What happens when you blend the tactical gameplay of Escape from Tarkov with the horrors of Alien: Isolation? The fine folks at Doghowl Games have answered this question with their latest release, Level Zero: Extraction, published by tinyBuild. Now available as early access on Steam, this PVPVE tactical shooter can potentially give games like Dead By Daylight a run for their money.

MKAU was invited to review Level Zero: Extraction, and we did so using our dedicated benchmark PC, built with parts generously supplied by ASUS. The build is based on the tiny ASUS ROG STRIX Z790-I Gaming Motherboard, fitted with 32GB of DDR5 RAM, an i7-14700KF, and the ASUS ROG STRIX Gaming RTX 4070 OC Edition with 12GB of GDDR6X memory. The CPU is cooled by the ASUS ROG STRIX LC III 360 AIO Liquid Cooler.

‘Level Zero: Extraction’ is a multiplayer extraction horror, blending the heart-pounding tension of asymmetric survival horror with the high-stakes showdowns of extraction shooters like Escape From Tarkov. I wish I could tell you more about the lore behind this intense sci-fi horror, but it hasn’t been implemented yet. All I can tell you is that it is set in the not-too-distant future on the planet Turion.

Play as an elite PMC mercenary and embark on dangerous raids to extract valuable loot and face off against other players and unpredictable PVE hazards, or take on the role of a formidable alien monster and hunt the humans until no mortal is left standing. Even though the game hasn’t had all of its features implemented yet, there is still plenty of adrenaline-fueled action to keep you coming back for more.

Playing as a PMC mercenary is a constant struggle for survival against all odds. Teams of 3 players will enter the level in a bid to search for valuable loot, complete contracts for different trader factions, and ultimately, survive until extraction, but this is no easy feat. Not only do you have to worry about being taken out by other competing mercenary teams, but you also have the constant threat of being slaughtered by those playing for Team Alien. On top of that, you also face the danger of PVE hazards, such as being butchered by undead NPCs, shot to bits by mobile gun turrets, or getting blown up by land mines.

I love the constant risk vs reward playing as the mercenary team, but even communicating with your squad has its own risks. Other squads can hear your comms when in proximity, and most will take advantage of this to hunt you down. Sometimes, it’s just best to do whatever you can to avoid the fight and make it out alive with what you have. Loot extracted can be taken to one of five different traders, either for money, or traded for game-changing weapons, items, and perks.

Players on Team Alien will hunt down all player-controlled mercenaries, doing everything they can to prevent them from extracting, and they are armed with several abilities to eliminate their prey. Tear shreds from your enemies with brutal melee combat, spit acid, douse enemy flairs, and even trap the enemy in tight spaces with poisonous gas clouds that force the retreat. Each ability requires the use of energy gained by consuming eggs placed around the level. These can be destroyed by the mercenaries, but they will respawn over time. While the Aliens are a formidable threat, they have one fatal flaw.

They are weak to light, but in saying that, both sides are fairly well-balanced to play. Unfortunately, they all face some of the same issues. Horrible spawn locations have resulted in quite a few game-overs in less than a minute, and reading the map is a horrendous experience, often resulting in getting lost. I feel that when a location on the map has been pinged, there should also be a visual cue indicating the direction of travel to the point of interest.

Visuals are off to a strong start, with weapons feeling as weighty as they look, and their animations look as good as most military simulators. Level designs give me strong Sci-fi horror movie vibes, and while I’m all for it, some areas are so tight that 2 people can find themselves getting stuck while running into each other.

Lighting plays a big role in gameplay, and it is on point, really helping to deliver a strong feeling of urgency. I’m also a big fan of the Alien’s alternative vision, giving an effect that looks a lot like a Predator’s heat vision.

I have nothing but praise for the audio experience. The weapon sounds are truly top-notch, and blasting enemies to bits with the trusty nail gun sounds just like a day on the job site, and the shrieks of the Aliens burning alive to a simple flashlight bring joy to my ears. Hell, even the ambient noises manage to invoke a fearful response and keep the heart racing. I could honestly see myself just sitting on the menu to listen to the brilliantly composed theme song.

Level Zero: Extraction is the sci-fi horror extraction shooter I’ve been waiting for. Edge-of-your-seat adrenaline-fueled gameplay will keep you coming back for more, no matter which side you choose to play, and I’m excited to see how far this game goes as the additions keep coming. Doghowl Games are off to a killer start, and even in early access, this is a must-play for any fans of Dead By Daylight, Escape From Tarkov, or anything of the like.

Written by: Gary Nielsen