State of Decay: YOSE
- April 26, 2015
- Undead Labs
- 18h median play time
Get on Steam"State of Decay: YOSE" is a remastered version of the ultimate zombie survival-fantasy game with improved graphics and gameplay. Explore an open world, recruit survivors, build and fortify your base, and complete new missions for rare equipment. Your decisions determine your survival in the post-outbreak world.
Reviews
- story1,404 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The story in "State of Decay" is often described as basic and somewhat forgettable, primarily serving as a backdrop for the gameplay rather than a driving force. Players frequently encounter repetitive missions that can feel overwhelming, with a constant influx of side quests that detract from the main narrative. While some appreciate the character development and the emergent storytelling that arises from player choices, many feel that the overall plot lacks depth and cohesion, leading to a mixed reception regarding its engagement and impact.
“Most zombie games follow a linear storyline, but what State of Decay as a franchise does uniquely is focus more on the characters in your group, making it more about survival. The story is still there, especially if you aren't playing the Breakdown DLC.”
“The campaign story is great, with a lot of memorable and relatable characters, and some intriguing and sad events.”
“The story is engaging and you feel isolated and constantly in danger with hordes jumping inside your base, throwing you out of your cars and climbing on you.”
“The storyline is extremely bland and forgettable.”
“The story is lacking and very generic.”
“The missions adhere to a shallow pool of variety, the main differences being difficulty, characters and location.”
- gameplay646 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "State of Decay" is characterized by a mix of engaging mechanics, such as base management, scavenging, and character permadeath, which create a compelling survival experience. However, many players report significant bugs, clunky controls, and repetitive gameplay that can detract from the overall enjoyment. While the game offers a unique blend of strategy and action, its technical issues and outdated mechanics often overshadow its strengths, leading to a mixed reception among players.
“The mechanics for managing your base and survivors are really satisfying.”
“It offers hours of addictive gameplay, a richly detailed world to explore, and enough challenge to keep you coming back for more.”
“The gameplay is fun, captivating, and has a special charm that no other video game I have played has.”
“The gameplay is repetitive, but the struggle to survive and maintain resources and morale is real.”
“The missions lack variety and depth, leading to gameplay that becomes tedious after a few hours.”
“The gameplay loop is a little grindy.”
- graphics572 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that they appear dated and lack polish, often comparing them unfavorably to more recent titles. While some appreciate the improvements made in the remastered version, others feel that the enhancements are minimal and not worth the price, citing persistent graphical glitches and limited customization options. Overall, while the visuals may not impress, many players find the gameplay enjoyable enough to overlook these shortcomings.
“The graphics hold up very nicely, and the gameplay is top notch.”
“This game is a great zombie game with beautiful graphics.”
“The graphics are good for the time that the game came out.”
“The graphics were incredibly pixelated and the lack of customization in the settings made it difficult for me to get the game running smoothly.”
“The graphics are a huge upgrade (less so from the original pc version and yes a lot of this could have been patched in) the new features are welcome.”
“The graphics are still crap and you can get better graphics with mods from the first game.”
- stability302 mentions
- 1 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 99 % negative mentions
The stability of the game is widely criticized, with numerous players reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and performance issues that significantly detract from the experience. Common problems include zombies clipping through walls, graphical glitches, and crashes, particularly when using higher resolutions. While some players find the game enjoyable despite these issues, many agree that the overall lack of polish and persistent technical problems make it frustrating and at times unplayable.
“I've experienced no glitches yet either.”
“There are no glitches that I've found (yet), which is awesome.”
“While still not bug-free, the game is running a lot better.”
“This game is a buggy mess and I've had zombies hide inside the walls of buildings and bite me when I pass by, unbeknownst to their existence.”
“The amount of glitches, bugs, and controls is more frustrating than fun at this point.”
“The game is simply too buggy and laggy!”
- optimization145 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 46 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players reporting severe performance issues, including constant stuttering, frame drops, and bugs that hinder gameplay. Despite some users managing to improve performance through tweaks, the overall consensus is that the game is poorly optimized, even on high-end systems, making it difficult to recommend without significant reservations. Many reviews highlight the lack of customizable graphics settings and the game's tendency to perform worse than its predecessor, leading to frustration among players.
“On top of that, the game is super well optimized compared to a lot of games right now and is only like a 3 GB download.”
“The original State of Decay (which I own and have played thoroughly) did have some performance issues even on good rigs, especially if the ultra setting was on, but the Year One edition runs at a smooth 60 FPS for me apart from some hitching when loading textures, but this doesn't affect my experience.”
“Some of the reviews aren't correct from what I have experienced; this version's performance is much, much better than the previous one, and it does look a little better, but personally, I would purchase this edition purely for the performance boost.”
“The game itself is fun to play but performs very badly no matter what PC you have; it's always stuttering.”
“Absolutely zero performance settings to be tweaked.”
“The game is an unoptimized mess with glitched out light and shadow effects forcing you to set all graphics to low.”
- music69 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its ability to enhance the atmosphere, with many players highlighting the immersive soundtracks that adapt to different gameplay situations, particularly during intense zombie encounters. Composed by notable artists like Jesper Kyd, the soundtrack is described as both haunting and soothing, effectively setting the tone for various scenes. While some reviews mention a few repetitive tracks, the overall consensus is that the music significantly contributes to the game's engaging experience.
“The music is awesome, it changes in different situations preparing you for what's coming, and feels really immersive.”
“The iconic soundtrack is both haunting and soothing as its tunes change throughout the day into the night.”
“The music is done very well, setting the tone of a once normal world transformed into an unbelievable living nightmare, which blends well with the hometown family surroundings constantly assaulting your mind with contrasting atrocities of flesh-eating zombies.”
“However, over time a lot of the issues the survivors have become the same song and dance.”
“Because it is a random selection of lines, the game will essentially put you on hold as it thumbs through the audio files like an elderly DJ at a skate rink thumbing through records for the right song to fit the mood.”
“Tons of B-game disappointments: poor voice acting, music, sound effects, repetitive character models, etc. Maybe if they had a bigger budget these would be better and the story more engaging.”
- replayability66 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game boasts significant replayability, enhanced by multiple DLCs that introduce new modes and environments, allowing players to experience varied gameplay with different character interactions and story outcomes. While some players note a lack of content in the base game, the open-world design, permadeath mechanics, and diverse challenges contribute to a compelling replay experience. Overall, it is praised for its engaging mechanics and the ability to create unique narratives in each playthrough.
“When the story is all said and done, its alternate modes provide near-infinite replayability.”
“The game's unique mechanics, such as permadeath and the ability to switch between different characters, add an extra layer of depth and replayability.”
“The three different modes of play keep things interesting and allow for lots of replay value.”
“Once you see everything, it's a very tiny repetitive world and it has virtually no replay value.”
“Unfortunately, the base game mode has no difficulty, so no replayability (where you would skip the tutorial).”
“Has somewhat replayability, but after replaying it that second time you'll have a good enough fill of the game.”
- grinding60 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 5 % neutral mentions
- 92 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is frequently described as tedious and repetitive, with many players noting that the gameplay loop of looting and completing missions can become monotonous after a few hours. While some enjoy the grind for resources and character progression, others find it frustrating and lacking in variety, leading to a sense of boredom. Overall, the game offers a mix of fun and mindless enjoyment, but the grinding can feel more like a chore than an engaging challenge.
“A game should be fun and engaging, not tedious like a job.”
“It can be a bit grindy sometimes.”
“The missions lack variety and depth, leading to gameplay that becomes tedious after a few hours.”
“I've already played it a few years ago and I am currently playing here on Steam, and in neither occasion I've been able to finish the game, since the main quest line comes to a long and unbearable stop about halfway through, with the only activities available being random events or the grindy and repetitive exploring you can do yourself.”
“I found this game to be extremely tedious and frustrating!”
- atmosphere34 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive qualities, combining eerie sound design, effective music, and a sense of dread that enhances the zombie survival experience. Players appreciate the game's ability to evoke feelings of tension and anxiety, particularly during nighttime or in high-stakes situations, while also noting the overall aesthetic contributes to a compelling post-apocalyptic vibe. Despite some technical flaws, the atmosphere remains a standout feature that draws players into its world.
“Plus, the sound design really shines, with eerie ambient noises and bone-chilling zombie growls adding to the atmosphere.”
“It's a great game, though, with a good comfy atmosphere that simultaneously turns creepy at night, and a healthy amount of fear and anxiety, as some of the undead can one-shot you and cripple you.”
“The atmosphere is great, the vehicles are easy to use.”
“A little buggy and lacking atmosphere, but other than that, really the pinnacle of games in this genre.”
“The game does well with its eerie atmosphere, but it fails to encapsulate the zombie survival genre.”
“As I wrote earlier, the graphics aren't amazing from a technical standpoint, but I do think that the art comes together to create a real atmosphere of dread and decay.”
- humor28 mentions
- 96 % positive mentions
- -7 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, featuring a blend of hilarious bugs, quirky character interactions, and amusing commentary that often highlights the absurdity of a zombie apocalypse. While some players find the comedic elements enjoyable and entertaining, others note that the humor can be overshadowed by frustrating glitches and gameplay mechanics. Overall, the game offers a unique charm through its humor, making it a memorable experience despite its flaws.
“The many ways of killing a zombie are hilarious!”
“I think it's an overall good game; the random things they say can be very funny, like how one character commented on why, in a zombie apocalypse, everyone stole the toilet paper first instead of food and guns. Are they stupid and think they can eat it?”
“Even though you live in a zombie apocalypse world, you may still find lots of humor.”
“So casual, not funny, didn't laugh.”
“The jokes fell flat and felt forced.”
“I expected more clever humor, but it was mostly cringeworthy.”
- emotional25 mentions
- 92 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
Players express a strong emotional connection to characters in the game, often feeling genuine sadness and shock when they experience permadeath, which adds a layer of intensity to the survival experience. However, frustrations arise from the game's repetitive missions and technical issues, which can detract from the emotional impact. Overall, while the game offers moments of heartfelt storytelling and character attachment, its execution is marred by bugs and a lack of depth in the narrative.
“An amazing survival game set in a zombie apocalypse, filled with the challenge of navigating not just the physical needs of your survivors but also their emotional and social needs.”
“I have become so emotionally attached to my characters that I have felt legitimate shock and sadness when they die.”
“It's heartbreaking and terrifying and difficult and frustrating, and sometimes it's not fair.”
“Almost every mission I played is repetitive; I had to kill zombies, save survivors, or gather resources in its uninspired, boring story. Every mission - no matter the main or side - feels the same.”
- monetization19 mentions
- 5 % positive mentions
- 5 % neutral mentions
- 89 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game has been widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, with many reviewers expressing disappointment over the lack of significant improvements or new content compared to the original release. Despite the absence of microtransactions, players feel that the full-price tag for what they perceive as minimal enhancements and persistent bugs is unjustifiable. Overall, the sentiment is that the developers prioritized profit over quality, leading to a negative reception regarding the game's pricing strategy.
“It still surprises me that there are no microtransactions in this version of the game.”
“I'm not impressed by what is clearly a cash grab.”
“Shameful cash grab for something that should have been free, or at least sold as an upgrade, rather than a separate game for full price.”
“Still one of the worst cash grabs I can remember - it barely fixed anything from the original release, it launched with brand new bugs (performance + gameplay) and it barely had any new content to justify the inflated price point.”
- character development11 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
Character development in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the depth it adds to the survival experience, while others criticize it for being shallow and lacking impactful storytelling. Many users express a desire for more unique character arcs and emotional stakes, particularly regarding the consequences of character deaths. Overall, while the game offers solid mechanics and engaging gameplay, the character development aspect is seen as an area needing significant improvement.
“One of the best things about State of Decay is the character development.”
“For me, it's the best zombie game with survival attributes, character development, and base upgrading.”
“Mix that with great action, probably the best story we have seen in a zombie survival game, and good character development, and you have yourself a game worth every penny.”
“Story and character development are light.”
“There were no attempts at character development or unique stories to unlock.”
“Aside from the general character stats, there isn’t enough character development in-game.”
