Cole Fitzgerald
Connector Contributor
One part survival game and one part murder simulator, “DayZ” is one of the greatest games of this generation, and it’s not even fully released yet.
Created by Dean “Rocket” Hall and developed by “Bohemia Interactive”, “DayZ” started from humble beginnings as a mod for the relatively unknown military simulator “Arma 2”. After finally being released for PC as a standalone product last December, “DayZ” has been nothing short of a smash hit. Still unfinished, the game is in early alpha, and a lot of content is missing. Both buggy and filled with glitches, the game is barely stable enough to be playable, yet it is some of the most fun I’ve had in a game in a long time.
The premise of “DayZ” is simple. You must survive the zombie apocalypse that has befallen the fictional ex-Soviet state of Chernarus. Starting with only a flashlight, you must scavenge for supplies while fighting off the undead, sickness, hunger, thirst, and worst of all, other players. While zombies may pose a threat initially, they can be avoided if you are careful. Other players will run you down and murder you for your supplies. When you die in “DayZ”, you lose all of your progress and must start over from square one. This is where the game is truly unique.
Life in “DayZ” holds incredible value, and losing all of your gear and the time you spent finding it is not something you want to happen. Dying in any game sucks, but in “DayZ”, it is a severe setback. This causes you to do whatever it takes to prevent the loss of your precious loot. Beating someone to death with a crowbar over a can of beans carries extra weight when you know that was a real person you just killed.
Trust in “DayZ” is fleeting. You will become attached to your character and your loot. You will find that you will do anything it takes to ensure that you preserve your gear, as well as your life. This leads to every encounter with another player to be incredibly tense, where one wrong move can spell the difference between living and dying. You must rely on your wits and your resources to survive in a world filled with deadly zombies and cunning players who both wish to see you dead. More simulator than game, “DayZ” is an experience unlike any other.
It brings out the worst in humanity. It is unfairly difficult and incredibly punishing. You will die often. As of now it is unpolished and buggy, and you will run into game-ruining glitches. Despite all of these drawbacks, “DayZ” should not be missed.
Although it is unfinished, “DayZ” is already one of the best games of 2014, and if you are willing to endure some bugs, it will certainly not disappoint.
