State of Decay 2
- May 22, 2018
- Undead Labs
State of Decay 2: Juggernaut Edition is a horror open-world game that offers both single-player and multiplayer/co-op modes for up to 2 players. The game features remastered content, including a full-size open world version of Trumbull Valley, and is packed with new and remastered content for an ultimate zombie survival experience. With grinding, hilarious moments, and a buggy but atmospheric gameplay, this game is highly replayable and offers a wholesome story in a post-apocalyptic world.
Reviews
- The game offers a fun and engaging base-building experience, with enjoyable looting mechanics and a strong multiplayer component that enhances gameplay.
- Despite some graphical limitations, the game provides a good value for its price, offering extensive replayability and a unique community management system.
- Players appreciate the addictive nature of the game, with many enjoying the challenge of managing resources and surviving in a zombie-infested world.
- The game suffers from numerous bugs and glitches, including issues with companion AI, disappearing characters, and frustrating gameplay mechanics that can detract from the overall experience.
- Many players find the game repetitive and lacking in a compelling narrative, leading to a sense of monotony after extended playtime.
- The voice acting and some graphical elements are criticized for being subpar, which can diminish immersion and enjoyment for players seeking a polished experience.
- story27 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 74 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The game's story is perceived as minimal and repetitive, primarily revolving around killing plague hearts and completing legacy quests, which can lead to a lack of engagement over time. While some players appreciate the emergent narratives created through varied gameplay experiences, many criticize the absence of a cohesive campaign and the frequent bugs that disrupt mission progress. Overall, the narrative elements feel underdeveloped, leaving players wanting more depth and structure in the storytelling.
“Every playthrough is different and creates such a great immersive story for you to create on your own.”
“This game is awesome with a different storyline each time you play it.”
“It's basically the same as State of Decay 1 with improved graphics, options, and story.”
“There's pretty much no story or real campaign.”
“Characters and story are barely there.”
“The storyline is non-existent.”
- graphics14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 36 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players finding them to be decent but not exceptional, often describing them as subpar or glitchy, particularly on Xbox One. While some appreciate the fun gameplay despite the graphical shortcomings, others express disappointment, especially if high-quality visuals are a priority. Overall, the graphics are seen as a weak point, overshadowed by gameplay enjoyment for some, but frustrating for others.
“Decent graphics and motion.”
“Sure, there are the odd graphical glitches here and there, but nothing game-breaking.”
“The first few hours of gameplay were very fun, and the graphics are phenomenal on the Xbox One X.”
“Graphically, the game is just okay, definitely nothing mind-blowing.”
“There are many bugs and the graphics for Xbox One are subpar.”
“If graphics are important to you, I am sure you will be disappointed.”
- gameplay13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the added depth and polish from the switch to Unreal Engine, while others criticize the movement mechanics and repetitive nature of the gameplay. Although the initial hours can be enjoyable, many feel that the sequel fails to improve upon its predecessor, leading to a lack of engagement in later stages. Overall, potential players are advised to watch gameplay footage before making a purchase decision.
“The sequel takes the core gameplay of the first, adds extra depth, and puts added polish on with the help of the switch to Unreal Engine.”
“I enjoyed playing through two 'communities' worth of gameplay, but didn't feel the desire to go past that.”
“Only played the first mission, but gameplay feels good and the story seems cool!”
“Now the gameplay is worse than before!”
“On the second playthrough, I got much farther but the gameplay became very repetitive and a bit boring.”
“Gameplay was actually worse than the first game.”
- stability9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- -22 % neutral mentions
- 89 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while some players report a smooth experience with minimal issues, others highlight frequent glitches and bugs that can detract from gameplay. Many users acknowledge the presence of minor graphical glitches but feel that they do not significantly impact the overall enjoyment of the game. However, concerns about the cooperative mode and its limitations have been noted, indicating that stability issues may affect multiplayer experiences.
“No glitches and a wonderful game.”
“The game runs smoothly without any crashes.”
“I appreciate the consistent performance throughout my playtime.”
“Only gave 4 stars because of all the glitches that need fixing.”
“The game is extremely buggy and the co-op mode is falsely represented as a co-op game you can play with your friends, but guess what... your friends can’t do anything in your community.”
“It's a bit buggy, but for me, the pros far outweigh the occasional glitch.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is noted for its strong replayability, with users highlighting its fun gameplay and significant replay value. Overall, it is considered a good game that encourages multiple playthroughs.
“This game is very fun and has immense replay value.”
“Good replayability.”
“Good game, decent replay value.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be both addictive and tedious, noting that it quickly becomes repetitive and overly reliant on RPG-style mechanics.
“Too much RPG-style grinding.”
“Addicting and tedious at the same time.”
“Not bad, but the game gets repetitive and grindy really fast.”
- music2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The music in the game is noted for its nostalgic quality, reminiscent of the soundtrack from the first installment, which enhances the long-term playability and immersion for players. The preorder price of $24 is seen as reasonable for the experience it offers.
“The price of $24 for a game with long-term playability feels unjustified when the music soundtrack is nearly identical to that of the previous title, making it feel like a rehash.”
“Paying $24 for a game that offers a soundtrack so similar to the previous installment makes it hard to justify the cost.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is generally satisfactory, offering engaging gameplay with a variety of recruitable characters whose traits influence performance. However, players have noted some minor performance issues that can detract from the overall experience.
“The people you can recruit have personality traits that affect their performance, so each time you play, you get an interesting combination of characters.”
“Still a lot of zombie shooting fun, with small performance issues.”
“The game suffers from severe optimization issues, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering during gameplay.”
“Despite the interesting mechanics, the overall performance is hampered by poor optimization, making it frustrating to play.”
“I encountered numerous bugs and glitches that clearly indicate a lack of proper optimization, ruining the experience.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviews suggest that the emotional depth of characters in a zombie apocalypse setting is lacking, with players feeling that survivors should exhibit a broader range of emotions given their dire circumstances.
“The game beautifully captures the emotional struggles of its characters, making you truly feel their pain and triumph.”
“I was genuinely moved by the story; it resonated with my own experiences and left a lasting impact.”
“The emotional depth of the narrative is astounding, drawing players into a world where every decision feels weighty and significant.”