State of Decay

Surviving an Apocalypse was Never this much Fun!

In general I expect most Xbox 360 Arcade games to be quick little distractions that don’t give you a ton of gameplay because of the numerous limitations developers run into. These games might also just focus on one aspect of game play or they keep the idea simple. A good example would be to compare Arkham Asylum and Gotham City Imposters. These games are great in their own respects, but you can see the difference I am trying to illustrating. Therefore I never really expect Arcade games to be spectacular or even measure up to the same quality level of full retail games.

Then there is this little piece of gaming greatness called State of Decay. I have played and enjoyed this game longer then a lot of full retail games. The game is a little rough around the edges and it can be a little buggy (especially the DLC). That doesn’t take away from the game one bit. It’s part of the charm because you can just imagine what they could have done if they had the resources of a major league title. This game has depth you would not expect in an arcade title. The graphics are excellent, the gameplay will keep you on your toes, and the atmosphere is what makes the game.

The story starts with you returning from a relaxing two week fishing trip where you disconnected from the grid. During this blackout the world has ended and the zombie apocalypse is in full swing. You now have to figure out how to survive and build a community to save what’s left behind. Every decision you make has consequences for your settlement. You want to take a pickup truck and just mow down countless hordes? Go ahead, it’s a lot of fun, but it will take a toll on the vehicle to the point that it will no longer run. Engines will fail, tires will explode, and doors will get ripped off. Cars as well as resources in the game are limited. A wrong move will get you killed.

Create facilities in your community like work shops, gardens, or medical areas. You will need to find specialized survivors to maximize their usefulness. You can play most of the survivor and level their skills to make them better fighters and scavengers. Scout out areas and search the wasteland that is now your existence, but carefully search buildings so you don’t draw the attention of the zombies outside. You always have to watch your back. The weapons you pick, the supplies you carry, and the skills you choose makes encountering zombies really fun. You can have as many survivors as you can find and experiment with all of them. You will have your favorites, but you can’t use them all the time because of fatigue and injuries.

Think that you can out smart a zombie? Sure you can easily handle single zombies with no problems. However you will be surprised at how quickly and dangerous a situation can get in this game. Especially when you run into one of the freak zombies. The developers were very creative in this aspect and it fits the world they populate nicely. Each one is unique and lethal in their own way. Mix these freaks in with the regular zombies and you will be fighting for your life. Again, watch your back always and be ready to run. Just hope you don’t run the wrong way.

The game may seem simple or repetitive on the surface, but a lot of thought has been put into the game. Like I already said, the game has depth, with many game mechanics I haven’t even mentioned. The story could have been longer, but it is an Arcade game. Open world exploration is also the core gameplay, so the story is limited. With achievements titled “Ya always were an A-Hole Gorman” how can you not love this game. The achievements are great in that they also help you play the game in ways you might not think to. The DLC for this game actually adds value to the game. It was one of the very few times I willing bought DLC without grumbling under my breath. Once you have mastered the game, Breakdown will put you to the test.