ZED ZONE
- March 29, 2023
- Leven Liu
- 4h median play time
Get on SteamA great catastrophe has come, and you, who are on duty, crash and trapped in a Zed Zone. There are zombies and monsters everywhere, In order to escape, by collecting materials, upgrading skills, building shelters, defeating zombie waves and mysterious mechs, chasing a glimmer of hope.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game has a lot of potential and combines elements from popular survival games like Project Zomboid and Neo Scavenger.
- The combat system is engaging, with satisfying gunplay and a variety of weapons and enemies.
- Frequent updates from the developer show commitment to improving the game and addressing bugs.
- The game is currently buggy, with issues such as disappearing items, save corruption, and performance drops.
- The inventory management system is cumbersome and can be frustrating to navigate.
- Lack of keybinding options and poor UI design hinder accessibility for players.
- gameplay69 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has been described as having an interesting concept with a solid foundation, though it currently suffers from performance issues and bugs that hinder the experience. Players appreciate the engaging survival mechanics and crafting systems, comparing it favorably to titles like Project Zomboid, but note that it lacks depth and polish in certain areas. Overall, while the game shows potential and offers a captivating loop, many recommend waiting for further updates to address its current shortcomings.
“Zed Zone is an ambitious project that, though in early development, delivers a satisfying gameplay experience.”
“The game is getting better and better, and has a very addictive gameplay loop.”
“The mechanics and gameplay are fun and keep you striving to survive and explore.”
“While I will keep my eye on it because I actually really like the mechanics and how it could play, I am requesting a refund for this title because of the performance.”
“Guaranteed 1 crash every hour of gameplay.”
“If I had any guarantee (by which I mean, if I could see in the future) I would recommend this game, but I will not even though the price is quite low, as I consider the frame drop close to unplayable due to how it interrupts the flow of the gameplay.”
- graphics36 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the pixel art style and its unique aesthetic, while others criticize the low fidelity and lack of refinement. Some users noted graphical glitches, frame rate issues, and difficulties in item visibility, suggesting that the visuals need further polish. Overall, the game's art direction is charming to some, but it may not meet the expectations of those seeking higher-quality graphics akin to other titles in the genre.
“I really like the art style of this game.”
“The game's intricate design, compelling storyline, and stunning graphics immediately pulled me in.”
“Graphics are charming; I like the pixel aesthetic, though FPS issues can sometimes crop up.”
“Graphical glitches, items rarely disappearing, and some collision issues are a few that come to mind.”
“As for the graphics, I usually love pixel art but I do not like the art direction this game has gone with; it was truly difficult to look at.”
“I feel it needs a total overhaul in terms of the graphics/game art.”
- optimization30 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many players reporting severe performance issues, including stuttering and low frame rates, even on capable hardware. While some users acknowledge that the developers are actively working on improvements, the current state is deemed sub-par, particularly in scenarios with many entities on screen. Overall, players express hope for future updates but caution potential buyers about the game's current optimization shortcomings.
“The game shows promise but is terribly unoptimized.”
“I understand this is early access but optimization should be the absolute first priority every time.”
“As of writing this, the devs are actively working on the game to improve gameplay and performance.”
“The optimization is just about the worst I've seen for a game that doesn't seem like it would be difficult to run.”
“Game shows promise but is terribly unoptimized.”
“However, it's hampered by its lack of content outside of a wide variety of items, and poor optimization leading to extremely low performance when a lot of entities are onscreen, making fighting large amounts of zombies less fun and causing the game to slow down a lot when driving (and loading terrain).”
- stability28 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- -7 % neutral mentions
- 96 % negative mentions
The game is currently plagued by numerous bugs and glitches, including graphical issues, item disappearances, and collision problems, which detract from the overall experience. While players acknowledge its potential and fun gameplay, many express frustration with the instability, especially given its early access status. Despite these issues, some reviewers remain optimistic that future patches will improve stability and enhance the game.
“The game runs smoothly without any major bugs, which is impressive for a solo developer.”
“I appreciate the consistent updates that improve stability and performance.”
“Despite being developed by a single person, the game feels polished and stable overall.”
“Played this game shortly after launch and aside from it being a buggy mess, there was zero keybind support, and the dev really didn't care when multiple people made requests for it to be added.”
“It's a bit buggy as of right now with some English translations still being in the Chinese font, and a few other issues like weapons breaking and then being duplicated on the ground when they get unequipped.”
“Despite being in early access, the game has many bugs and various glitches, but Zed Zone has a lot of potential, and if it is done right, it can become a very good post-apocalyptic zombie survival game.”
- story14 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its lack of narrative depth, quests, and character interactions, leaving players feeling directionless. While some appreciate the gameplay mechanics and design, many express a desire for a more compelling storyline and additional content to enhance the overall experience. Overall, the absence of a structured story detracts from the game's potential, with players hoping for future updates to address these shortcomings.
“The game's intricate design, compelling storyline, and stunning graphics immediately pulled me in.”
“New levels, characters, or even story arcs could add even more depth to this already rich gaming experience.”
“Currently it's an excellent zombie survival sandbox, something like a Zomboid, but would love to see a story/narrative added in (even if it's just for flavor) at some point.”
“There needs to be factions, like outlaws or mad scientists or something at least to have some kind of story setting.”
“My biggest concern is that there appears to be no story to speak of, no quests, so currently I am at a loss about what to do now that I have fixed the targeting computer.”
- music11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed feedback, with some players expressing frustration over the repetitive soundtrack that disrupts immersion, while others appreciate the quality of the soundtrack itself. Many users are requesting a broader variety of music and a more balanced approach to ambient sounds, similar to other survival games that utilize silence effectively to enhance tension. Additionally, there are technical issues reported, such as music volume settings resetting, which detracts from the overall experience.
“One of my biggest requests is adding more music!”
“I hope in the future more songs will be added to mix it up a bit!”
“The soundtrack is nice and the sounds are alright.”
“Having the same song play for each area I enter on constant loop is very annoying and breaks immersion.”
“From playing lots of Stalker, Project Zomboid, The Long Dark, and other great survival games, I've noticed that they don't play music 24/7 and instead have downtime where the ambiance of the world immerses the player and keeps them on edge.”
“For now, I have music off in-game and I turn on Stalker ambiance/music since it is my favorite for a post-apocalypse ambiance.”
- grinding9 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 89 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while some appreciate the crafting and variety of weapons, others feel that the reliance on resource gathering and inventory management can be tedious and time-consuming. Issues such as disappearing items and a non-intuitive UI further contribute to the grindy feel, making certain tasks frustrating. Overall, the game offers a balance of engaging mechanics and grind, appealing to fans of the survival genre but potentially deterring those who dislike extensive resource management.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Gas is a little weird to come by as well; even if you happen to find a gas tank in a supermarket, it's always empty for whatever reason, and it's a bit grindy to get fuel by burning fat.”
“A fairly grindy game even for a game of this survival genre; it turned me off with how much reliance there is on crafting.”
“Inventory management and storage is grindy.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and engaging design, effectively conveying an apocalyptic setting with varied and interesting mobs. While the crafting and inventory systems have some issues, the overall experience is enhanced by the game's intriguing locations and survival elements, making it a compelling choice for players seeking an atmospheric adventure.
“The game is overall pretty great; I love the design, atmosphere, and gameplay. I would recommend it and I'm really excited for a new update.”
“This is a nice choice, as it both looks good and still conveys an apocalyptic atmosphere to immerse yourself in.”
“Has a great atmosphere; mobs are varied and interesting, and the map size at the smallest setting is decent enough that you'll still want to get a working car.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players find it high due to excellent design and ongoing improvements from the developers, others feel that its flaws limit long-term engagement. The potential for increased replayability exists if the identified issues are addressed.
“The design is excellent, it's very intuitive, and the replayability is rather high.”
“All fixable with changes, this game has a lot of potential, but is not very replayable once you realize how many flaws there are.”
“There are some other items, though I can see the dev is hard at work and has been doing a really good job at patching and fixing the game so it's in a more playable state.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its absurd and illogical elements, such as unconventional weapon modifications, which some players find amusing. Reviewers appreciate the developers' efforts to create a fun experience, noting the inclusion of features like a humorous kill cam. Overall, the game's comedic aspects are seen as a positive addition, with options available to customize or disable them if desired.
“And doing funny moves like putting a banana magazine in a Kriss Vector, which is illogical.”
“Don't be disheartened by the reviews too much; I can clearly see you trying to make a fun game. I find it funny but also cool how much you take inspiration from other games.”
“There's even a kill cam, funny enough! Don't worry, most of these options can be tweaked or disabled.”
