"Survive the Fall: Initial Preview Released"
Before Bethesda took over the series and Walton Goggins donned ghoul makeup for the TV adaptation, Fallout was known for its isometric, bird's-eye view action RPG style. This classic approach seems to have inspired the upcoming game, Survive the Fall, at least based on my initial hours of gameplay. This post-apocalyptic survival tale draws heavily on the original Fallout's framework, especially in its robust camp development system. With squad-based combat and scavenging, the game feels fresh, although its somewhat static storytelling holds back its full personality.
Unlike many other post-apocalyptic settings, Survive the Fall's world wasn't destroyed by nuclear negligence. Instead, a comet impact wiped out a significant portion of humanity, leaving behind a crater that emits a toxic mist known as Stasis. Survivors either avoid this mist or harness its power, mutating into stronger beings at the cost of their humanity. In Survive the Fall, your squad of scavengers must forge alliances with various factions across three biomes, from the Stasis-absorbing Shroomers to the enigmatic cult called the Sighted, to survive and thrive.
I quickly grew fond of Survive the Fall's squad-based setup as I tackled tasks from numerous quest-givers. Navigating the national park setting, you can manually search for resources or delegate tasks to your team, making the scavenging process more efficient and natural. The only minor issue was occasional clutter from button prompts when interactive elements were too close together, but this was rare.
Combat in Survive the Fall is also team-oriented. Given the scarcity of ammunition in the early stages, I prioritized stealth, approaching enemy camps much like in Commandos: Origins. I used tactics such as hiding in grass, creating distractions with stones, and silently eliminating foes before having my team hide the bodies. Environmental hazards like explosive barrels and cargo pallets added strategic depth to encounters.
Survive the Fall - Preview Screens
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Clearing out enemy camps felt rewarding, but when stealth failed and combat ensued, using a controller was less precise than I would have liked. I often resorted to melee attacks and dodging, though the ability to pause and direct my squad to target specific enemies helped manage tougher fights effectively.
Back at camp, Survive the Fall shifts to a base-building management sim. Researching documents found in the world unlocks knowledge points to invest in a technology tree, allowing you to craft various structures and amenities. Resources like timber can be transformed into building materials, and foraged items into sustenance, adding depth to the settlement development. I can see myself dedicating significant time to turning my base from a ruin into a thriving hub.
Exploring beyond the base revealed intriguing areas, from a crashed plane turned enemy fort to a farmstead infested with Stasis-infected ghouls. While the detailed environments were impressive, they occasionally impacted performance, particularly in the volatile framerate of the Mycorrhiza swamplands. I also encountered some game-breaking bugs, but with a month until release, there's time for Angry Bulls Studio to refine these aspects.
Interacting with characters and NPCs via text felt somewhat flat, though humorous lines from characters like Blooper, who called Stasis "fart wind," provided some entertainment. Conversations often led to the next quest rather than deepening character connections. Hopefully, these bonds will develop more over the full game.
Survive the Fall is set to launch on PC this May and holds great potential for a survival-based action RPG. If the team can smooth out the rough edges in controls and performance, this game could well be worth your investment in bottlecaps.
