Undead Labs and Microsoft bring the open-world, zombie survival-fantasy game State of Decay: Year-One Survival Edition to the Xbox One. This is a remaster of the fastest-selling original game on Xbox Live Arcade for the Xbox 360, which sold over half a million copies after its first week of release.
State of Decay: Year-One Survival Edition features the original game, along with two major add-ons, Breakdown and Lifeline.There is a lot in this game to keep you busy, including new mission types, community challenges, and achievements. As an added bonus, if you have purchased and played State of Decay on the Xbox 360, you can import your save via the cloud and unlock an exclusive new character.
State of Decay: Year-One Survival Edition is developed by Undead Labs and published by Microsoft Studios
Release date: April 28th, 2015
Rated: M for Mature
Genre: Action & Adventure
Consoles: Xbox One, PC
The zombie apocalypse is upon us
Imagine waking up to find out that you are smack-dab in the middle of a zombie apocalypse. In State of Decay: Year-One Survival Edition you play as Marcus, who has come to beautiful Trumbull Valley along with his co-worker Ed for a vacation. After returning from a fishing trip, both Marcus and Ed discover that the zombie apocalypse has begun.
Undead Labs designed the open-world of State of Decay: Year-One Survival Edition to span an impressive 16 square kilometers. This remarkably large environment provides numerous locations for you to visit including farms, parks, neighbourhoods, trailer parks, and even a small city. You will explore houses, gas stations, pharmacies, junk yards, and restaurants for survivors and critical supplies to stay alive.
How will you survive?
State of Decay: Year-One Survival Edition combines deep strategic elements, fast-paced action, and role-playing elements all together in one entertaining game. To survive the zombie apocalypse you must scavenge, explore, and fight zombies. The necessities for survival at your home base must be monitored and kept stocked with food, ammunition, fuel, building materials, and medical supplies. Keeping your home base safe is vital. You will be able to upgrade, fortify, and even move your home base to a bigger building as the game progresses. Additional facilities can be built to provide extra resources, healthcare and increased sleeping quarters, to keep everyone happy and healthy.
Forming relationships with other communities of survivors in Trumbull Valley can be the difference between life and death, as they are the key to your success in the game. Each of your characters have their own unique traits, and skills that you can improve throughout the game to aid in your battle against the zombie hordes. You must use your survivors wisely, once they are killed they will not return, leaving you to use the remaining survivors to explore the world.
Vehicles and Weapons
Vehicles are your main source of transportation in State of Decay: Year-One Survival Edition, allowing for faster travel to and from each location throughout Trumbull Valley. There are a total of 12 different types of vehicles that you will encounter throughout the game. Vehicles include station wagons, hatchbacks, pickup trucks, and taxi cabs. Each vehicle has specific advantages such as maximum speed, durability, and handling; which you will need to take into consideration before using them. A valuable feature of vehicles is the ability to store items and rucksacks in their trunks. When my backpack got full, I would store extra weapons and supplies in the trunk for later use.
In State of Decay: Year-One Survival Edition you can quickly eliminate hordes of zombies by running them over with a vehicle. I had an absolute blast watching the zombies fly through the air and then watching them splatting on the ground. A bit of advice though, zombies will damage your vehicle, and can rip off your doors leaving you vulnerable to attack. So be careful!
Effective weapons are crucial for survival of the zombie apocalypse. Luckily there is a countless variety of weapons that can be found throughout State of Decay: Year-One Survival Edition. Weapons are divided into two main categories, melee and firearms. Each weapon set has its own set of abilities and weaknesses. Choose wisely or a swarm of zombies could kill you in an instant.
Presentation
State of Decay: Year-One Survival Edition displays the intense fast-paced action at an impressive 1080p resolution, which makes the environment standout and shine. The improved textures, shadows, and lighting brings Trumball Valley to life like never before.
With that said, there are a few minor hiccups in State of Decay: Year-One Survival Edition. Occasionally, while I was behind a closed door, seeking shelter from the attacking zombies, they would walk right through the door and start attacking me. Additionally, I did encounter some frame rate issues, and graphical glitches such as pop up and flickering while driving. Don’t worry though, these minor problems do not deter from the incredible amount of fun you will have with this game.
As an added touch, 30 extra minutes of music has been created for this remastered version, further enhancing the mood for slaying zombies. The sounds of zombies beating down on the doors and windows is frightfully delightful.
Additional Content
The first add-on, Breakdown allows for unlimited play as there is no storyline, your goal is to see how long you can survive the zombie apocalypse. The more challenges you complete the more survivors you can unlock to use.
The second add-on, Lifeline tells the story from the main game through the perspective of a small group of Military soldiers, where you must rescue civilians, researchers, and scientists who can help fight and research the zombie apocalypse. A new map, firearms, and multiple endings are available, offering a fresh, new experience from the main story that is well worth your time to play.
Final Thoughts
State of Decay: Year-One Survival Edition offers up some of the most fun I have had in quite a while. Fans of The Walking Dead, Resident Evil, or The Evil Within series will enjoy this game immensely. The gameplay is addicting, it offers the right balance of strategy, and action that will keep you coming back for more. There is an amazing amount of content included with this low cost game that, offers an incredible amount of value. Sadly, multiplayer support is not included in State of Decay: Year-One Survival Edition, but Undead Labs have promised to include this in future games in the series.
+ This game is pure fun to play
+ Amazing amount of content for a low price
+ Extensive selection of weapons and vehicles at your disposal
– Slowdown and graphical glitches in some areas of the game
– No multiplayer modes
OVERALL
Gameplay: 4.5/5
Graphics: 3/5
Sound: 3.5/5
Lasting Appeal/Replayability: 5/5
Overall Rating 4/5 (80%)
