Survive the Fall Preview: A Fresh Take on Post-Apocalyptic Survival Games

In the realm of post-apocalyptic survival games, there’s no dearth of options because of the abundance of gameplay and narrative opportunities that such settings provide. Therefore, any new entrant must maximize these possibilities and avoid becoming just another gritty combat scavenger hunt if it aspires to stand out. This is an area where Angry Bulls Studios, an independent game developer, might find success with their open-world survival title called Survive the Fall. By merging open-world exploration, tactical combat, and settlement management in a world transformed by a catastrophic meteor impact, Survive the Fall could carve its own niche. With its perpetual autumn ambiance and emphasis on cooperative survival, Survive the Fall strives to bring a unique twist to the post-apocalyptic genre.

Recently, we had a preview of the upcoming game Survive the Fall. During this time, we delved deeply into its story and gameplay mechanics, forming some initial opinions about what it aspires to contribute to the post-apocalyptic gaming genre. After investing several hours in Survive the Fall, exploring its diverse landscapes, constructing a robust and self-sustaining outpost, and witnessing its intricate and engrossing narrative, it’s clear that Angry Bulls Studio’s post-apocalyptic open-world survival game is set to create a splash when it releases in May.

Survive the Fall’s Premise Offers a Fresh Take on Post-Apocalyptic Settings

In contrast to numerous post-apocalyptic games set in barren deserts or plague-ridden cities, the game Survive the Fall presents a unique perspective on the end of the world – a chilling, eerie backdrop of a planet perpetually enshrouded in autumn. The survivors refer to this unending season as “Stasis,” which was brought about by a baffling meteor impact. The fragments of this cosmic intruder continue to pose a danger to the world and its inhabitants, as they taint anyone who comes into contact with them, spreading a disease that if ignored, can lead to catastrophic consequences.

In contrast to typical themes found in post-apocalyptic narratives, Survive the Fall delves into a unique perspective where society’s downfall wasn’t an abrupt event but rather a gradual consequence of discord, decay, and mistrust. The remnants of humanity in this shattered world are dispersed, finding solace in communities that demand more than just weaponry for survival; they require strong relationships, a clear sense of direction, and resilience. Various factions within this post-catastrophe landscape have reacted differently to the event, with some vying for power, others seeking restoration, and yet others yearning for solitude.

The game titled “Survive the Fall” adopts a leisurely, contemplative pace in its storyline and environment creation, presenting players with an apocalypse less turbulent than what they may expect. Rather than focusing on chaos, “Survive the Fall” emphasizes the protracted journey toward recovery, as there appears to be no definitive end or glimmer of hope for the surviving characters. Consequently, gameplay is not slow per se, but also lacks the quick, frenetic, and disorganized elements often associated with such games.

Survive the Fall Blends Action-Adventure With Base-Building

Survive the Fall Alternates Between Isometric Exploration and Methodical Base-Building

The unique aspect of ‘Survive the Fall’ in the post-apocalyptic open-world survival genre lies in its dual gameplay structure, switching between free exploration and strategic base construction. Initially, players take charge of three characters from an isometric viewpoint, who embark on a quest for wildlife. However, they soon become embroiled in something more complex that requires them to exert significant effort to extricate themselves. In these segments, players can explore the open-world environments of ‘Survive the Fall’, gather resources, encounter intriguing NPCs, and uncover details about the world’s demise.

After coming back to camp, activities become less hurried, allowing players to focus on rebuilding and maintaining their settlement and its population. In the game “Survival the Fall“, there are more than thirty types of structures to construct, such as farms, workshops, and sanctuaries for removing Stasis contamination acquired during travels. Resource management, role assignment, technology research, and keeping morale high are crucial aspects of camp life, and these tasks resemble city management simulations in many ways, except for the survival elements – ensuring food, health, and rest for all inhabitants.

one for strategic, free-roaming exploration in an isometric view and another for careful base construction.

As darkness descends and daylight fades, players will decide who embarks on an adventure in the morning, which triggers another round of isometric gameplay and resets the cycle. This rhythmic blend of isometric exploration and base management keeps players from feeling swamped by either aspect, providing ample time to relax between the two, and the harmony between these game modes is incredibly gratifying. Notably, unlike the time-sensitive base construction, the isometric segments don’t have a timer, allowing players to explore and collect items at their leisure, provided they have enough room in their backpack for the found loot.

Survive the Fall’s Exploration Is Rewarding and Immersive

In the game Survive the Fall, there are combat sequences in the isometric scenes; however, the majority of a player’s time is spent exploring. Instead of throwing players into an open world riddled with tedious fetch quests and barren surroundings, the open world of Survive the Fall exudes a strong sense of atmosphere for post-apocalyptic settings. Additionally, most of the exploration in this game is freeform, allowing players to roam freely without feeling compelled to follow a specific path.

The exploration in “Survive the Fall” is genuinely satisfying because it’s closely linked to survival and story advancement. To begin with, the terrain is rich with loot – whether it’s from dead bodies, storage containers, or concealed in bushes – and since items don’t vanish between each playthrough, managing inventory in a survival game has never been more straightforward. These supplies encompass various items such as medicine, construction materials, and advanced technology, all of which contribute to the growth of your base and the health of your community. Furthermore, exploration is rewarding not just due to the world’s layout but also because it offers intriguing discoveries that advance the game’s narrative.

The captivating experience in ‘Survive the Fall’ is elevated through its striking art direction and moody ambiance, where the perpetual fall serves as an unusual setting for all events within these segments. Scattered survivors can be discovered across the world, yet it maintains a sense of solitude and melancholy that permeates every discovery and interaction. This game’s open-world design makes each journey rewarding, even if players don’t find anything useful on their travels. The excitement of making discoveries transforms into an added bonus rather than the main motivation for exploration.

Survive the Fall’s Isometric Sequences Are Filled With Branching Choices

In the game “Survive the Fall“, each step you take outside the base is intentionally shrouded in ambiguity. The game’s isometric sequences aren’t merely about gathering supplies or defeating as many opponents as possible. Instead, these sequences are intricately crafted situations where your decisions hold real significance. Whether it’s strategizing on how to confront an enemy camp, reacting to a plea for aid from a stranger, or managing internal conflicts within the team, every venture into the perpetual Autumn of “Survive the Fall” presents choices that seem to carry weight and consequence.

In these situations, events play out with multiple conversation paths or ethical quandaries that don’t always have straightforward solutions, and it can be challenging to determine when a decision must be made. To illustrate, during our demonstration, we arrived at a spot guided by the main plot that was teeming with human adversaries. We were given the choice to approach peacefully or use force, and we decided to neutralize every enemy present. Although this action drew criticism from a bystander, they ultimately joined our team and returned with us to our base.

A key aspect of every adventure in Survive the Fall involves not only uncovering the main storyline but also gathering new Non-Player Characters (NPCs) to join your party. Each of these characters possesses a distinct skillset, either aiding in base construction and resource management, or contributing to exploration and combat within the vast open world. Some NPCs can only be acquired by making specific choices during gameplay, enhancing the importance of each decision made.

Survive the Fall’s Isometric Combat Is Gritty, if a Bit Clunky

In the game “Survive the Fall”, the battles often prioritize intensity over refinement in certain aspects. This design ensures that each confrontation forces players to make immediate decisions, unless they manage to keep a hidden position outside the enemies’ line of sight. If they remain unnoticed, the combat in “Survive the Fall” revolves around positioning and visual angles. However, once detected, a fierce battle could erupt swiftly, as it seems like all nearby enemies converge rapidly. On the positive side, “Survive the Fall” employs a real-time-with-pause combat system similar to those found in games such as “Wasteland” and “Mutant Year Zero”. This system allows players to pause the action temporarily, allowing them to strategize, deploy abilities, and adjust their tactics if needed.

In this game, you’ve got the flexibility to engage in combat from either close-up or afar using an assortment of weapons that can be customized at base or discovered out in the wilderness. However, guns might not be the best choice due to limited ammunition. Instead, melee weapons could be a safer bet, but they come with the risk of getting too close to enemies which could lead to a swift defeat. Plus, every weapon needs maintenance to keep it working effectively. This means players need to strike a balance between melee and ranged attacks, utilizing all available options as they explore the game world.

Luckily, the real-time-pausable battle system in “Survive the Fall” offers a valuable break to strategize, allocate skills, and adjust tactics when needed, much like those seen in games such as “Wasteland” or “Mutant Year Zero”.

The game system operates smoothly on the whole, but as you progress, it becomes more captivating. However, it isn’t flawless, with a few rough spots here and there. The combats can feel awkward at times, due to occasional glitches in pathfinding, rigid character movements, delayed input feedback, and attacks that seem somewhat lightweight. Also, the hit detection isn’t always reliable. These issues don’t entirely ruin the combat experience, but they can disrupt immersion during tense moments that are meant to be suspenseful.

Survive the Fall Could Still Use Some Polish

At present, one potential concern with the game Survive the Fall is its similarity to mobile games in several aspects. The game boasts sleek UI elements, well-designed character icons, and smooth camera transitions – much like those seen in mobile gaming. Furthermore, its isometric visuals and vibrant color schemes don’t distance it from this comparison. Adding to that, the top-down gameplay, which includes clicking to move, searching containers, and selecting abilities via icons, shares some control patterns with mobile games. While none of these traits are inherently negative, they might initially feel disconcerting for some gamers.

During our pre-release testing, we encountered numerous bugs and technical issues. Despite this, Angry Bulls Studio has promised that all these bugs will be fixed prior to the game’s launch in May. Occasionally, we had to restart the game to eliminate bugs that hindered our progression, but overall, it didn’t significantly impact our gaming experience. Performance-wise, the frame rate of Survive the Fall dipped frequently during our testing, and at times, characters failed to respond to certain commands. However, these are issues that Angry Bulls Studio should be able to address before the game’s release.

Final Thoughts

Regardless of some minor flaws, the upcoming game titled “Survive the Fall” is showing great potential before its May launch. Its unique double-loop gameplay, captivating world-building, and focus on making decisions that matter, often involving moral dilemmas, make it distinct from other survival games that overemphasize repetition. Although its combat could use some polishing, the real-time-with-pause system adds a strategic layer, ensuring that each battle feels significant. Most importantly, “Survive the Fall” seems to grasp that surviving an apocalypse isn’t merely about accumulating gear and weapons but also about relationships, choices, and learning how to create something worth preserving.

If Angry Bulls Studio utilizes the remaining development time to refine its combat mechanics and eliminate pesky bugs, Survive the Fall could potentially debut as one of the most contemplative post-apocalyptic survival games in recent history. Its somber, wistful atmosphere and focus on reconstruction rather than destruction bring a new perspective to the genre, and its innovative gameplay mechanics hint at the depth and replayability that can elevate any survival game. Although it may not revolutionize the genre entirely, its distinctive features make it worth keeping an eye on.

Survive the Fall launches on PC for Steam and the Epic Games Store in May 2025.

2025-04-11 07:41