“ARK: Survival Evolved” is a captivating action-adventure survival game that has captured the hearts of gamers worldwide since its release. Developed by Studio Wildcard, the game offers a unique blend of exploration, crafting, and survival mechanics set in a prehistoric world filled with dinosaurs and other ancient creatures. Available on multiple platforms, including the PlayStation 4 (PS4), “ARK: Survival Evolved” provides a rich and immersive experience for console gamers. This article will introduce you to the fundamentals of the game, its key features, and tips to get started on your survival journey on the PS4.
Getting Started: The Basics
The Premise
In “ARK: Survival Evolved,” players find themselves stranded on a mysterious island known as ARK. The island is teeming with dinosaurs, prehistoric creatures, and other players (in multiplayer mode). Your primary goal is to survive by gathering resources, crafting tools, building shelters, and taming wild creatures. The game combines elements of survival, role-playing, and sandbox gameplay to create a dynamic and engaging experience.
Game Modes
“ARK: Survival Evolved” offers several game modes to cater to different playstyles:
- Single Player: Ideal for newcomers, this mode allows you to explore and learn the game mechanics at your own pace without the interference of other players.
- Multiplayer: Join official or unofficial servers to play with or against other players. Multiplayer mode adds a social and competitive dimension to the game.
- PvP (Player vs. Player): Engage in combat with other players, forming alliances or rivalries as you compete for resources and territory.
- PvE (Player vs. Environment): Focus on surviving against the game’s environment and creatures without the threat of other players.
Key Features of ARK: Survival Evolved
Vast Open World
The game features a massive open world filled with diverse biomes, including lush forests, arid deserts, snowy mountains, and underwater environments. Each biome offers unique challenges and resources, encouraging exploration and adaptation. The world of ARK is dynamic, with a day-night cycle and changing weather conditions that impact gameplay.
Resource Gathering and Crafting
Resource gathering is a core mechanic in “ARK: Survival Evolved.” Players must collect various materials, such as wood, stone, fiber, and metal, to craft tools, weapons, and structures. The crafting system is extensive, allowing you to create everything from simple tools to advanced technology. As you progress, you’ll unlock new crafting recipes (known as engrams) that expand your capabilities.
Building and Base Management
Building a secure base is essential for survival. The game offers a robust building system that lets you construct shelters, fortresses, and even entire villages. You can customize your base with various structures, including walls, doors, windows, and defensive turrets. Managing your base involves maintaining resources, defending against attacks, and expanding as you gather more materials.
Taming and Breeding Dinosaurs
One of the standout features of “ARK: Survival Evolved” is the ability to tame and breed dinosaurs. Taming involves rendering a creature unconscious and feeding it its preferred food until it becomes your ally. Once tamed, dinosaurs can be used for transportation, resource gathering, combat, and more. Breeding allows you to create stronger and more specialized creatures by combining the traits of parent dinosaurs.
Tips for New Players on PS4
Choosing a Spawn Location
When you first start the game, you’ll need to choose a spawn location. For beginners, it’s advisable to select a relatively safe area, such as the “South Zone” on “The Island” map. These areas typically have fewer aggressive creatures and more abundant resources, making them ideal for new players.
Early Game Survival
Upon spawning, your first priority should be gathering basic resources. Punching trees will yield thatch and wood, while picking up stones from the ground will provide you with the materials needed to craft your first tools. The initial tools you’ll want to craft are a pickaxe and a hatchet. The pickaxe is useful for gathering flint from rocks and thatch from trees, while the hatchet is better for collecting wood and stone.
Crafting Essential Items
With your basic tools in hand, you can start crafting essential items to aid in your survival. Some of the first items you’ll want to craft include:
- Campfire: This allows you to cook raw meat, which is essential for maintaining your health and stamina.
- Spear: A basic weapon for defending yourself against smaller predators and hunting for food.
- Clothing: Simple cloth armor provides basic protection from the elements and minor injuries.
As you gather more resources and gain experience, you’ll unlock additional crafting recipes (engrams) that will expand your capabilities.
Building Your First Shelter
Building a shelter is crucial for protecting yourself from the elements and dangerous creatures. Look for a flat area near water and abundant resources. Avoid building too close to large predators or aggressive creatures that could destroy your shelter.
Start with a simple thatch hut, which requires basic materials like thatch, wood, and fiber. Once you have the necessary resources, follow these steps:
- Craft Thatch Foundations: These form the base of your shelter.
- Add Walls and a Doorframe: These provide the structure and entry point.
- Place a Roof: This completes your basic hut.
As you progress, you can upgrade your shelter to wood or stone, offering better protection and durability.
Advanced Gameplay and Strategies
Exploring the Island
As you become more comfortable with the game mechanics, start exploring beyond your initial spawn area. Discover new biomes, gather rare resources, and encounter different creatures. Each biome offers unique challenges and rewards, encouraging you to adapt your strategies.
Taming and Utilizing Dinosaurs
Taming dinosaurs is a core mechanic in “ARK: Survival Evolved” and provides numerous benefits, including transportation, resource gathering, and defense. For beginners, it’s best to start with a relatively easy-to-tame herbivore, such as a Triceratops or a Parasaur.
The taming process involves knocking out the dinosaur and feeding it its preferred food until it becomes your ally. Here’s a basic outline of the taming process:
- Knock Out the Dinosaur: Use a club or tranquilizer arrows to render the dinosaur unconscious.
- Feed the Dinosaur: Place the preferred food (berries for herbivores, meat for carnivores) in its inventory.
- Protect the Dinosaur: Ensure no predators attack the unconscious dinosaur during the taming process.
Once tamed, you can equip your dinosaur with a saddle and use it for various tasks, significantly enhancing your survival capabilities.
Engaging in Multiplayer
“ARK: Survival Evolved” offers a rich multiplayer experience where you can team up with friends or compete against other players. Joining a tribe allows you to share resources, build communal bases, and coordinate strategies. Whether you prefer cooperative gameplay or competitive PvP battles, the multiplayer mode adds a dynamic and social dimension to the game.
Conclusion
“ARK: Survival Evolved” on PS4 offers a thrilling and immersive survival experience set in a prehistoric world filled with dinosaurs and other ancient creatures. By understanding the basics, gathering resources, crafting essential items,
