Outbreak: Dead City is a low-budget indie title that kept me entertained for a few hours. It offers a linear story and a new game + mode to keep you coming back for more. Sadly, there isn’t much more depth on offer, and this disappointed me. However, if you fancy an inexpensive break from AAA titles, this should be considered.
ScrapGear Studio and Eastasiasoft Limited have developed this fun zombie experience. It is a first-person adventure shooter that has basic survival and arcade elements. Moreover, there is a simple but interesting story to follow. Consequently, it has all of the right ingredients to keep you focused throughout.
Outbreak: Dead City tells a familiar story.
Outbreak: Dead City doesn’t have an original plot. The standard genre tropes apply as zombie hordes, deadly weapons, and a band of badass heroes must save the day. None of this is new, but it works well, and I loved the corny and cliched plot.
You play the role of a member of H.A.D.E.S. This rough and tough band of soldiers must explore a broken city as they try to rescue a soldier and find the vaccine to the deadly apocalyptic plague. However, things rarely go smoothly as they try to complete their mission.
Minor missions and huge bosses.
The action comprises a handful of basic and easy-to-follow missions. As you explore each location, you’ll encounter rudimentary puzzles, groups of zombies, and some unhelpful NPCs. Additionally, there are collectables that improve your skills and power, new weapons, and scrap to upgrade your guns.
The cast of zombies varies from slow brain munchers to deadly dogs. Additionally, there is a small roster of huge bosses to overcome. None of them requires much brain power to overcome, but I enjoyed shooting them with my shotgun, pistol, or assault rifle.
The missions usually ask you to head to a certain location, grab a key item, or kill a group of enemies. Once you have completed your task, you return to base and move on. This is the gameplay loop, and it could have been more complex. However, I enjoyed the simplicity, the easy-to-follow action, and the level of zombies I had to face.
Outbreak: Dead City is a gruesomely pixelated affair.
Outbreak: Dead City isn’t a visual masterpiece. Instead, it relies on a voxel art style, grim backdrops, and some wonderful zombie decapitation. It is rough, ugly, and brilliant in equal measure. The stage design isn’t that impressive, but I liked the varied areas, the use of broken buildings, and the basic but effective animation.
One of the key elements was the brilliant audio. It offers a daunting and uncomfortable atmosphere that highlights the danger the protagonist faces. It is sombre, slow, and filled with danger.
Easy-to-follow action.
The UI and controller layout are easy to understand. You have a limited inventory to manage, and walking through each location was a walk in the park. Sadly, there were some clunky moments, but these never impacted the action.
Replay value is sadly limited. Although the developer has added a new game + mode, it offers little value. This was a shame, as I’d have loved new puzzles to solve, tougher enemies, or a character change. Thankfully, the first playthrough is good enough to make up for this shortcoming.
Outbreak: Dead City is a good indie title.
Outbreak: Dead City is a good indie title, though it never really excels. Many of the mechanics are executed well despite the low-budget affair. I like the cliched story, the grim visuals, and the brilliant audio. However, it lacks depth, and it isn’t long enough. Despite this, I think it’s great, and I recommend buying it here! Can you complete your mission and survive the zombies? Grab your weapons, explore the city, and don’t get bitten.
