Undawn, a newish open-world zombie survival game boasting stunning visuals and a focus on community building, promises a thrilling fight for survival in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. While the core concept holds promise, the execution falls flat on its face across its PC and Mobile platforms. From clunky controls and a cluttered UI to a shallow gameplay loop and questionable monetization practices, Undawn stumbles out of the gate, leaving a trail of frustration and disappointment.
A Symphony of Janky Movement:
Undawn’s most glaring weakness lies in its control scheme. On PC, movement feels sluggish and unresponsive, reminiscent of a bygone era of gaming. Aiming down sights is a chore, and the character’s inertia makes navigating the environment a constant struggle. This clunkiness extends to combat as well; landing precise shots becomes an exercise in futility, leaving you feeling more like you’re wrestling with the controls than battling the undead.
Graphics: 5
Sound: 3
Controls: 4
Story: 3
Engaging: 3
Overall: 3.6
The mobile version fares little better. While the touch controls are functional, they lack the responsiveness needed for fast-paced combat. The constant need to tap on menus and icons further disrupts the flow of the game. Dodging and weaving through hordes becomes a frustrating exercise in finger gymnastics, leaving you vulnerable and constantly on the back foot.
User Interface: A Feast for the Overwhelmed Eyes
Undawn bombards players with a cluttered user interface (UI) on both platforms. The screen is overloaded with icons, menus, and resource trackers, making it difficult to find what you need quickly. Information overload is a constant struggle, especially for new players. Essential information like hunger, thirst, and health are buried within the labyrinthine menus, while your inventory constantly overflows with crafting materials whose purposes remain unclear. This constant struggle to navigate the UI takes away from the core gameplay loop, adding unnecessary tedium to an already frustrating experience.
Shallow Survival Mechanics: More Grind, Less Thrill
Undawn’s survival mechanics feel derivative and monotonous. Hunger, thirst, and health deplete at an alarming rate, forcing you to constantly scavenge for resources. While this might sound like a recipe for tension, it quickly devolves into a tedious cycle of gathering, crafting, and eating. The crafting system itself offers little depth, with most items requiring only a handful of basic materials.
The environmental hazards, such as weather extremes, offer a glimmer of hope for dynamic gameplay. However, their impact feels inconsequential, adding little more than an annoyance to the already overburdened player. The world itself feels empty and lifeless, despite the impressive visuals. There’s a distinct lack of interesting points of interest or dynamic events to break up the monotony of the constant grind.
Microtransactions Mar the Experience:
Undawn’s free-to-play model feels predatory rather than welcoming. Premium currency, used to purchase powerful weapons, exclusive cosmetics, and crafting materials, is constantly dangled in front of the player. While some grinding is expected in a free-to-play title, the sheer amount of time and resources required to progress without spending money creates an undeniable pay-to-win atmosphere. This not only discourages free-to-play players but also undermines the sense of accomplishment earned through legitimate gameplay.
Story & Characters: A Missed Opportunity
Undawn’s narrative feels like an afterthought. The story unfolds through bland dialogue snippets and repetitive fetch quests. The characters are one-dimensional archetypes, offering little in the way of personality or emotional connection. The forced romantic subplot with a character appearing underage adds a layer of unnecessary creepiness to an already underwhelming narrative experience.
A Technical Letdown:
Despite boasting impressive visuals on both PC and Mobile, Undawn suffers from technical shortcomings. The PC version struggles with frame rate drops, especially during intense combat scenarios. The mobile version, while generally smooth, suffers from occasional pop-in textures and draw distance issues. Furthermore, the anti-cheat software employed by the game is intrusive and requires unnecessary permissions, raising privacy concerns for players.
A Fumbled Dawn for the Zombie Genre:
Undawn fails to deliver on its promises. The game’s potential is overshadowed by clunky controls, a cluttered UI, shallow gameplay mechanics, and predatory monetization practices. The narrative is forgettable, and the characters lack depth. Technical issues further mar the experience. If you’re looking for a thrilling and engaging zombie survival experience, Undawn is a game best left undawnloaded.
What Undawn Could Have Been:
Undawn had the potential to be a compelling entry in the zombie survival genre. With tighter controls, a streamlined UI, and a deeper gameplay loop, the game could have offered a satisfying experience for both casual and hardcore players. A more engaging narrative and well-developed characters could have added a layer of emotional investment to the struggle for survival. Finally, a fairer monetization system that rewards dedicated players rather than exploiting their wallets would have made the game more welcoming and fostered a healthier community.
A Genre in Need of Innovation:
The zombie survival genre is oversaturated with titles that offer little more than the same tired tropes. Undawn, unfortunately, falls into this category. By addressing these core issues and focusing on innovative gameplay mechanics, a more engaging narrative, and a fair monetization model, the developers could turn Undawn into a title that stands out from the shambling hordes of mediocrity.
The Final Verdict:
Undawn is a missed opportunity. While the game boasts impressive visuals, it not only misses that mark, it’s ultimately weighed down by clunky controls, a cluttered UI, shallow gameplay, and predatory monetization practices. There are far better zombie survival experiences available, both free-to-play and premium. Unless the developers drastically improve the core gameplay loop and address the technical and monetization issues, Undawn is best left on the digital shelf to gather dust alongside the countless other forgettable zombie titles.