Infectonator: Survivors is a zombie game in which you are in charge of a band of survivors. In this game your objective is to find fuel and repair a car that is located in your base. During the day your survivors are growing crops or building upgrades. However at night time you go out and look for essential items/resources. The main uniqueness about this game is that the game doesn’t belong to one particular genre. Yet, the game is actually a mix of carefully chosen mechanics from a variety of different game genres. Such as real-time strategy and rogue like.Which surprisingly works well together.
Even though, this game is a pick and mix of different game genres. I like the mix of it as there are different offerings of the game styles. Based upon which aspect of the game you are playing on. Initially, there is an RPG-style game that is present throughout the entire game. Whether it being what style your character is and perks that they have. Such as being a fast runner who is quick at researching, but not a very strong character. Maybe even a ‘warrior’ style build that is strong and can fight in close quarters. However they cannot do much in regards to running away from enemies.
You also have an RTS style game. Since the game incorporates RTS game mechanics. Ranging from ensuring your survivors are in safe positions during missions. Managing the resources in the base with decisions on what you prioritise. Whether it is deciding what to research or build in your base. Although one thing I don’t like is how you aren’t able to recycle any unused equipment. Purely because later on you get a lot of spare items/weapons that are of no interest. Sadly you cannot do anything with them, and they are stuck clogging your inventory.
However when it is night time and you then complete missions. The game turns into a tower defence style game. As you have to place your survivors in locations so that they are safe. Whilst placing them in positions that won’t let any zombies through. These mechanics are present during scavenging too. Since, you have to place your survivors in covering positions. So whenever a zombie/zombie wave(s) come at you when you are scavenging a building. Although you can decide on whether you camp in an office or have stand your ground in a corridor. Unlike, scouting mode where it is in a close quarter’s style area. In comparison to exploration mode where it is a free roaming environment of a location.
However this game isn’t easy as it does have RNG/rogue like features that make the game much harder. Especially since this game randomises everything. But it doesn’t end there because nothing in this game is truly lasting. Since supplies are scarce and if not used properly/efficiently it will end your game. It also affects your survivors which are even harder to obtain. If you lose a survivor you don’t get them back. This is even worse if you lose all your survivors as you start from scratch on a new save.
Although I can praise how good the game design mechanics are. Especially for having a good combination of different games genres that fits well together. Although I must admit to that there are imperfections. Since I feel that some of mechanics in the game are bad. As a consequence of this some mechanics make the game seamy. Mostly this is due to the game being a point and click game. Which in game play terms, does translate to you repetitively clicking in order to get to a location.
This is bad as the game will drag on sometimes and this is very noticeable. Especially, in the exploration missions where it is constant clicking to navigate around the map. To make the missions become less repetitive in nature. My methodology of completing the exploration missions was to run around the perimeter/centre. Although, this tactic is will change based on if zombies came near me or not. Since if I was near zombies I would hunker down and defend my squad in a suitable position. At the same time of scouting the perimeter I would then scavenge everything whenever I saw it. Before exploring the remaining areas of the map and using the same tactics. After I have managed to get everything I then head out.
Another thing that did annoy me is that once you have decided your roster for the evening’s missions. You cannot change the order of the survivors in the team roster after it has been finalized. At the start of the day which doesn’t seem too much of an annoyance.
However this can be annoying especially when you switch from scout levels to exploration levels. As each survivor does have its own perks. This happens, if you are accustomed to picking the first survivor. Due to their unique perk/skill level you need. But you then need to switch to another survivor who is further on in the list. It can get annoying and even cost you squad members. My solution to this issue is to get a minimum of 8 survivors. Then I split them into 2 teams. Since during the day one team can research items or produce items needed such as food or necessary upgrades. Whilst another team can go out at night and scavenge for much needed resources.
Even if this game does have some decent design and effort put into that aspect of the game. Technically this game does feel like a Smartphone/tablet game. Owing to the fact this game is low in data requirements as it is only 176MB. It is also because the game is graphically simple and it isn’t very big in content. This game isn’t something you would want to play for hours on end. Instead this is something you can pick up and play for short periods. But the Smartphone game experience doesn’t end there. This game does feature the ‘tap to start battle button’. This is very fitting for a phone/tablet game rather than a pc game.
Overall I can only recommend Infectonator: Survivors on sale due its repetitive nature. Due to the fact that after so long it does become a chore rather than an enjoyment to play on. But by no means is it a bad game to play on.
