A Post-Apocalyptic Utopia
City builder sims are immersive. Whether it be Banished or Sim City, you can be sure that the systems offered will be more than enough to learn and balance amongst one another. Endzone – A World Apart by Gentlymad Studios takes the setting popularized by Fallout and takes the people out of the Shelter. Does this most recent early access build play well? I’d say yes.
The Wild Green Yonder
In Endzone, the story is briefly explained to you in the intro cutscene. After this, you hop right into the action from the main menu. The tutorial is a great way to hit the ground running and get you used to subsequent playthroughs, taking time to explain how to build a base that lasts. Creating a map to inhabit is easy, though currently limited in scope. Despite having only one type of environment type, it comes to life with its use of weather effects and complex systems.
Radiation and soil health join the seasonal weather to further enrich the world you inhabit. Radiated zones need to be avoided or disposed of if possible and the scattering of resources must be carefully considered. There is a lot to be found within the post-apocalyptic world of Endzone to help you build your Junkyard Metropolis.
Making something from nothing
You will start with a set amount of citizens hot off a camper in the unforgiving wilderness. These people need to be clothed, fed, watered, and given work and shelter. Endzone streamlines this process by keeping their menus compact and their hotkeys limited. Buildings and citizen management come conveniently in tabs, alongside your buildings on the opposite side of the screen. This makes it easy to micromanage your city to perfection at a rather rapid rate if you by accelerating time.
Time is able to move at 3 times the normal speed. It can also be paused altogether, offering speeds anywhere in between. This allows full control over the world of Endzone and speeding up time is a great tool for seasoned players. The game is fun to learn and offers solid variety in how your city runs. While you will inevitably need to balance all of your resources, the game always provides what you will need and alerts you of incoming threats. These alerts give ample time to stockpile needed resources, making this games’ learning curve a smooth one.
Rough and Radiated
Endzone offers a fun flavor of city builder sim. Taking Fallout out of the Shelter is a satisfying experience to see unfold at your command. The many systems the game offers are introduced well in the tutorial, making gameplay a smooth experience. While not Frostpunk levels of harsh, it can become quite the balancing act when the weather gets harsh or supplies become far away. With high hopes and an update later this month, Endzone proves to be a solid early access title.
