Before Bethesda took the helm of the iconic series and Walton Goggins donned ghoul makeup for the captivating TV adaptation, Fallout was known for its isometric action RPG format, viewed from a bird's eye perspective. This classic style of exploring a post-apocalyptic wasteland seems to be the inspiration behind the upcoming game, Survive the Fall, based on my initial hours with it. This new title builds on the foundational elements of the original Fallout, particularly in its robust camp development system, while integrating squad-based combat and scavenging to create a fresh yet familiar experience. However, the somewhat static storytelling slightly dims its vibrant personality.
Unlike many other post-apocalyptic narratives where human error leads to nuclear devastation, Survive the Fall's world was altered by a catastrophic comet impact, reminiscent of the event that led to the extinction of dinosaurs. This disaster not only decimated a large portion of the population but also left behind a crater emitting a toxic mist called Stasis. Survivors either shun this mist or harness its power, resulting in mutations that enhance their abilities but at a cost to their humanity. As you navigate through Survive the Fall, your squad of scavengers will need to forge alliances with various factions across three distinct biomes, from the Stasis-embracing Shroomers to the enigmatic cult, the Sighted, to ensure survival and prosperity.
I quickly grew fond of the squad-based mechanics in Survive the Fall. As you guide your party of up to three survivors through the expansive national park setting that marks the beginning of the story, you have the option to manually search for resources like chemical compounds in abandoned chests or chop down trees for lumber, or simply delegate these tasks to your team members. This division of labor feels intuitive and accelerates the scavenging process across the settlements. The only minor issue was occasional clutter from too many interactive prompts in close proximity, though this was not a frequent occurrence.
Combat in Survive the Fall is also squad-oriented. Given the scarcity of ammunition like rifle and shotgun rounds early on, I adopted a stealth approach to encounters with marauders and ghouls. Each infiltration felt like a strategic operation, akin to the recent Commandos: Origins, involving hiding, creating distractions, and executing silent takedowns, followed by having my team hide the bodies. The game also offers environmental hazards to exploit, such as explosive barrels and precarious cargo pallets that can be dropped on unsuspecting foes.
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Clearing out clusters of cultists stealthily was satisfying, but when my cover was compromised, the combat could become somewhat cumbersome, especially with a controller. Targeting enemies with the laser sight was less precise than I hoped, often leading me to rely on melee attacks and dodging in close combat. Fortunately, the ability to pause and direct my squad to focus on specific targets, similar to systems in Wasteland or Mutant Year Zero, was a helpful feature, allowing my team to tackle tougher enemies while I dealt with the support units.
After a day spent combating mutants and gathering resources in the treacherous badlands, Survive the Fall transitions into a base-building management phase at your camp. Here, you can research documents found in the wild to earn knowledge points, which you can then use to unlock new technologies and craft items ranging from bunk beds and kitchen areas to water filtration systems and armories. Resources like timber can be transformed into planks for constructing new structures, such as plant boxes or defensive gates, while foraged herbs and salvaged meat can be turned into meals for your expeditions. The depth of this system promises hours of engaging settlement development.
Exploring outside of my base revealed a variety of intriguing locations, from a repurposed passenger plane turned enemy stronghold to a farmstead overrun with Stasis-infected ghouls. While these areas were richly detailed, some environments like the Mycorrhiza swamplands, with their stunning luminescent mushrooms, suffered from performance issues, including a volatile framerate. Additionally, I encountered occasional game-breaking bugs that forced me to reload saves, though there is still time before the game's release for Angry Bulls Studio to refine these aspects.
The lack of voice acting in Survive the Fall results in somewhat flat interactions with your squad and NPCs, which are conveyed solely through onscreen text. While some characters, like the amusing Blooper who dubbed the Stasis smog "fart wind," provided humor, most conversations felt like mere setups for the next task rather than opportunities to deepen character engagement.
As Survive the Fall is set to launch on PC this May, it holds significant promise for fans of post-apocalyptic survival action RPGs. With some polish on the controls and performance, this game has the potential to be a worthy addition to the genre, earning your hard-earned bottlecaps.
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