"Survive the Fall: Initial Preview Released"

Before Bethesda took the helm of the series and Walton Goggins donned his ghoul makeup for the captivating TV adaptation, Fallout was known for its isometric, bird's-eye view action RPG style. This classic approach to navigating the wasteland seems to be the inspiration for the upcoming game, Survive the Fall, based on my early gameplay experience. This post-apocalyptic survival tale builds directly on the original Fallout's framework, particularly evident in its intricate camp development system. With squad-based combat and scavenging mechanics, Survive the Fall delivers a refreshing experience, though its somewhat static storytelling slightly hinders its full personality from emerging.

Unlike many other post-apocalyptic settings, the devastated world of Survive the Fall wasn't caused by nuclear mishaps but by a catastrophic comet strike reminiscent of the event that led to the dinosaurs' extinction. This disaster left a crater emitting a toxic mist known as Stasis. Survivors either steer clear of this mist or harness its power, transforming into stronger, mutated beings at the cost of their humanity. In Survive the Fall, your growing squad must forge alliances with various factions spread across three biomes—from the Stasis-absorbing Shroomers to the enigmatic Sighted cult—to navigate and thrive in this harsh new world.

I quickly grew fond of Survive the Fall's squad-based system as I completed quests. Navigating the expansive national park setting, I could manually search for resources or delegate tasks to my team, streamlining the process of exploring and scavenging settlements. The only minor issue was occasional visual clutter from too many interactive prompts, but these instances were infrequent.

Combat in Survive the Fall is also team-oriented. With ammunition scarce in the early stages, I prioritized stealth, approaching encounters like a careful strategist. Sneaking through enemy camps, using distractions, and executing silent takedowns felt akin to the tactics in Commandos: Origins. The environment offered useful hazards, such as explosive barrels and droppable cargo pallets, enhancing the tactical depth of engagements.

Survive the Fall - Preview Screens

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Clearing out clusters of cultists was satisfying, though combat became fiddly once guns were drawn. A controller made aiming challenging, and I often relied on melee attacks and dodging. Thankfully, pausing the game to direct my squad to focus on specific targets, much like in Wasteland or Mutant Year Zero, helped manage encounters effectively.

After exploring the dangerous badlands, Survive the Fall transitions into a base-building management simulation. Documents found in the wild can be researched to gain knowledge points, which unlock a variety of craftable items from bunk beds to water filtration systems. Resources like timber are transformed into planks for constructing new structures, while foraged items become meals for your adventurers. The depth of this system promises many hours of engaging settlement development.

Beyond my base, I discovered numerous intriguing locations, from a crashed plane turned enemy fortress to a farm overrun by Stasis-infected ghouls. Each direction offered unique exploration opportunities. However, some areas, like the visually stunning but performance-heavy Mycorrhiza swamplands, suffered from framerate issues and occasional bugs that required restarting the game. With a release date set for this May, Angry Bulls Studio has time to refine Survive the Fall's performance.

Interacting with NPCs and my squad via on-screen text felt somewhat flat, though humorous characters like Blooper, who referred to Stasis as "fart wind," provided some levity. Conversations often felt like mere prompts for the next quest rather than deepening character relationships.

As Survive the Fall gears up for its PC release this May, it shows great promise as a survival-based action RPG. With some polish on its controls and performance, it could well earn its place among the ranks of memorable post-apocalyptic adventures.