This game has a hard time since release due to the fact that among other stability and bug issues, it used to require a NASA PC to run it, and majority of gamers, don't have such thing or don't want to upgrade their current rigs just for a single game. That's completely understandable.
However, a few months back, they released an update that fixed the performance by a lot. I was playing 720p full low settings and had it capped at 30fps, I am enjoying the game now at 1080p low-med settings 60fps (with some drops depending on the time of day) and even though it's nothing ground breaking, take into consideration that I shouldn't even be able to run it in the first place since I don't even meet the minimum requirements.

Despite all that, I want to focus on the actual game and how it vastly improved compared to SE, that's why I recommend it, because it's good and better than the OG. Eventually, the bugs and stability problems will go away, SE had the same issues for years, it has them even now. What won't go away is how fantastic this game is. It's basically the same addictive game as SE with upgraded graphics and a lot of quality of life changes that enchances the experience.

-Out of this world graphics
-Incredible worlds/maps
-Top notch creature design
-Huge variety of creatures
-infinite replay value
-interesting abilities that vary between dinos
-great base building
-bob's tales
-one of the best sandbox games out there overall

All in all, everything that made original ARK great is here but better.

There are some questionable choices from the devs, arguments over the following topics have been made countless times, and I have to say, I agree with both sides. I am reffering to the DLC creatures. It reminds me of Evolve's case, where they locked monsters behind a paywall (only that they were way more important for the core gameplay and way more expensive), you shouldn't release paid creatures when you already have modded paid creatures, it's on way or the other, the redeming point is that in ASA, official maps are coming as free updates. However I don't think it's a huge deal, 5 bucks is meh, aight I guess? Sure some people say they are pay to win, I don't play PvP and probably never will, so I don't know if that's truly the case. I am judging them mostly as practices.
Also, a final note, I don't like how they only spawn on 1-2 specific maps..Like..Okay I paid for the creature, why locking it on 1 or 2 maps only? I may not like this specific map. Luckily there are mods that allow said creatures to spawn on every map.


Anyway, I can't just praise this game and leave out its flaws, which for the most part, isn't its core gameplay but still exist to the point where some people simply cannot play it.
-there are a lot QoL changes that ARK still needs
-bugs
-still requires a very strong rig to run it smoothly
-It costs 40 bucks but it shouldn't, because even though it's better than ASE, it's still the same exact game with the same mechanics, achievements and maps

The worst thing about ASA is the paid mods. I don't care about paid creatures or paid cosmetics, but paid mods is the worst tactic in a game. Mods are supposed to be a player's freedom to customize its game however he/she wants. Locking them behind a paywall removes this freedom.
The point where I can tolerate such move is if the original creators are getting a good amount of mod sales. It's still bad but I can understand someone that has done an incredible job and wants to get payed for it. Not everyone works for free.

A final note to this review, don't give attention to everything you see. "game's dead" "game's bad" "this bad, that bad" "ASE better"
-Game has 15-25k daily players (on steam alone) and gets constant updates, so no, it is not dead
-Game isn't bad, unless you are not into these types of games (which then, why did you even buy it in the first place?)
-ASE isn't better, it's the same exact game, ASA just has better graphics and a lot of quality of life changes, and also new creatures, so how ASE is better? What ASE is compared to ASA, is acessible. ASE is more accessible because it's more stable and requires way less to play it, it's also way cheaper. So a person with a mid-range PC (aka majority of gamers) doesn't have any reason to waste 40 bucks for a game that he won't even get a stable 40 or so fps, when he can simply buy the same exact game for 15 bucks and run it at max settings 60+ fps.

All in all ASA is great, some practices are questionable, some are outright bad, but if you just want a good survival game with dinos to sit back and relax and get addicted to, then this game is for you.

Overall:
Alpha T-rex/10

This game has a hard time since release due to the fact that among other stability and bug issues, it used to require a NASA PC to run it, and majority of gamers, don't have such thing or don't want to upgrade their current rigs just for a single game. That's completely understandable. However, a few months back, they released an update that fixed the performance by a lot. I was playing 720p full low settings and had it capped at 30fps, I am enjoying the game now at 1080p low-med settings 60fps (with some drops depending on the time of day) and even though it's nothing ground breaking, take into consideration that I shouldn't even be able to run it in the first place since I don't even meet the minimum requirements. Despite all that, I want to focus on the actual game and how it vastly improved compared to SE, that's why I recommend it, because it's good and better than the OG. Eventually, the bugs and stability problems will go away, SE had the same issues for years, it has them even now. What won't go away is how fantastic this game is. It's basically the same addictive game as SE with upgraded graphics and a lot of quality of life changes that enchances the experience. [h1] POSITIVES [/h1] -Out of this world graphics -Incredible worlds/maps -Top notch creature design -Huge variety of creatures -infinite replay value -interesting abilities that vary between dinos -great base building -bob's tales -one of the best sandbox games out there overall All in all, everything that made original ARK great is here but better. [h1] MIDDLE GROUND [/h1] There are some questionable choices from the devs, arguments over the following topics have been made countless times, and I have to say, I agree with both sides. I am reffering to the DLC creatures. It reminds me of Evolve's case, where they locked monsters behind a paywall (only that they were way more important for the core gameplay and way more expensive), you shouldn't release paid creatures when you already have modded paid creatures, it's on way or the other, the redeming point is that in ASA, official maps are coming as free updates. However I don't think it's a huge deal, 5 bucks is meh, aight I guess? Sure some people say they are pay to win, I don't play PvP and probably never will, so I don't know if that's truly the case. I am judging them mostly as practices. Also, a final note, I don't like how they only spawn on 1-2 specific maps..Like..Okay I paid for the creature, why locking it on 1 or 2 maps only? I may not like this specific map. Luckily there are mods that allow said creatures to spawn on every map. Anyway, I can't just praise this game and leave out its flaws, which for the most part, isn't its core gameplay but still exist to the point where some people simply cannot play it. [h1] NEGATIVES [/h1] -there are a lot QoL changes that ARK still needs -bugs -still requires a very strong rig to run it smoothly -It costs 40 bucks but it shouldn't, because even though it's better than ASE, it's still the same exact game with the same mechanics, achievements and maps The worst thing about ASA is the paid mods. I don't care about paid creatures or paid cosmetics, but paid mods is the worst tactic in a game. Mods are supposed to be a player's freedom to customize its game however he/she wants. Locking them behind a paywall removes this freedom. The point where I can tolerate such move is if the original creators are getting a good amount of mod sales. It's still bad but I can understand someone that has done an incredible job and wants to get payed for it. Not everyone works for free. A final note to this review, don't give attention to everything you see. "game's dead" "game's bad" "this bad, that bad" "ASE better" -Game has 15-25k daily players (on steam alone) and gets constant updates, so no, it is not dead -Game isn't bad, unless you are not into these types of games (which then, why did you even buy it in the first place?) -ASE isn't better, it's the same exact game, ASA just has better graphics and a lot of quality of life changes, and also new creatures, so how ASE is better? What ASE is compared to ASA, is acessible. ASE is more accessible because it's more stable and requires way less to play it, it's also way cheaper. So a person with a mid-range PC (aka majority of gamers) doesn't have any reason to waste 40 bucks for a game that he won't even get a stable 40 or so fps, when he can simply buy the same exact game for 15 bucks and run it at max settings 60+ fps. All in all ASA is great, some practices are questionable, some are outright bad, but if you just want a good survival game with dinos to sit back and relax and get addicted to, then this game is for you. [u] Overall: [/u] [b] Alpha T-rex/10 [/b]