Generation Zero

Generation Zero is a cooperative first-person shooter set in an open world. The game takes place in an alternate 1980s Sweden. Robots have invaded the country, and you must stop them, either alone or with a team of 4 players. Lure, maim, or destroy enemies in a challenging sandbox. The game features a dynamic day-night cycle, changing weather conditions, realistic ballistics, and high-quality sound.

The cooperative shooter with action and sandbox elements in an open world, Generation Zero, was released in early access on Steam in October 2018, and the "full" release took place on March 26, 2019.

The developers simply did not have time to add the promised content, functionality, and fix bugs, so the beta version of the game was presented to the public, which should have remained in early access for a long time.

The designers at Avalanche did a great job and created a vast game world for Generation Zero, divided into large levels.

The picturesque mountainous landscape of Sweden is realized in the best way: constant elevation changes, rocks and cliffs, as well as small patches of land where villages, farmland, forests, and even secret bunkers are located. The moderate climate perfectly conveys the cold character of this country.

Players particularly noted the quality of the graphics: Generation Zero boasts detailed grass, foliage, and trees, realistic water, high-resolution textures, and vibrant effects.

However, at the time of release, the game lacked depth in the game world; it felt empty or deliberately stretched. Players complained that the distances between settlements were too great, the number of houses and buildings was generally small, and the variability of buildings and any objects was at zero.

Moving from one place to another, the question inevitably arose — did anything really change? Although the developers recreated the atmosphere and spirit of 1980s Sweden well in clothing, weapons, music, and style.

The events of Generation Zero unfold in the Swedish countryside in 1989. The player, in the role of a young man or woman, returns to the continent after an excursion to nearby islands, where they spent the weekend and are unaware of what happened at home.

Surviving a shelling just before arrival, the hero realizes that no one is left in the area, and the quiet and measured rural life has been disrupted by the unexpected invasion of bloodthirsty killer robots. Now the hero (or team) must survive in the fight against various opponents and uncover the truth.

There was no real plot in the release version; players are generally explained what happened and where everyone went. And that is after very long searches — keep in mind the size of the game world and the fact that the scenario boiled down to three points: go to point A; find out that everyone went to point B; go to point B.

Another drawback is the presentation of the story through notes and audio recordings, with no cutscenes or in-game NPCs, the entire level is simply populated by enemies.

During the exploration of the world, players need to always be on guard, move stealthily, and avoid attracting attention with noise—scouts and enemy drones are everywhere. To survive, you have to search every house and corner for ammunition, gear, and bullets, as well as immerse yourself in the role of a partisan whose land has been seized by enemies of unknown origin.

Robots were promised in various forms, types, and sizes, but at the time of release, only six types were created. They are equipped with numerous sensors, such as thermal imaging, night vision, and X-ray. The simplest ones are protected by light armor and can be destroyed with a couple of shots. Some visors can be used by players for their purposes.

Bosses are armored in several layers and have redundant systems—taking one down requires persistence, heavy weapons, precise cooperation with friends, skill combinations, and support for the wounded.

In Generation Zero, there is a wide selection of weapons—several types of pistols, a trio of rifles and shotguns, as well as various assault and sniper rifles. Weapons can be upgraded by installing locally made scopes and silencers or high-tech components dropped by robots. Everything is divided into rarity levels—a "legendary" item is much cooler than a common one.

At the start of a new game, a character is created in the editor (you can set gender, appearance, skin color, and clothing style), after which the player finds themselves on an island and must earn experience points to invest in four skill branches:

Leveling up one branch does not negate the ability to invest points in another branch next time; on the contrary, the skill branches complement each other. Each skill can also be leveled up multiple times to gain additional bonuses.

The leveling system is the only gameplay mechanic that worked fully in the release version of Generation Zero. For team play, it is enough to level up "support," while the other three skill branches are needed by the player themselves.

The cooperative beta version of Generation Zero focuses on the mechanics of a tactical shooter: you run around the island, discover a group of robots, plan your actions, and attack. For example, while enemies are distracted by the noise of one player, allies surround them and shoot them down, then take the loot guarded by the robots. Find another place, repeat.

Realistic ballistics from the very first moments allow you to feel the difference between shooting a pistol, shotgun, or rifle. Each squad member can use whatever weapon they like, but it's better to divide into classes—someone will be a sniper, while others will need to become assault troops and charge into the bullets.

There is no actual crafting in the game, which means that most of the loot found will simply be discarded as unnecessary, although every self-respecting sandbox allows you to recycle loot into components to create something new. You have to search buildings for weapons and gear only because supplies are constantly lacking; often it is better to bypass the enemy than to engage in a fight.

Gameplay is affected by the dynamic change of day and night, weather conditions — it is harder to fight at night and in the rain than in dry and clear weather. Survival elements in the vast world are implemented quite primitively. Overall, there was little content at launch, just enough for a couple of evenings and only with friends.