I got into this game after missing the initial hype around its release. In many, many ways it is an incredible game. The atmosphere is exceptionally good, as it makes you feel truly alone in a dangerous environment.
The story isn't fantastic, but it can be REALLY good if you know what you're doing within the game. Which you most likely don't know because it's your first time playing.
Despite my praise, this game has one incredibly major flaw that keeps people, including myself, from truly appreciating it. And it's how the exploration is both the best and worst part of the game.

Exploring the map for the first time and discovering wrecks, new creatures, biomes, etc is incredibly interesting. I loved exploring for the sake of curiosity and finding new things. It was fantastic. Except when extensive exploration and travel became mandatory.
[SPOILERS]
When you get to the point where the Sunbeam gets destroyed, you become sort of... Lost. The only thing you can turn to is exploration, which initially is not a bad thing. The coordinates of destroyed lifepods tend to help the player discover what they need, but it's hard to pick up on this in your first playthrough. This uncertainty makes it mandatory for the player to return to these places, which is not a first thought when the coordinates are turned off whenever you go to the area. The game tells you that you're done exploring that area.
Eventually, the only thing that will help progress the plot is looking for wrecks. By this point, the player has explored a handful of them. With the lack of a map, it's very difficult to know exactly which ones you've been to, so stopping to check is a massive waste of time and it becomes frustrating.
Late game is kind of where you get some pointers again, as any destroyed lifepod on the map has already been explored. After the Sea Emperor gives you vague dialogue, the only thing to drive you forward is the PDA itself. It tells you where some important places are in the Lost River and Lava Zone and... you follow. The obnoxious part of these caves is how you NEED to go back to your base to craft depth module upgrades even though it's the only place with the resources you need. Travelling down to the Lava Zone is an insanely long trip, and you will first go down for nickel, and then go back to this area for kyanite, where you then go back home to craft mk2 and mk3 for your prawn suit and cyclops. You can only craft upgrades in the modification station and moonpool, of which cannot be accessed in a cyclops and must be at a base.
The trips between necessary points is absolutely mind numbing. You must first go to the aurora after it explodes. Then, go again when you have the code for the Captain's Quarters from the Radio. After that, you must find the Lost River for nickel, assuming you know that it resides there. Go back home to create your upgrades. Go back to the Lost River to try to find Kyanite. Discover it's in the Lava Zone and realize that you absolutely need a drill arm in order to get any, which can take another entire trip because it's completely up to chance that you have a drill arm because it's never implied that you need it to complete the game.
Go back home to create your upgrades that require Kyanite, blah blah blah. There's too much back and forth. It's really obnoxious and not fun at all. This is why the exploration is downright horrendously annoying.

Despite my long rant, I do enjoy this game and I think it's a genuinely good one. There's really not much like it. I hope my review was helpful to anyone.

I got into this game after missing the initial hype around its release. In many, many ways it is an incredible game. The atmosphere is exceptionally good, as it makes you feel truly alone in a dangerous environment. The story isn't fantastic, but it can be REALLY good if you know what you're doing within the game. Which you most likely don't know because it's your first time playing. Despite my praise, this game has one incredibly major flaw that keeps people, including myself, from truly appreciating it. And it's how the exploration is both the best and worst part of the game. Exploring the map for the first time and discovering wrecks, new creatures, biomes, etc is incredibly interesting. I loved exploring for the sake of curiosity and finding new things. It was fantastic. Except when extensive exploration and travel became mandatory. [SPOILERS] When you get to the point where the Sunbeam gets destroyed, you become sort of... Lost. The only thing you can turn to is exploration, which initially is not a bad thing. The coordinates of destroyed lifepods tend to help the player discover what they need, but it's hard to pick up on this in your first playthrough. This uncertainty makes it mandatory for the player to return to these places, which is not a first thought when the coordinates are turned off whenever you go to the area. The game tells you that you're done exploring that area. Eventually, the only thing that will help progress the plot is looking for wrecks. By this point, the player has explored a handful of them. With the lack of a map, it's very difficult to know exactly which ones you've been to, so stopping to check is a massive waste of time and it becomes frustrating. Late game is kind of where you get some pointers again, as any destroyed lifepod on the map has already been explored. After the Sea Emperor gives you vague dialogue, the only thing to drive you forward is the PDA itself. It tells you where some important places are in the Lost River and Lava Zone and... you follow. The obnoxious part of these caves is how you NEED to go back to your base to craft depth module upgrades even though it's the only place with the resources you need. Travelling down to the Lava Zone is an insanely long trip, and you will first go down for nickel, and then go back to this area for kyanite, where you then go back home to craft mk2 and mk3 for your prawn suit and cyclops. You can only craft upgrades in the modification station and moonpool, of which cannot be accessed in a cyclops and must be at a base. The trips between necessary points is absolutely mind numbing. You must first go to the aurora after it explodes. Then, go again when you have the code for the Captain's Quarters from the Radio. After that, you must find the Lost River for nickel, assuming you know that it resides there. Go back home to create your upgrades. Go back to the Lost River to try to find Kyanite. Discover it's in the Lava Zone and realize that you absolutely need a drill arm in order to get any, which can take another entire trip because it's completely up to chance that you have a drill arm because it's never implied that you need it to complete the game. Go back home to create your upgrades that require Kyanite, blah blah blah. There's too much back and forth. It's really obnoxious and not fun at all. This is why the exploration is downright horrendously annoying. Despite my long rant, I do enjoy this game and I think it's a genuinely good one. There's really not much like it. I hope my review was helpful to anyone.