Preview: Dead Age 2 (Steam Early Access)

The successful indie survival RPG “Dead Age” is back with a vengeance! No other game offers this mix of role-playing, rogue-like, fast-paced turn-based combat and survival all in one. Inspired by Darkest Dungeon, Fallout 1+2, This War of Mine and The Walking Dead.

Pros:

  • Cool graphics.
  • 6750mb Download size.
  • Steam achievements.
  • Controller support.
  • Graphics-fullscreen, borderless windowed, v-sync, and quality preset.
  • 3 save slots.
  • 3 difficulties-casual, normal, and hardcore.
  • Stats screen.
  • Character creator-hair, hair color, and ethnicity. You get 3 medals to upgrade your stats. Talent selection is multiple-choice sections like starting guns, weapon proficiency, etc.
  • Four factions that give perks, buffs, weapons.
  • Opening tutorial fights with menu pop-ups.
  • Really good comic book style cutscenes and story moments.
  • The story is written in a way very reminiscent of the choose your own adventure books.
  • World map level select.
  • Damage and status effects pop up in battle.
  • Earn EXP and level up to get medals to use in your stats upgrades, get proficient to trigger special events or rendezvous.
  • Loot drops from enemies.
  • Day/night cycle with the zombies getting stronger and bigger in numbers at night.
  • Base camp- can freely go between the rooms and gather supplies, trade, craft, etc. It looks and plays a bit like a Fallout Shelter type of game.
  • Scouts-hire them to look for particular supplies and they will fill in locations on the map for you to travel to.
  • Food and drink mechanics-you need water for your characters as you play and food is needed for the camp.
  • Areas on the map will specialize in resources like the Woods-food rivers-water type of thing.
  • Areas will have a rating on how many zombies you may encounter.
  • Saves upon exiting the game.

Cons:

  • No female character choices.
  • Loading times are quite long.
  • Menu navigation with the controller is the left stick that acts as a mouse.
  • You have to click a certain part of the screen to advance the text.
  • A lot of reading and text pop-ups.
  • Strategy gameplay.
  • Combat-turn based on actions and movements dictated by A-action points.
  • No voice acting.
  • Menus are awkward and fiddly to use with the controller.

Jim Smale

Gaming since the Atari 2600, I enjoy the weirdness in games counting Densha De Go and RC De Go as my favourite titles of all time. I prefer gaming of old where buying games from a shop was a thing, Being social in person was a thing. Join me as I attempt to adapt to this new digital age!