State of Decay

Don't know that anyone has brought this game up yet. State of Decay

While I am not a huge fan of the zombie game genre that so popular nowadays, this game as a nice mixture of sandbox-RPG and resource management.

Despite the hack n' slash combat, there is a surprising level of RPG talent-build in what your characters learn. You can focus on melee or range combat skills. Secondly, you can actually switch around between the survivors - which it gives it a more "party-maintenance" quality. You want to invest more time and energy in different characters; not just a single player I think.

Although there is a story-line that develops, the game has a great open feel/pacing as well. There are lots of mini-missions; sites for exploration; and NPC dramas that unfold. You're not necessarily railed into only doing certain things. That being sad, I do like that there is something of a "time" tension for some missions. Missing them could lead to some allies disappearing or dying or equipment that could be missed.

Another interesting element is the perma-death that can happen to your characters. If they get caught low on health and facing a zombie horde or wandering boss, it can really suck if you have invested time developing them for awhile. That, I think, adds to the tension and fear for the players - something that gets missed in a zombie apocalypse games sometimes. Reminds me too of old-school D&D games, where sometimes a bad save roll or trap could lead to character deaths.

Right now it's out on X-Box Live for about $20. There's supposed to be a PC version out around July, so it should be curious to see what changes they make. It was a bit buggy at release, but the developer has put a couple of patches that makes it even smoother and well-done.

Overall, worth a go for zombie action goodness or the exploration-game itch.

Yay...just one month. I was scared when it said to be announced on the Wikipedia page.

I am going by what they are talking about on their forum. They have said the two major elements that is needed to finalize for PC release is:

a) Working out the process for getting it up on Steam for sale and download.

b) On technical side, it is ironing out the interface to work better with PC mouse and keyboard.

I am under the impression that content will remain similar for release.

Hopefully. What I've seen in XB360 demo videos has me stoked.

Finally beat it, I'm glad I saved the grenade launcher and 6 ammo I found till the final part, made blowing up big bastards a lot easier for Marcus.
I finished with 19 survivors.

19 survivors. Color me impressed. I've managed to get 15 total before the end.

I've played through twice and never managed to get the launcher. I either get the ammo, but no launcher or vice versa. Grenades and Thermite have been my fallback for that last battle.

Hama - looks like I was way off and misread the forum post.

The PC release is now TBD; the July date looks like it will be when they can start working on it fully. They are in bug/glitch repair mode and trying to get a second update out the door.

Totally my bad, so apologies for getting your hopes up too soon.

No problem, I'd rather play a finished game then some buggy, glitchy version with horrible ported controls for which i have to get a controller. Thanks for the info anyway.

Heads up - the game is out on Steam if you want to get the early access version. They say there is first pass at a Mouse Interface, but I cannot confirm this for myself yet. Looks like it's not perfect, but they're getting there.

Zombie killing fun just in time for Halloween.

Just a follow-up for anyone who was interested, but the full PC release on Steam is scheduled to November 5th.

The game is mostly 3rd person zombie killing - but it has interesting elements of resource and personnel management that I think make it more than that. It looks like it will have two modes - a sandbox/story-line mode and a survival-endurance mode.

Been playing it for two days now and having a blast. The only two things that really bother me, are these:

- You can't give items to your companions
- You can't store materials inside trunks or in pickups. It is annoying.

Glad to hear it. I know what you mean about not being able to give items, but I kind of accept that one as being part of survival planning that game wants to imply.

Second thing would be awesome in implementation - but again I think that it goes back to adding a level survival horror desperation. That being said - and I'm not sure it still works or if they nerfed it out - you used to be able to have a character park a truck next to a wall; stand-up on the wall; and then drop a supply sack. Then - as long as you drove slowly - it would stay in the truck as you drove.

Not a great solution - but give it a try and it might help you get more supplies.