State of Decay 3, the preview: beware of undead deer
Index
More engaging co-op In-depth gameplay Character customization Certainties and Doubts When we think of zombies, and more precisely animals, the first thought almost certainly goes to the dogs of Resident Evil even just for the fear that they have made them take their time. We can also include wolves, bulls, wild boars, cougars and yes, in short, all the plethora of predators that for example a spin-off like Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare has put us on the plate. We automatically rule out the possibility that the infection may touch more gentle animals because they would be the first to fall, nor do we take into consideration that they are shown to us because their appearance would not be terrifying as a huge grizzly - not highly recommended when alive, let alone undead.Then comes State of Decay 3 that flips the food chain with a kick and after making us believe that a wolf can be a threat of a certain importance, places a zombie deer intent on eating with the aforementioned before turning all his attention to the woman protagonist of the trailer. Despite having said almost nothing of itself, in addition to having revealed its existence, the third chapter of the survival horror of Undead Labs has anticipated what the future of the series reserves for its surviving fans: zombie animals. Unfortunately we know that the game is in an early pre-production state, so we won't see it before a few years, but the announcement during the Xbox Games Showcase offers us the right opportunity to chat about what we would like to have in the future State of Decay 3.
Co-op more engaging
Anyone who gives even just a quick look at State of Decay 2 grasped at once the potential for an online addictive and fun, one of those where the cooperation comes in the first place compared to a solitary experience for the satisfactions that can give. In the specific case, the reality could not be more different: play with friends simply translates to in the make presence, find themselves in the game with the mere task of helping the host without any kind of progression or the possibility of building. Some of the problems of lag and connection due to the hosting facility are not secondary but the core of the problem, or missed opportunity if you will, is that it does not create any feeling of cooperation when dealing with the apocalypse with the other.doesn't seem to be really part of a group of survivors ready to do anything to defend the little humanity that remains in a world adrift, only a character to level a bit higher than the PNG that does its dirty work. State of Decay-3 should be designed from the ground up putting in the first place the online component to make it more meaningful, support the company with a network infrastructure that is adequate. It would result in an experience worthwhile.
the Gameplay in-depth
In this paragraph up a little bit of everything as far as the strides that State of Decay may make with respect to the previous one. After some time passed on SOD2 becomes quite clear as the loop of the gameplay will not change much from what we have seen up to that moment, proving to be a bit superficial and repetitive; that does not necessarily mean unable to entertain, but you can without a doubt improve in this sense, by something more than the random events that can occur while we are busy to make us our business. Take for example the construction of the outpost: contrary to the general freedom that the experience offers, when it comes to work on our safe nest, the options are more limited and limiting bringing the player to have chosen to on certain and predictable buildings to be built, while ignoring others.The interesting ideas are not lacking but are stifled by the restrictions a little too strict. Given that State of Decay is not a series dedicated to the wholesale slaughter of zombies, but the survival, and go deeper with regard to the management aspect of the base (for example, by introducing new facilities and creating a balance so that each has its usefulness) would be an aspect to take into consideration. Similarly, it may be redesigned roles within the community and added new ones - also in this case we can indulge, as with the structures. A further burden on the economy of the game may be dictated both by the weather both by the seasons and their effects on the territory and on the population addition, of course, on our own character: a shower may reduce the noise but have to say, adverse effects on the recovery of the stamina. The examples and the margin of manoeuvre are certainly not lacking.
overall, SOD2 makes us feel self-sufficient in a short amount of time, which is rather short for a game focused on survival, leaving the feeling that the good ideas have been exploited only at a superficial level. The hope with State of Decay 3 is that it is done the right step forward to make them more meaningful and relevant in the overall experience.
Customizing characters
The launch State of Decay 2 is not allowed to customize their survivors in any way. In October of last year, the Update 11 introduced the ability to find and equip cosmetic items to change the appearance of the characters (consider that the game was released in may of 2018), but has never changed the substance for which, at the time of creation, there was no possibility of customization. The survivors of the initial have good or bad traits, appearance and background fixed. Along the lines of Project Zomboid , State of Decay 3 should provide a complete customization of the character, both in terms of aesthetics and of the characteristics such as abilities and traits, in order to make the experience varied and go deeper in the concept of survival.The current status of State of Decay 3 prevents you from getting any idea about the game, nor on how much time we must wait before to see him at work, but the trailer has if nothing else anticipated a future and a welcome introduction in the form of zombie animals. What will be and what kind of impact they will have on the experience is obviously to come, but the premise of wanting to insert a completely new element bodes well to implementations and future improvements that may deepen as offered by the current chapter, generous ideas, but without a true desire to go further. Gameplay is more layered, greater attention to the online component, we hope that State of Decay 3 can become an excellence in the survival horror theme of zombies, in which survival is put in the first place.
