When you consider survival apocalyptic games, I bet Fallout is the first that springs to mind. This isn’t a bad thing, after all, it is a masterpiece. However, I’m not here to talk about that wonderful game. Instead, I’m looking at Survive the Fall and its unique twist on the genre. This saturated marketplace is tough to navigate. Every developer and their dog wishes to use this cruel setting and well-trodden genre to their advantage. Yet, many get it wrong. Accordingly, can this one stand out from its peers and fight to survive?
This base-building and semi-open world adventure was developed by Angry Bulls Studio and published by Toplitz Productions. It is a single-player game that uses an isometric viewpoint. Furthermore, there are mountains of tough decisions to make, cruel encounters to deal with, and a small band of survivors to look after. In short, there are plenty of plates to spin if you wish to thrive.
Survive the Fall tells a dull story.
A meteor, toxic waste, death, destruction, and a glimmer of hope are the key ingredients in Survive the Fall. Unfortunately, the familiar story mechanics leave a lot to be desired, and I wasn’t hooked by the tale of humanity’s downfall. Moreover, the lead characters are reasonably dull, and this doesn’t help matters. Yet, if you can overcome the tepid storyline and dull protagonists, there is plenty of great action to enjoy.
There are factions, elements of political intrigue, NPCs, and a vast world to explore. On top of this, you must manage your camp as you fight for survival on many unique fronts. Whether it is humans who are affected by the “Stasis” or rebel factions who wish to steal your goods, you must stay alert and fight them all. A day/night cycle keeps you focused, and common survival game stats must be looked after. Health, food, and energy bars must all be topped up if you wish to be successful.
Managing different worlds.
Exploration and base building are where you waste your time. During the adventure segments, a team of up to 3 survivors must explore 3 huge biomes. Enemies, animals, and an array of obstacles stand in your way. Consequently, you must plan your approach as you use new tools and skills to unlock new areas and find unique resources. Talking of resources, you must scavenge every important item you find. The downside is your minute pockets and backpack. Unfortunately, you have limited space, and this causes untold frustration.
Fighting can and should be avoided at all costs. Luckily, stealth mechanics are good and using melee weapons keeps injury and unnecessary attention to a minimum. However, occasionally, you must fight to stay alive. When this happens, there is a great blend of melee and ranged weapons at your disposal. Moreover, you may pause the action to line up tasks and overcome a swathe of foes.
This approach was fantastic as things can become hectic. Additionally, injuries are devastating, and managing fallen survivors makes base building and exploration that little bit harder.
Superb base building.
Survive the Fall includes a fantastic base-building layer. Unlike other survival games, you must use resources and research points wisely if you wish to unlock your full potential. New buildings, tools, weapons, and farms must be unlocked to expand your world. Moreover, you must remove pockets of “Stasis” affected areas to maximise room.
Completing new buildings and creating essential tools isn’t that easy. The aforementioned day/night cycle keeps you on your toes. Moreover, remembering exactly what you need for your next expedition is easier said than done. Fire, ropes, crowbars, lockpicks, and more are needed if you wish to open every locked section.
Survive the Fall looks great.
Though this genre has been done to death, Survive the Fall stands out from the crowd. Visually, it is a gruesome pleasure. The dark and dank world has a disgusting, claustrophobic edge. What’s more, the top-down camera delivers a tight point of view for unpleasant surprises. This was great as you never felt comfortable. Additionally, it made the exploration elements tough, exciting, and brutal.
The audio delivers a sombre and melancholy atmosphere. Daunting music and chilling sound effects ensure you don’t stop moving. Moreover, the incredible ambient sounds prevent low points and empty segments. This was a good choice as the open world is large, and the energy and action could have plateaued.
Superb controls.
The developer has created an unbelievably user-friendly game. Though Survive the Fall has plenty of complex mechanics, everything is well explained. Moving from base building to open world exploration is a cinch, and managing your survivors was a joy. My only complaint was the inventory system. Things tend to get messy, and OCD gamers will have a meltdown.
I expected to blast through this game in no time. However, I’ve invested plenty of hours, and I’ve just about worked through the top layer of madness. This captivating title will take over your life if you let it. Furthermore, the risk of death and failure demands an eye for detail and a meticulous approach.
Survive the Fall is a great addition to the genre.
We know this genre is horribly saturated. However, Survive the Fall is a great addition. This excellent indie title is rewarding, challenging, and brilliantly captivating. The balance of base-building, survival elements, and exploration was wonderfully considered. However, the characters are dull, and the story is affected as a consequence. Despite this complaint, I love it and recommend buying it here! Can you rebuild humanity? Explore the wasteland, expand your base, and overcome every obstacle.
