You know even if this game wasn't a fascinating experiment that takes off around you in what feels like an improbably janky but coordinated fashion, I think I could recommend this game alone on the trashtalk enemy villains level at you routinely during the game through popup messages. This is my first Soldak game but I can tell they are the kind of developer that bites off more they can chew with a wild cool original idea that is somewhat difficult to understand as a newbie and the initial game release is plagued with bugs and lack of explanation in the tutorial... you know the story. The thing is, it is immediately apparent from all the little quality of life features Soldak put into the management and UI heavy aspects of Zombasite that Soldak has had a LOTTTT of experience with bringing crazy experimental ideas kicking and screaming into the realm of actual playable, polished and understandable experiences. From my initial impression it seems like Zombasite has the most ideas going on at once (though I can't say if that truly leads to a deeper strategy experience or not *shrugs*) of all of Soldak's "Diablo" style games. I am very excited to try this game co-op but I can already confidently give it 5 stars for so thoroughly executing a totally ridiculous vision of a Diablo style 4x game that I have never seen any other developer even remotely attempt (except maybe Arcen's The Last Federation and a handful of others?). Is it because of the EA copyright on the "emergent villain that gets more powerful when it kills you and becomes local powerful lord" mechanic that Zombasite is such an utterly unique game? To some degree probably, but I don't think it matters to much in terms of evaluating Zombasite because this is the kind of game only a studio that absolutely wanted to make this kind of game over any other type of game in the world would make. If you can get past the graphics and low budget, this is a must buy for me!
To say this game has a soundtrack is selling it short by miles. Brigador has an awesome 80s-ish synth album as its BACKBONE and every nerve, tendon, muscle and ounce of meat in the game is an enhancement and articulation of that backbone. The soundtrack is so good that I find myself making bold choices in the gameplay because it feels like I am betraying the game by playing it safe. I definitely recommend spending more to get all the music with the game and that isn't something I usually recommend. Another thing I appreciate about this game is the love of ridiculous, behemoth tanks and mechs. So many games favor quick, mobile play styles over slower, heavier play styles (even though they claim to treat both equally). This game is in love with monsterously ponderous tanks and mechs and I love it for it.
For your own health, relationships with your family and friends, and employment I hope you are turned off by the graphics of this game and never try it. Otherwise, you are doomed! Several parts to this game make it especially good. - Its pretty balanced, this isn't a lot of useless stuff in it, or at least there isn't anywhere as much useless stuff as similar games I have played. Its also hard, and punishes you for making stupid mistakes. - The roguelike lite save system. The game autosaves for you and lets you go back one turn for a point penalty and reset the map for a point penalty. Thats it. I like this because often in these types of game I get obsessed with doing everything perfectly, and continuously reload saves. - The campaign is setup so that you have to conquer many smaller worlds to win. Every world you start anew with a hero. This places the emphasis on the early and mid game battle to grow powerful thats so much fun in these kinds of games, and reduces the emphasis on the flatlining difficulty curve that happens once you get over the mid-game hump (and becomes boring fast).
