Population Zero
- May 5, 2020
- Enplex Games LLC
- 6h median play time
Get on Steam"Population Zero" is a Sci-Fi RPG with a focus on survival and exploration in a vast, mysterious world. Offering both PvE and PvP gameplay, players can choose to cooperate with others or compete for resources and supremacy. With impressive visuals, a haunting soundtrack, and a high level of grinding, the game is a mix of beauty, danger, and bugs, catering to both newcomers and hardcore players alike.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game has beautiful graphics and an interesting art style.
- There is potential for the game to improve with future updates.
- Some players find the combat and exploration enjoyable.
- The game has been abandoned by the developers, with no updates or support.
- Players cannot join friends or form parties, making multiplayer experience frustrating.
- The gameplay is grindy and repetitive, with many quests requiring excessive resource gathering.
- story267 mentions
- 5 % positive mentions
- 89 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game's story is criticized for being shallow and primarily consisting of repetitive fetch quests that lack meaningful engagement or narrative depth. Players express frustration over the grindy nature of the quests, which often require excessive resource gathering and lead to frequent resets of progress, making the experience feel tedious and unrewarding. While some players see potential in the game's world and story, many feel that the quest system needs significant improvement to enhance player retention and enjoyment.
“Population Zero's story has great potential.”
“Has potential, the art style is very to my liking and the world and story seem interesting.”
“Story in games keeps the players hooked and motivated to keep playing.”
“Your character goes through some grindy quests to save themselves only to get everything you've done reset and do the same stupid grindy quests over again.”
“The quest system is boring, unrewarding, and doesn't hook players to the game.”
“With a game as grindy as this one is, that's a slap in the face to force someone who is partially through the story to reset mid-progression and start from scratch.”
- gameplay118 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
Overall, the gameplay has received mixed to negative feedback, with many players finding it boring and lacking depth. While some appreciate the unique combat mechanics and smooth graphics, issues such as server lag, poor hit detection, and a confusing tutorial detract from the experience. Additionally, players express frustration over the limited mechanics and lack of customization options, leading to a sense of dissatisfaction with the game's current state in early access.
“The graphics and gameplay overall are very smooth, and it's just fun to play.”
“I loved the mechanics, everything is intuitive for me, and I really like the combat system.”
“Yes, there are many things to do and it needs some quick updates, but overall gameplay is quite good for an alpha game.”
“Zero gameplay - zero motivation - zero adventure - zero RPG.”
“The game concept and visuals are interesting, but sadly the gameplay is bad and boring.”
“The gameplay is harsh and unforgiving.”
- graphics91 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the beautiful art style and stunning environments, while others criticize the overall performance and lack of detailed graphical settings. Some players report smooth gameplay and high frame rates, but others experience significant lag and poor visuals reminiscent of older games. Overall, while the graphics have potential and appeal to some, they are marred by performance issues and a lack of customization options.
“The concept is unique, the graphics are on point and the world is stunning.”
“The graphics and gameplay overall are very smooth, and it's just fun to play.”
“Graphics are beautiful, combat is fast and easy at first, then you have to actually use skill to survive.”
“Servers empty after half a day of release, 38 fps max, horrible graphics, UI, and gameplay mechanics.”
“You'd expect a game coming out in 2020, even an early access one, to look better than something that you could have bought 10 years ago, but this is how this game's visuals feel.”
“Been a part of many early access games and I don't see much of a future for this game. The graphics remind me of an early PS3 game from the 2000s; the UI is clunky and very little is explained at the moment.”
- grinding60 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The grinding in this game is widely criticized for being excessive and often pointless, with players feeling forced to repeat tedious quests and farming tasks without meaningful progression. Many reviewers express frustration over the lack of rewards for their efforts, as well as the game's tendency to reset progress, making the grind feel even more futile. While some players appreciate the game's potential and visuals, the overwhelming consensus is that the grinding mechanics detract significantly from the overall enjoyment.
“Grinding is part of the MMO life, but the grinding in the game makes no sense. If you want me to struggle, make me struggle for a reason, not because you're unsure as a developer on how to make players have fun with your mess of code.”
“With a game as grindy as this one, it's a slap in the face to force someone who is partially through the story to reset mid-progression and start from scratch.”
“It seems grindy for the sake of grinding while not offering much enjoyment.”
- stability26 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is plagued by numerous bugs, glitches, and stability issues, leading to frequent crashes and a frustrating experience for players. While some acknowledge its potential, the current state is described as a "buggy mess" that detracts significantly from gameplay enjoyment. Many users express disappointment, noting that the game feels incomplete and dull, with persistent server issues and unresponsive mechanics.
“I've played many survival sandbox games and even now I think this game has great potential, but as it stands it's a buggy mess with frequent crashes and defects that prevent you from enjoying what little content the game has.”
“Plenty of bugs, glitches, and server stability issues.”
“Constant disconnects, glitches that stop you from gathering and being able to interact with objects.”
- music22 mentions
- 73 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with many users praising its beautiful and atmospheric qualities. Reviewers highlight the relaxing nature of the soundtrack, noting that it enhances the overall experience and complements the game's stunning design. Despite some criticisms regarding the game's early access status, the music remains a standout feature that players genuinely enjoy.
“Great design, the game is beautiful and the soundtrack is amazing.”
“I love the music!”
“I really enjoyed the music, very atmospheric and I do really like the art style.”
- optimization21 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 19 % neutral mentions
- 62 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is widely criticized, with players reporting severe performance issues, frequent crashes, and bugs that hinder gameplay. Many users experience stuttering and frame rate drops, even on high-end hardware, and express doubts about the game's future improvements. Overall, the lack of optimization significantly detracts from the experience, leaving players frustrated with its current state.
“A few bugs and not yet optimized but decent 60fps anywhere.”
“Can't tolerate that type of performance on a top tier card.”
“There is no structure, no systems that are fun, and it is so terribly optimized.”
“The game performance is horrible-- especially when other players are present or while sitting in the hub. It even stutters when I am on the minimal graphics setting!”
“Been a part of many early access games and I don't see much of a future for this game. The game crashes constantly, crashed once in the tutorial then twice before I even got to the initial quest hub. When I got to the hub, I couldn't even interact with the quest givers. The graphics remind me of an early PS3 game from the 2000s, the UI is clunky and very little is explained at the moment. You can't change your keybindings and base building can only be done in designated areas. The game has been designated as co-op but you can't even team with people. Overall, a very poor performance compared to this game; Ark and even Last Oasis were works of art when first released.”
“I am sorry but this game is bad from all sides: FPS drops, stuttering, clunky gameplay. The fight system feels outdated, like it's from 10 years ago. From the start of the game, you have the feeling it's not worth the money.”
- monetization11 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has been widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, with players feeling deceived by overhyped marketing that fails to deliver value. Many users express frustration over the developers' apparent lack of commitment post-launch, leading to a negative perception of the game's financial practices. Overall, the sentiment strongly advises potential buyers to avoid the game due to its exploitative monetization approach.
“But instead they just showed that it was a giant cash grab and grabbed my cash and I get nothing now.”
“Because now it just kinda feels like a cash grab from the devs. They overhype a game, make a lot of money off us, then disappear.”
“This screams cash grab or lazy devs who are just too busy playing (I'm sorry, developing)?”
- atmosphere10 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its beautiful design, other-worldly aesthetic, and immersive music, which collectively enhance the survival experience for players. The interactions with the environment, such as toxic and overheating elements, further contribute to a compelling and engaging atmosphere. Overall, players find the atmosphere to be a standout feature that enriches their gameplay experience.
“Gorgeous atmosphere.”
“I really enjoyed the music; it's very atmospheric, and I really like the art style.”
“I must say that this is a beautifully designed game with a nice, other-worldly atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere of the world is pretty neat, and there are toxic/overheating interactions with the map.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the humor in the game's flaws, such as the lack of features and the absurdity of mechanics like sprained ankles leading to death. Despite its challenges, many enjoy the comedic experience it offers, especially when playing with friends. Overall, the game's imperfections contribute to a fun and entertaining atmosphere.
“After new updates, I retried the game, managed to play with another friend, and it was very funny, damn hard, and the game was working perfectly, so I had a really good time and played 3 hours straight!”
“It's just hilarious how bad this game is.”
- character development2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers praise the character development in the game, highlighting the developers' responsiveness to player feedback. There is a strong desire for future enhancements, particularly in the areas of clan dynamics, unique character traits, and additional mutations.
“Great job to the devs! I know you've been monitoring suggestions, and I can't wait for the clan/unique character development and more mutations to be added!”
“The character development in this game is incredibly engaging, allowing players to truly shape their characters' identities and abilities.”
“I love how the character development system offers a variety of paths and choices, making each playthrough feel unique and personal.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players generally find the game to have strong replayability, particularly due to its engaging combat and gameplay mechanics that cater to survival and MMO elements. The game's ability to effectively carve out its niche further enhances the overall replay value.
“The gameplay is fun and highly replayable, especially with the survival and MMO elements.”
“The combat is engaging, and the game knows how to keep players coming back for more.”
