Zombasite

 PC
Metascore
66

Mixed or average reviews - based on 5 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 5
  3. Negative: 1 out of 5
  1. Riot Pixels
    Sep 11, 2016
    40
    An unfinished prototype of a game featuring lots of messed-up gameplay elements and too many ambitions.

User Reviews

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User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 5 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 5
  3. Negative: 1 out of 5
  1. spleendamage
    Mar 30, 2017
    8
    Summary:
    Solid ARPG with a dynamic world. Definite recommend to fans of the genre. Definite recommend to fans of other Soldak games, with the    Summary:
    Solid ARPG with a dynamic world. Definite recommend to fans of the genre. Definite recommend to fans of other Soldak games, with the caveat that this title is quite similar to Din's Curse.

    Longer version:
    First off, I love Soldak and their approach to their games.
    In Zombasite, as in most Soldak games, you are one piece in a larger dynamic world that evolves around you, influenced by things you do and even things you don't. So while Zombasite is a solid hack-and-slash ARPG with requisite monster killing and quest completing, there's a another, dynamic, layer on top tracking events around the world outside of the immediate area of your sword arc. Completing quests makes you stronger, but if you delay on a rescue mission, the target may die. If you don't stop a monster incursion, they may raid your town.

    I mention a town because in Zombasite, you manage a clan. It's not a full hands on management sim, most of the management is indirect. The clan prospers when you get the right mix of members, defend the town when necessary, keep everyone happy, properly equipped and fed. If you don't do these things, you may end up with clan members turning traitor on you, or killing each other. Enemy factions and powerful monsters will launch surprise attacks on your clan, which you can either leave up to your clan-mates to defend, or help thwart yourself.
    Your clan consists of folks you run into and recruit while you adventure. Each clan member is a NPC with their own equipment, abilities and personality quirks. Clan members typically hang out in your town assigned to certain tasks like guard, or rest, but they can also join up with you as NPC wing-men while you adventure.

    There are other clans also for you to interact with diplomatically. You can trade or complete quests for other clans to raise your standing with them, sign treaties, adventure with their members in your party, or simply raid and destroy them.

    There's no scripted narrative here and each game will play differently as the majority of the content is generated procedurally, including the maps. There are a good number of class options including the ability to mix and match class abilities as a hybrid. Each adventure area also alters the play style slightly with dynamic features like frequent earthquakes, or storms with random lightning strikes. So replayability is quite high.

    At its default settings, the game is hard. I enjoy that. Some might not. Fortunately for everyone there are a myriad of options for adjusting the difficulty to make the game tuned to your play style: from quite casual, to single-mistake death.

    Zombasite and other Soldak games are often panned for their graphics not being slick enough, I think this is overplayed. The graphics here are not AAA, but completely serviceable. You will see the same basic monsters over and over, so that can become a bit stale, but the animations are solid and controls are good.

    Developer support is excellent as Soldak continues to patch the game and an expansion is in the works.

    The one con I would list is the name / feature the name is based on. Zombasite is a weird portmanteau of Zombie and parasite. The adherence to the infectious monsters running rampant as a backdrop for every playthrough is less compelling than if there were a variety of apocalyptic scenarios to combat. It's weird because everywhere else, Soldak supplies so many options and procedural variety. This seems like a big missed opportunity. Truthfully, I usually turn the zombies off when I am playing (Kudos for being an option for that!).

    If you got this far, you should at least try the free demo and see for yourself. Of course Soldak provides a free demo!    … Full Review »
  2. XKnyght
    Nov 4, 2016
    8
    PROS:
    -Procedurally generated world.
    -Dynamic living world and content. -Many classes to choose from or create your own with dual class    PROS:
    -Procedurally generated world.
    -Dynamic living world and content.
    -Many classes to choose from or create your own with dual class selection.
    -Clan and relations management.
    -Tower defense elements.
    -Multiple ways to play and win.

    CONS:
    -Not noob friendly (tutorial system could use an upgrade).
    -Clunky user interface.
    -Sounds and music (or lack thereof) could use some improvements.
    -Some dated ARPG elements that needs to be left behind, such as identifying items and limited town portals.
    -Dated graphics.

    SUMMARY:
    As a gamer that spends most of his time playing nothing but isometric ARPGs, I have to say Zombasite has brought something I never played before.

    Most dungeon crawlers are all about killing a ton of enemies, looting items, and leveling up your character. But Zombasite combines other genres such as town management, tower defense, and some lite survival simulation. It all somehow works and keeps you engaged far longer than the usual grinding for loot and leveling you'll find in typical ARPGs. It really is a breath of fresh air that the dungeon crawler genre needed.

    If you can look passed some of the game's weaknesses that I mention above you are certainly in for a treat. It is not an easy game to get into at first since there's a lot of intricacies to learn. But if you stick with it, you'll soon find a diamond in the rough.

    It's almost criminal, how little to no press this game gets. I feel bad that this game doesn't get the recognition it deserves. It has a lot of great things going for it. Don't let the graphics or funny title of the game fool you and give this a shot (free demo). And if you are an isometric ARPG fan like I am, do yourself a favor and try it!    … Full Review »
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