There’s lots of different ways that competitive multiplayer games simulate the experience of humans being hunted down by a seemingly unstoppable monster. On the one hand, there’sAmong Us,which exemplifies the “hidden traitor” model in which players have to identify the killer in their midst before it’s too late. On the other hand, there’s asymmetrical multiplayer horror likeDead By Daylight,where the killer stalks its victims in broad daylight as they attempt to flee. An upcomingSteamtitle calledLevel Zeroappears to be an intersection of the two, pitting a stealthy group of bloodthirsty aliens against humans who need to escape.
Level Zerois developed and published by DogHowl Games, and it’s the first in this indie studio’s repertoire. DogHowl’s talent already shows through inLevel Zeroscreenshots and its new trailer, which showcase a highly detailed environment. The game takes place in a ruined, bloodstained space station that monsters have already torn apart, giving the whole gamea bit of aDead Spacevibe. While the team of monsters can see in the dark and lurk in the corners of the space station, the human survivors are left to stalk through the darkness, watching their backs as they try to repair the station.
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The Core Objectives of Level Zero
ForLevel Zero’s human team, the goals are simple. Human players need to find equipment in the station that’ll let them open its paths, then make the most of those to repair the ship. Turning on the ship’s lights is crucial to survival, since the monsters seem averse to bright light. That meansLevel Zero’s darkness is extremely dangerous for humans, who seem to only have modest sources of light they can carry like glowsticks and flares. AlthoughLevel Zero’s repair objectives are reminiscent ofDead by Daylight,the level of complexity sounds more likea list of Crewmate tasks inAmong Us.
The monster team inLevel Zeroalso has a simple objective: Kill all the humans. Stealthy players can make the most of their night vision to pounce on unsuspecting humans trying to run through dark areas. It’s not just a matter of chasing humans around and pouncing on them, though. InLevel Zero,the monsters have telepathic powers they can use to damage technology and put humans at a disadvantage. To claim victory, the monster team will need to make intelligent use of its psychic abilities, catching humans off guard and using their fear against them.
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What’s Next for Level Zero
DogHowl Games clearly wantsLevel Zeroto expand. The game’s Steam page indicates all kinds of updates are on the way. For instance, DogHowl wants to add a long-term survival mode where human players have to assemble makeshift shelters and gather rations, meanwhile the monsters feed on human corpses and reproduce. There’s also plans in place foranAmong Us-style modein which a monster hides in the human crew, manipulating machinery and picking off humans one-by-one. Beyond these modes, there’s tons of basic expansions planned, from new maps to added uses for the monsters' powers.
Level Zeroalready sounds like it’ll have some solid variety in the gameplay, though. There’s quite a few PvP options inLevel Zero, from a high-stakes 1v1 to an asymmetrical 4v2. The game also randomizes in-game items and horror elements, ensuring that no two rounds are the same. Even with these options in place, it’s great to know that DogHowl is dreaming big when it comes to the game’s future. IfLevel Zerowants to become a major competitor tothe PvP horror giantDead by Daylightor the indie smash hitAmong Us,the expansions that DogHowl has in mind should serve it well.
