Ever played Rune Factory and felt like there were not enough zombies in it? Deadcraft combines action RPG elements with the farming simulation aspects from everyone’s favourite cottagecore Xseed game. It distinguishes itself by offering a unique post-apocalyptic setting with a Western theme, compared to the fantasy world of Rune Factory. Does this combination appeal to those who enjoy harvest simulation games with a more action-oriented and zombie-filled setting?
Reid is a half-infected zombie individual, navigating the boundaries between the realms of the living and the undead. Amidst a quest for vengeance that initially goes awry, Reid embarks in a post-apocalyptic wasteland while adapting to his altered state of existence. The peculiar nature of being a half-man, half-zombie hybrid presents advantages and few disadvantages for Reid. While he still experiences human needs such as hunger and thirst, he has the ability to sustain himself by consuming undead flesh and blood. Additionally, he discovers the ability to utilise remains as a source of nourishment to cultivate hybrid zombie produce.
Indulging in undead sustenance carries consequences. Eating infected food elevates Reid’s zombie attributes, potentially tipping the balance towards a more zombie-like state and enhancing his combat abilities. To counteract this shift, Reid must consume regular food and water to reduce his infection levels or employ specialised zombie attacks that deplete some of his infection reserves. Deadcraft dares players to engage in a multifaceted experience beyond solely managing Reid’s survival statistics. In addition to overseeing his vital resources to ensure his well-being, Reid is tasked with scavenging for materials to enhance and expand his evolving farm.
Progression within the game is notably efficient and expedient, particularly when supplementing daily activities with straightforward bulletin board requests. There is the opportunity to construct a diverse array of facilities, ranging from storage sheds to iron-maiden filtration systems designed to transform contaminated substances into potable water. Deadcraft offers a wide range of options for building and upgrading such facilities. A notable drawback in the design is the limitation imposed by developers, who restrict players from advancing too rapidly by linking story progression to Reid’s skill-tree development. It can be disheartening when progress halts abruptly due to specific story-related prerequisites that must be fulfilled before accessing advanced features like a more potent zombie-turret or a powerful electric guitar.
Crafting plays a significant role and is divided into two categories: traditional crafting for creating essential everyday items and zombie crafting tailored for individuals familiar with the undead in the wasteland. While the functionality remains similar to conventional crafting, the creative and amusing presentation of zombie crafting enhances its appeal. Reid’s farming animations often feature exaggerated actions, such as burying bodies or using them with crafting tools. Despite the gruesome imagery, the scenes are intended to be humorous, with a dismembered hand offering a thumbs-up gesture.
Deadcraft‘s art style incorporates a distinct 1990s punk-manga aesthetic, a unique choice not often found in contemporary games. This theme is reinforced through the use of dot-tone textures and bold black shading techniques. Most of the time it resembles a half-remembered, lost PlayStation 2 game.
Sludge is a common material found throughout the world, and can be readily obtained at the player’s base and sold to merchants in unlimited quantities. This strategy allows for the acquisition of a significant amount of resources through trading, making the difficulty feel low-stakes and easily exploited. Similarly, easy-to-complete fetch quests for side missions further contribute to an overly-streamlined resource acquisition process.
The plentiful resources enable for the crafting of powerful tools and weapons. This translates to manageable battles against hordes of enemies, including undead and wastelander thugs. Deadcraft‘s extensive crafting system provides solutions for diverse situations, offering options to create barriers, various types of mines, firearms, explosives, and even enhancements for Reid’s undead army. This extensive arsenal, coupled with special zombie attacks, empowers players to become highly effective combatants.
The Nintendo Switch version of Deadcraft runs well, even with many enemies on screen. Load times are brief, and the game appears stable with no crashes or bugs reported over a 30-hour playthrough.
