Don't Buy State of Decay · 5:50pm Jun 15th, 2013
I thought my dream, a zombie game where you actually have to survive in a dynamic world with simulated events and characters that have goals and feelings and things to say, was finally here.
But it wasn't.
State of Decay isn't a simulation. Almost all the events are scripted and the few that aren't are almost entirely unimportant. It seems like the only thing remotely resembling an actual zombie survival simulation is survivors randomly going missing after walking out the front door. These instances of startling confusion on the 'simulated' AI's part would be fine if the mechanics related to finding survivors actually worked or made sense. More importantly, it would be great if there were a limit to the number of survivors that can go missing, because it's not fun searching around town to find ten different people just because you need to find that one guy that can cook decently so you can get yourself a stat boost.
If you assumed the game would heavily revolve around missions, you would be correct. If you assumed the missions would be interesting, you would be disappointed very quickly. The developers talked about day to day survival, but... none of that is here, or at least, none of it actually matters. There are almost no consequences for avoiding all the work related to actually keeping your party healthy, fed, and supplied (aside from missing survivors, but that happens just as much when you are thriving).
The ending comes up within three hours if you only complete the story missions. I thought it was nice that one of the main (playable) characters was gay, until I actually unlocked him. Once you've befriended a character and started playing as them, they lose everything that made them individuals and start repeating the same phrases over and over again. "This is good, right? I mean, it doesn't suck!"
I guess I'll stick with Organ Trail, then.
*Says nothing knowing that if I do it will start a huge fight.*
2002808
I am aware of the updates that have been made, but few of them actually address the issues I had with the game so I am not rescinding my criticisms.
Yes, the mechanics are significantly better realized, and yes you can play the game as a sim (though I would still look into Fort Zombie if I wanted that).
And I'm still bitter about the impact State of Decay will have on my zombie story/game, Synest Dead, because all the apt descriptions of it would liken it to this title and leave an incorrect impression upon consumers.
To be fair, this isn't the developers fault. They were the victims of 'hype'.
2003505
Your absolutely right. The game has some things that shouldn't have been put in and it is a buggy at times. Thanks you for pointing that out.