Dead Age

Don't be fooled by other reviews that gave this a so-so rating. It's true that the UI is kind-off intimidating at first, but its really cool when you got use to it. It takes time to figure things out since the tutorial only showed the basics. Lets remember that were not suppose to compare this to realtime strategy and zombie shooters. As a Turn-based game, this is actually great.

Enjoyed it to a point. Ive spent more than a few hrs on this game and Ill admit Im starting to hate how every game is autosave. I went to the main menu to start a new game and as another reviewer said the interface is bad that I ended up deleting my whole profile and the many hrs I have already put into the game so suffice to say I am EXTREMELY annoyed.

Galaxy says my playtime is 16 hours, but I think it's also counting a previous playthrough from Steam. Activities in the camp can pass quickly if you assign a regular job (like crafting) to your character, Jack, but various areas where you fight enemies can feel repetitive and a slog since enemies do vary quite a bit, but they are bound to their areas (e.g. wolves only appear in the forest), otherwise I love the game since it's the first zombie apocalypse game I can play with its turn based combat and zombies aren't scary for me here (usually I hate seeing them in games and disable them if at all possible). Outside of combat (you can select from quite a bit of equipment melee weapons and/or ranged weapons), the story is given via text in visual novel format, so expect a lot of clicking, but given its format, the game can be also be played with one hand. Achievements are very easy to unlock and will mostly happen as you play the game, e.g. kill X amount of Y enemy type. I never used engineering skills and I don't think it's useful anyway. Specialize characters in a ranged weapon and some melee to save ammo when needed. Cunning and survival are most useful in the field and the camp for guarding and hunting, but have a medic for medkits and a crafter for gear and ammo in your camp. You have quite a wide selection of ranged weapons and protective gear in the game. I'd say one playthrough is worth it and even though you do unlock upgrade rewards when you beat the game (you can improve skills and unlock a starting profession to have a headstart with some equipment and skills), but the repetitive combat is a turnoff from replaying the game. Another minus is that the game only autosaves on the dawn of the following day, so tracking to the end of an area to kill a boss or complete a story mission will take a while. Besides I already got 2 best endings by defeating the punks and their leader and getting to the end of the desert night area before ingame day 42.

the game is annoying as hell, right from the first playthrough, if one can call a helpless poking at the interface a playthrough. having invested two or three hours, one finally learns the basics enough to try to save ammo, only upgrade one or two skills per survivor, specialize them either for expeditions or camp duties, etc. however, when by the fifth or sixth game one manages somehow survive one full week or more in a desperate race against the shortage of everything... another unlucky strike of the random generator like two mutually excluding missions, both too difficult for the injured party with no ammo left, ends badly ― there's just no more desire to start it all over. the game is addictive, but too primitive in terms of gameplay, it just never rewards one for all that grinding and dying and despair and more grinding over and over. sorry, I wanted to like dead age because the graphical style reminds me of the old flash rebuild 2, but that one was so much more fun.

I wanted to like this game and I did. Good characters and casual nature. However, the autosave Ironman aspect of makes you learn through starting over and over again. I don't mind unforgiving, but the save system is purposefully enraging. Unclear direction and unforgiving save system makes for a bad game. This game will reward those that have the time to get past the flaw. For me, too much other stuff out there.