*sigh*
State of Decay is just plain bad and the numerous flaws hold back any fun you’ll have. For the first time in years I will be returning a game due to how awful it is. Protip: buy this used if you intend on checking it out… you
will want to exchange it for a different title.
I prefer the bullet point approach to things so here we go... (The following is based off of about six hours of play time, just FYI. I don’t like to post a “final thoughts” until I’ve beaten a game, but that ain’t happening in this case.)
The good:
-the core concept of scrounging for resources and setting up a base against zombie attacks is great. I cannot believe how underutilized the theme is in every other zombie game. While the trope of "building a base" is the key zombie movie plot, video games on the other hand seem to be about blowing up as many of the undead as possible with “get out of Dodge” as the primary goal. I like the survival aspect and it adds a bit of realism into the mix.
-the day-to-night cycle does add to the atmosphere and confronting zombies at night makes combat a bit more stressful. While you do have a flashlight you don't want to use it lest you attract more undead.
-noise is used to great effect. Everything you do produces a variable amount of sound. Running, driving, shooting, and being loud while searching for supplies can alert nearby zombies and forces you to play smart; getting in large fights is something you want to avoid in this game.
The meh:
-combat is repetitive. Here’s how it goes down: Mash X to melee attack a zombie until it reaches one of two vulnerable positions and then perform a finishing move to smash the head. You
can shoot but it takes a headshot to kill a zombie and you’ll make a lot of racket firing guns so get used to hitting that X button. While there is a large variety of melee objects they all essentially function the same. Maybe you unlock combos later on (although I don’t think you do) but there should have been some variety.
-I liked the idea of clearing out the large zombie infestations but they would recover waaay too frequently. I find it hard to believe that this incredibly rural, out-of-the-way mountain town has a large enough population to sustain the amount of zombies you encounter. I know I’m overthinking it a bit but the setting doesn’t match the experience.
-the story is pretty typical zombie scenario crap. It’s above the Walking Dead’s b.s. so there’s that I suppose. Check your story expectations at the door for any zombie plot these days…
The bad:
-I’m not going to knock the game for not looking up to par for current games. I know this was originally an Xbox Live Arcade game and, to be fair, the current incarnation was released at a budget price. I’m okay with the below average character models and textures. What I take umbrage with is the abysmal framerate. The framerate is so sporadic I have no clue how they thought this was okay to release. This game makes Deadly Premonition look polished. The unsteadiness of the visuals alone are enough to scare away most players; and for good reason! Poor framerates are unacceptable. It isn’t like the Souls games where one area is a lag fest; even if it is a bit obnoxious,
you can get over that. For State of Decay, it is a constant struggle and pulls you out of the experience.
-There’s kind of a morale system in the game. Occasionally you have missions to boost an individual’s morale by going out and killing zombies. An okay concept. Now replace the word “occasionally” with “every five minutes” and there’s a problem. The NPC’s at my base constantly had issues and every time I completed a morale mission two more would pop up minutes later. I eventually said ‘screw them’ and went about the story missions. The morale missions don’t accomplish anything and they’re all the same: Go down the street and kill zombies. Not fun, not productive, and a waste of my valuable time.
-For some inexplicable reason the population of my base started to dwindle. People would go out on scavenging missions despite me gathering enough supplies to keep everything stocked up. This wouldn’t bother me if they had enough sense to not get killed. But no, they’re all apparently sharing a brain and the one NPC that went out for a stroll left it back at the base.
Why does population matter? Well, you can have NPC’s follow you to help in fights and, trust me, you will need help. I searched for an answer and *supposedly* (based off various message board posts) the game still kind of goes on while you’re not playing. Think “Animal Crossing” but with zombies. I really don’t know if it is true but the persistent world thing does not work in this case. In order to build on some of the bigger bases you need a lot of survivors. It is not cool to turn on the game and find out two people died… How dare I take a break!
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I'm done. I'm sure there are other issues I could talk about but I'm done dwelling on this game.
Skip State of Decay.
