Review: They Are Billions (PlayStation 4)

They Are Billions

They Are Billions is a Steampunk strategy game set on a post-apocalyptic planet. Build and defend colonies to survive against the billions of the infected that seek to annihilate the few remaining living humans. Can humanity survive the zombie apocalypse?

Pros:

  • Beautiful Steampunk influenced graphics.
  • Platinum trophy.
  • 1.17GB download size.
  • RTS survival gameplay. Build a community whilst also holding off the ever threat of a Zombie invasion.
  • Game help- Text-based tutorial.
  • Sensitivity and precision sliders.
  • Leaderboard support.
  • Six difficulties- Easy, Easiest, Accessible, Challenging, Brutal and nightmare.
  • Four game duration difficulties- Easy, Accessible, Challenging and Brutal.
  • Survival mode- Survive X amount of days, Set map type, Infected population, and game settings. These change your score factor percentage.
  • Four maps- Dark Moorland, Peaceful lowlands, Frozen highlands, and desolated wasteland.
  • Controls are easy enough to learn. They manage to incorporate a lot of mouse control onto the controller and allow you to set up groups for quick access.
  • Active pause- Pause but yet you can still interact with the game like setup actions.
  • Uncover the map as you play.
  • Levels randomize every game.
  • Resource collectible piles around the map.
  • Chilling soundtrack.
  • Addictive.
  • Does survival horror better than some horror games I have played.
  • Save and exit option.
  • Cool zombie animations.
  • The game is full of fear and tactics.
  • Very hard to put down.
  • Can zoom in/out.
  • Challenge of the week complete with leaderboard support.
  • Scores- shows your score and has filters for modifiers and friends.
  • Constant updates.

They Are Billions

Cons:

  • No tutorial area/match.
  • Small text.
  • Slow starter.
  • Daunting for new to the genre players.
  • Only one control scheme.
  • A lot to take in.
  • Lacks the usual settings for a game like this like game speed.
  • Just the one mode outside of the challenge.
  • May struggle first adopting the control scheme/layout.
  • Zombie infections feel so overpowered as they spread so quickly.
  • No multiplayer.

They Are Billions

  • 9/10
    Graphics - 9/10
  • 7/10
    Sound - 7/10
  • 6/10
    Accessibility - 6/10
  • 7/10
    Length - 7/10
  • 8/10
    Fun Factor - 8/10
7.4/10

Summary

We are Billions is a curious game, curious as you could describe it as a mere Command and conquer with zombies game but it is so much more than that. You have a set amount of time before a horde of zombies swarm you allowing you to do the whole Command and conquer thing, build bases, manage troops and collect resources all whilst uncovering the map as you move around. Once the horde hits the game flips the script and plays out more like a wave-based horse mode. Yes, you need to stop zombies but they can also infect your team and civilians meaning the threat is real! We are Billions really does a good job of marrying so many genres into a cohesive experience. You can tweak every aspect of how to play from difficulties to day lengths and Ai difficulty. Lucky really as you only have that mode to play and yes whilst you do get the challenge mode, that’s more of a random one-off event and not something you can keep coming back to unless you like it random. For me we are billions is a really solid idea that plays well once you get over the daunting amount of knowledge you have to fish out of the help section and get to grips with everything. With strong horror aspects like the uncertainty and general unease always on your head, we are billions is a game that is fun to play but has a high barrier to entry and won’t have legs for long repeat plays.

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!