Age of Undead
- July 26, 2022
- Insane Dreamers
Get on Steam"Age of Undead" is a survival horror game set in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by the undead. Players must scavenge for resources, build bases, and fight off hordes of zombies in a desperate struggle for survival. With a focus on strategy and survival, players must balance exploration, defense, and resource management to make it through each day.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game offers a unique blend of RTS, TBS, and FPS gameplay, allowing players to engage in large-scale battles with various factions, including military, survivors, and zombies.
- Despite its rough edges, the game is fun and engaging, with a lot of potential for creativity in strategy and tactics, especially with the ability to call in air support and use different unit types.
- The developer is responsive to community feedback and actively works on updates and improvements, showing a commitment to enhancing the game experience.
- The AI and pathfinding are problematic, with units often getting stuck or failing to engage enemies effectively, which can hinder gameplay during large battles.
- The user interface is unfriendly and confusing, making it difficult for players to understand controls and manage units efficiently, leading to frustration.
- The game lacks depth in strategy, often devolving into a spam of units without meaningful tactical options, which can make battles feel repetitive and unbalanced.
- graphics16 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many users noting that they appear dated and reminiscent of N64-era visuals, often described as simple and stiff. While some appreciate the game's ability to create a strong sense of warfare through effective sound design and visual effects, others criticize the low frame rates and lack of emotional depth in character animations. Overall, the graphics are seen as a limitation of the single-developer project, but the gameplay experience can still be enjoyable despite these shortcomings.
“The visuals are surprisingly good all things considered.”
“Graphics are really well done with consistency to the game world where nothing feels out of place, bringing to life a very strong sense of terrifying warfare when constructing light towers and huge ground lights to see the enemy at night, playing a big part in defense as air units light up the darkness strafing the ground with incoming fire like some scene of a Vietnam napalm attack.”
“Explosives, napalm strikes, tracer rounds, it's a visual treat despite the dated graphics.”
“Oh my good god, one of my guys got shot and said 'I'm hit' with no emotion, no worry, or anything. The voice acting was laughable at best. I was mainly sucked in by the idea of using a first-person mode until I realized it's stuck at 13fps as soon as you get in first person. You can't actually control where you go; it's automated and will steal control from you if you try to move left or right. The spotlights to help you see in the dark don't actually do anything. Now, I'm not one for graphics; I care more about the gameplay, and I know it's made by one person, but come on, this looks like it was made on the N64—not the good kind of N64 graphics, but the kind where it hurts to look at for too long. You'd be better off making this a pixel game. If the dev is willing to work on this, then it's got the ability to be amazing, but at the moment it's just not there, and seeing as it's not in early access, I doubt we'll see any improvements, which is a shame; this could be so much more.”
“Aou is a very cool game full of interesting ideas and passion that is ultimately held back by the fact it's a single-man project. There is a lot of fun to be had in it if you can put up with jank, bugs, simple graphics, and weird balance.”
“At first glance, it might seem cheap and badly made with sub-par graphics.”
- gameplay15 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
Gameplay reviews are mixed, with some players criticizing the lack of emotional depth in character interactions and technical issues like low frame rates and automated controls in first-person mode. However, others appreciate the game's blend of tactical strategy, real-time strategy, and first-person shooter elements, highlighting its fun mechanics, unique factions, and the potential for engaging gameplay despite its graphical shortcomings. Overall, while there are significant areas for improvement, the core gameplay concept is well-received by many.
“This game has the typical mechanics of an RTS, but at the same time, it also has innovative mechanics for the RTS genre.”
“Unique factions, relatively balanced, interesting mechanics, but above all else, this game is just super fun.”
“Overall, I love the idea of the game, and I love the gameplay, so I do not hesitate in giving it a big thumbs up.”
“Oh my good god, one of my guys got shot and said 'I'm hit' with no emotion, no worry, or anything. The voice acting was laughable at best. I was mainly sucked in by the idea of using a first-person mode until I realized it's stuck at 13fps as soon as you get in first person. You can't actually control where you go; it's automated and will steal control from you if you try to move left or right. The spotlights to help you see in the dark don't actually do anything. Now, I'm not one for graphics; I care more about the gameplay, and I know it's made by one person, but come on, this looks like it was made on the N64, and not the good kind of N64 graphics—the kind where it hurts to look at for too long. You'd be better off making this a pixel game. If the developer is willing to work on this, then it has the potential to be amazing, but at the moment, it's just not there, and seeing as it's not in early access, I doubt we'll see any improvements, which is a shame. This could be so much more.”
“Simple mechanical aptitude of a child in play.”
“But while I enjoyed the lore and setting of the game, I have certain criticisms of the game in regards to gameplay.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is a mixed bag, showcasing a lot of charm but also significant jank and bugs, though none are game-breaking. Players have reported random performance slowdowns, particularly at night, and some balance issues, especially with artillery. Performance on unsupported devices like the Steam Deck can be problematic, but many users are still able to enjoy the experience despite these challenges.
“While all of this means the game has a lot of soul, it's still a very complex game made by a single developer, and it shows. There’s a lot of jank, a decent number of bugs (nothing game-breaking though), and random slowdowns in performance (usually at night, but sometimes at random). You can turn off the day-night cycle if it gives you too much trouble. The game is also not particularly well balanced, and artillery seems a bit too strong right now.”
“While all of this means the game has a lot of soul, it's still a very complex game made by a single developer, and it shows. There’s a lot of jank, a decent number of bugs (nothing game-breaking though), and random slowdowns in performance (usually at night, but sometimes at random). You can turn the day-night cycle off if it gives you too much trouble. The game is also not particularly well balanced, and artillery seems a bit too strong right now.”
“All my impressions have been on an unsupported Steam Deck (yes, I can play it, but there are performance issues, though I am okay with them - I have not played on my PC yet).”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is well-received, particularly in its witty descriptions and the amusing way it addresses online critics, which adds a lighthearted touch to the overall experience.
“I also like the humor in the various descriptions.”
“In my humble opinion, he has earned it, and honestly, the way he handles the myriad forum whiners of the internet is absolutely hilarious.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users highlight the game's strong replayability, noting that the campaign is enjoyable and reminiscent of a well-optimized mod experience. The inclusion of an optional sandbox mode further enhances replay value, making it appealing for players seeking varied gameplay. Overall, the game offers a solid foundation for repeated playthroughs.
“The base is good, the replayability is great. I feel like I'm running a Dawn of War: Soulstorm Armageddon mod, but it doesn't crash due to the 2GB limits. The campaign is fun, and the units feel like they're actually from World War Z, but the army fights back. There's also an optional sandbox mode, which adds to the experience.”
“The replayability is fantastic! Each playthrough feels fresh and engaging, with new strategies to explore and different outcomes to achieve.”
“I love how replayable the game is! Every time I dive back in, I discover something new, whether it's a different strategy or a unique storyline path.”
- story1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is likened to a blend of "Age of Empires" and "They Are Billions," with a campaign that diverges significantly from traditional civilization narratives. Players also draw comparisons to tactical support modes reminiscent of Call of Duty, particularly in gunship missions, suggesting a mix of strategic and action-oriented storytelling elements.
“The story feels disjointed and lacks a coherent narrative, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“Character development is shallow, and the plot twists are predictable and uninspired.”
“The dialogue is often cringeworthy, detracting from the overall experience of the game.”
