Generation zero is a first-person looter shooter story game set in a fictional 1980s Sweden where post WW2 they began development of experimental military robotics. the events of the game take place on an island of the coast of Sweden as a nameless character who washed up on the shore of the island after their boat is blown up.
Gameplay
As the genre tags of the intro suggest the core gameplay loop aside from completing objectives is killing harder and more numerous enemies for better equipment. you start with a low-quality pistol and basic ammo. but as you play through the story, you will be forced to fight harder enemies and in turn, be rewarded with better guns, ammo, consumables and crafting materials. throughout the world you will find safe houses which always has a storage box and any number of the multiple crafting stations which encourages you to explore and find as many as you can, so you always have enough ammo and healing supplies for the challenges you face. GZ also includes a “Rival” system in which the more missions you complete and robots you kill the higher chance that an enemy will “evolve” and gain more health. these enemies as well as providing a unique challenge to keep you entertain also grant much better rewards, including schematics for better protection. but by far the most challenging and fun experience is fighting the elusive “Reaper class tank” or “Vulture class fire bird”. these bosses can only be spawned by collecting coordinate data from rivals and raiding a robot-controlled bucker. once the data is used the Reaper or Vulture will spawn in a random location. these two bosses also provide the highest tier of weapon known as experimental class. these weapons are unique variants of the base weapons distinguishable by their haphazard look and bonus effects which allow then to preform exceptionally in specific circumstances. I will leave these effects unknown as to not spoil the fun of acquiring one.
Graphics
GZ boasts some stunningly realistic graphics and beautiful lighting to fully immerse yourself in the 5 unique environments. this also contributes to the terror of being spotted. casually walking through a dense forest and then seeing a red glow pierce through the trees is a uniquely terrifying experience.
Sound
In my opinion the sound design is the best part of the game. every machine has its own unique sound, almost its own voice and by sneaking around this becomes apparent as the machines wander around almost talking to each other. when you’re not fighting them, they seem so docile, and the atmosphere is so calming. Just watching then wander and ‘chat’. but when they finally spot you, and sound alarms to alert nearby machines the tone shifts drastically when the typical chirps and wvorps of the machines gets replaced with barking, war horns and eerily human like screeches.
Final thoughts
In my opinion GZ is an amazing experience and worth every dollar. coming in at $40 Aud and frequent discounts it is worth getting if you can. the only thing holding it back in my eyes is how the game handle DLC. in total there is $110 worth of DLC, which is a staggering cost even with the average cost being around $7.50. unfortunately, some of the best weapons and questlines are in said DLC. Thats not to say the game is unbalanced without them but it does get pricey. But if you’re like me and want to show support for an amazing game the prices are acceptable. All in all, this game is an easy recommendation and a definite grab, especially when it goes on sale.
