Welcome to Paradize is a zombie-infused adventure with a humorous edge. This open-world adventure twists the classic genre tropes whilst delivering hours of survival, combat, and crafting elements. This hearty blend of ideas works, mostly, and gamers will lose themselves in an apocalyptic fantasy setting.
This isometric adventure title was developed by Eko Software and published by Nacon. Furthermore, it can be played alone or with up to 4 players. Accordingly, you can gather a group of zombie-loving friends and tackle the madness together. Though I loved playing it by myself, the action excels when another survivor joins in. Sharing the load and hacking apart hordes of zombies never gets old. Moreover, when it comes to boss battles, things are considerably easier when you have a friend to support you.
Welcome to Paradize tells a crazy tale.
Zombie games and unbelievable plots are nothing new. Luckily, Welcome to Paradize doesn’t break with tradition. The action takes place in a fictional apocalyptic setting. Zombies have run a muck and a safe haven was created. Paradize was designed for the few survivors who remained. The only catch is that each person has to make their way there.
This is where the story begins. The hero, who you get to create, stumbles through the grounds of a rundown gatehouse. All hell has broken loose and Paradize isn’t as safe as you first hoped. However, it is home and the mind-controlled zombies are helpful. Your job is to build a base within the walls and look for a way off Earth. Luckily, a moon base was created, but the creator isn’t willing to rescue you. You and your team must build a rocket, navigate armies of zombies, and make it to the moon haven before you are killed by a mindless brain muncher.
A simple gameplay loop.
Though the story sounds outlandish and very Hollywood, the gameplay loop is basic. Effectively, the hero must explore the vast open world, gathering resources. En route, they must complete quests and help out whoever they find. By finishing each task, you’ll be rewarded with new jobs and powerful items. Each of these elements is essential as you need strong goods and a stronger stomach if you wish to progress.
Where the gameplay differs slightly is the introduction of zombie helpers. Each hero can control up to 2 zombies. Furthermore, as long as you have the power, you may leave zombies in your base to gather resources and protect your prize asset, the rocket ship. This micromanagement of zombies is challenging at first, but things quickly become manageable. Commanding your forces to defend the base or gather key resources was achievable through the excellent UI. Whilst your zombie army keeps your base safe, you are free to explore with your friends and your other zombie companions.
Boss battles.
Exploration and base building have equal importance. Additionally, finding new gear for your zombies comes to the fore whenever the temperature is extreme. Controlling frozen or boiling undead isn’t great. Therefore, you’ll need the correct armour for the job. Alongside this, you may craft weapons and armour for yourself, or gather new tools for your undead friends.
Once you are happy with your base defences and your zombie’s abilities, you can try your hand at tackling an array of giant zombie animals. These encounters were great fun. However, each battle lasts forever as your weapons are as powerful as a fart in the wind. Each arrow, bolt, or slice of your machete barely scratches the surface. Yet, if you have a large team of survivors, and you work together, it is rewarding to take down each giant animal.
Welcome to Paradize looks great, but it has its problems.
I adored the isometric viewpoint. This lofty vantage point highlights upcoming troubles and makes the open world appear huge. Alongside this, it removes the need for high detail as the general overview works well with the fast-paced action that unfolds. Alongside this, I loved the different biomes and the unique environments. Each special area has its testing elements and this keeps you on your toes.
What wasn’t great, though, was the minor restrictions with the isometric viewpoint. Depending on the route of travel, you aren’t always able to see obstacles or the approaching horde. This wasn’t too bothersome as I focused on ranged weapons. Yet, if you love close-quarter combat, you’d get your ass handed to you regularly.
The whimsy and dramatic audio enhance the comical edge. The tongue in cheek tracks highlight the developer’s playful side. However, they don’t undermine the drama or the danger you face. As you enter each enemy base or tackle a huge boss, the music reflects the severity of the situation. On top of this, every weapon and action has a unique sound effect. This was fantastic as the squelch of your foes never got old.
Excellent controls.
Though the isometric viewpoint could be problematic, the controls were not. The excellent layout lets you navigate the tightest of situations. Furthermore, the simple but effective UI allows you the chance to manage every resource, tool, and item you gather. This was great as you collected plenty of rubbish as you took down every creature.
If you adore the zombie genre, then you’ll fall for Welcome to Paradize’s dead charms. Additionally, if you have a good group of friends to play with, you’ll have a great time. But if you are alone, and you don’t like a sense of grind, you may not enjoy this as much. The constant grind, disassembly, and gathering of resources adds replay value and longevity. Yet, it is this element that will put a lot of people off. Subsequently, it is a fine balancing act and something that will divide its audience.
Welcome to Paradize is amusing and fun, but a little repetitive.
I enjoyed Welcome to Paradize. The commentary was amusing, and who doesn’t like killing zombies? Moreover, creating a strong base and completing an array of quests kept me focused. If you then add in the army of pet zombies and the ability to play with friends, this ticks plenty of boxes. I understand that the grind may be off-putting, but thankfully, you can play this causally to mitigate that issue. As such, I love it and I recommend buying it here! Can you escape your newfound hell? Befriend some zombies, undertake loads of quests, and get the hell off of Earth for good.
