"Survive the Fall: Exclusive First Look"

Long before Bethesda took the reins of the series and Walton Goggins donned ghoul make-up for his captivating role in the adapted TV show, Fallout was an isometric action RPG viewed from a bird's eye perspective. It's this classic style of wasteland exploration that the upcoming Survive the Fall seems to draw inspiration from, at least based on the initial hours I experienced. This post-apocalyptic survival tale builds directly on the original Fallout's framework, particularly evident in its robust camp development system. Its squad-based combat and scavenging mechanics offer a fresh take on the genre, though the somewhat static storytelling might hinder its full personality from emerging.

*Survive the Fall* sets itself apart from other post-apocalyptic narratives by attributing its devastated world not to nuclear fallout, but to a catastrophic comet collision reminiscent of the dinosaurs' extinction. This event left a crater oozing a toxic mist called Stasis. Survivors must either avoid this deadly fog or harness its power, which offers strength at the cost of humanity. As you navigate *Survive the Fall*, your squad of scavengers will need to forge alliances with various factions across three biomes, from the Stasis-embracing Shroomers to the enigmatic cult, the Sighted.

Engaging with Survive the Fall's numerous quest-givers, I quickly grew fond of its squad-based system. You can guide a party of up to three survivors through a sprawling national park, the setting for the story's opening. Tasks like searching for chemical compounds or chopping down trees for lumber can be manually performed or delegated with a simple button press, allowing you to focus on other activities. This division of labor feels more natural and speeds up the process of scavenging settlements. However, the screen can become cluttered with prompts when interactive elements are too closely grouped, though this was a rare occurrence.

Combat in Survive the Fall is also team-oriented. Given the scarcity of rifle and shotgun ammunition in the early game, I prioritized stealth when confronting marauders and ghouls. Approaching enemy camps felt similar to the strategic gameplay of Commandos: Origins, involving hiding in tall grass, using distractions, and silently eliminating foes before directing my team to dispose of the bodies. The game also offers environmental hazards to exploit, such as explosive barrels and dangling cargo pallets that can be dropped on unsuspecting guards.

Survive the Fall - Preview Screens

14 ImagesClearing out cultist groups was satisfying, but combat became challenging when my stealth was compromised and firearms were necessary. While a mouse and keyboard might offer more precision, using a controller felt cumbersome when aiming with the lasersight. I often resorted to melee attacks and dodging to whittle down enemy health. The ability to pause and direct squadmates to target specific enemies, reminiscent of Wasteland or Mutant Year Zero, was a helpful feature, allowing my team to tackle tougher foes while I dealt with support units.

After a day spent battling mutants and gathering resources, Survive the Fall shifts into a base-building management phase. Documents found in the wild can be researched to gain knowledge points, which unlock technologies from bunk beds and kitchens to water filtration and armories. Resources like timber can be crafted into planks and then into structures such as plant boxes or protective gates. Foraged herbs and meat from wildlife can be prepared into meals for your expedition team. There's considerable depth here, and I anticipate spending ample time turning my settlement from a ruin into a thriving haven.

Exploring beyond my base, I encountered diverse areas like a converted passenger plane fortress and a farmstead teeming with Stasis-infected ghouls. Survive the Fall offers distinct environments in every direction. However, the impressive detail in areas like the luminescent Mycorrhiza swamplands sometimes came at the cost of performance, with a volatile framerate. The game also suffered from occasional game-breaking bugs, forcing me to reload saves after getting stuck in menus. Fortunately, with Survive the Fall set to release in May, developer Angry Bulls Studio has time to refine its performance.

Survive the Fall offers distinct locales in any direction I pointed my compass in. While there might not be enough time to add voice acting before release, the lack of spoken dialogue makes interactions with NPCs and your squad feel somewhat flat. Yet, characters like Blooper, who amusingly refers to the Stasis smog as "fart wind," provided some humor. Conversations often felt like mere prompts for the next quest rather than deepening faction relationships.

As Survive the Fall progresses, these bonds may develop further. Set to launch on PC in May, the game holds significant post-apocalyptic potential. If the developers can smooth out the current issues with controls and performance, Survive the Fall could prove to be a compelling survival-based action RPG worth your investment.