznego kosztu miesiêcznego brutto technik spamerskich mog¹cych spowodowaæ usuniêcie strony z Google. 4. Nastêpnie z listy wybieramy domenê dla której chcemy przypisaæ nowy adres IP. kiedy strona znajduje siê w pierwszej dziesi¹tce. na serwerze do którego mo¿e zostaæ udzielony dostêp celem polepszenia efektów. zwrot podatku 6. Przechodzimy do „Zmieñ adres IP Prosimy o podanie ³¹cznego kosztu miesiêcznego brutto technik spamerskich mog¹cych spowodowaæ usuniêcie strony z Google. 5. Zapamiêtujemy adres IP jaki kiedy strona znajduje siê w pierwszej dziesi¹tce. Strona jest promowana w systemie adwords, zalukaj
    stores that carry keen shoes http://www.cheapkeen.online

  10. Thank you for your website post. Jones and I have been saving to buy a new ebook on this topic and your short article has made people like us to save all of our money. Your notions really resolved all our questions. In fact, above what we had recognized in advance of the time we came across your great blog. My spouse and i no longer nurture doubts along with a troubled mind because you completely attended to all of our needs here. Thanks
    marmot store locator http://marmot.vidaaposvinte.com

  11. So use the product/products or service personally before you register as an affiliate to see if it can really deliver what it promises there is a lot of stuff out there that does not. If you did this then youre one of the credible and living testaments aware of the advantages and disadvantages to build trust. Your customers will see & feel the sincerity and truthfulness in you and that is what will trigger them to buy & judge for them selves going by your word.
    pierre hardy flats http://www.pierrehardysale.cc

  12. Im obtaining a browser error, is anyone else? When are you going to post again? You actually inform many people! Cheers for this article, it was great to see. Thank you for the efforts you have made on paper this post. Im hoping the same best work of your stuff later on as well. In fact your creative writing abilities has inspired me to start my very own BlogEngine blog now. Truly the blogging is spreading its wings rapidly. Your article is a fine illustration of it.
    parajumpers sale kids http://parajumpers.websila.us

  13. I used to be questioning if you could be all for becoming a guest poster on my blog? and in alternate you would put a hyperlink the put up? Please let me know whenever you get a chance and I will ship you my contact particulars thanks. Anyway, in my language, there arent much good supply like this.
    www berghaus sale http://www.berghausstore.cc

  14. The Zune concentrates on being a Portable Media Player. Not a web browser. Not a game machine. Maybe in the future itll do even better in those areas, but for now its a fantastic way to organize and listen to your music and videos, and is without peer in that regard. The iPods strengths are its web browsing and apps. If those sound more compelling, perhaps it is your best choice.
    ugg classic sale http://ugg.kmmits.com

  15. Looking through your blog gives me the chance to realize precisely why I like reading things with so much understanding. It truly is wonderful to know there are still terrific authors around that will put wit into knowledgable information. I appreciate you for your contributions and eagerness to share your thoughts with us.
    ecco online shop http://www.napfashion.co.uk

  16. I will start a blog on the same topic in the near future, this is exactly why Im so interested in your article. Could you mind if I used a few of your ideas for my weblog? Ill obviously mention you as the authentic source and set up a hyperlink pointing back to your blog. Many thanks!
    montblanc fountain pen http://www.voogue.co.uk

  17. I guess you have made some really interesting points. Not too many ppl would really think about this the direction you just did. I am really impressed that there is so much about this subject that has been revealed and you made it so nicely, with so considerably class. Brilliant one, man! Truly great things right here.
    maison pierre hardy http://www.pierrehardystore.cc

Leave a Reply