In April of this year, the series adaptation of the game of the same name of "Fallout" brought by Amazon caused a whirlwind of "wasteland culture" around the world. The imagination of the near-future world in the series, as well as various elements of post-apocalyptic survival, are very attractive to many people.
There are many wasteland-style games on the market today, but they are generally divided into two categories: American wasteland (Fallout, The Division) and Russian wasteland (Atom Star). However, due to cultural differences, the sense of substitution of domestic players in the experience process will be greatly reduced. So is there a wasteland game for our local players?
On May 11, the Chinese-style wasteland-themed shooting game "Broken Land" developed by NetEase Beiluo Shimen Studio held a wasteland tasting meeting, and Ye Zizhu was honored to be invited to participate. Although it has only been half a month since the game version of "Shattered Land" passed the review. But the creators still use the extremely high level of completion and quality of the game to tell the outside world that they are ready.
So how does the Chinese wasteland manifest itself in The Shattered Lands? Compared to similar games, what are the most eye-catching highlights of "The Fractured Lands"? With these questions, let's take a look at it together.
Fantastic chemistry of Chinese elements & wasteland style
The story of "The Shattered Lands" takes place in the future, because the development of AI technology has led to a large number of humans being replaced by machines. As the contradictions arising from economic problems intensified, modern society was finally reduced to ruins in a war between man and machine. With this as the background, players born in the wasteland world start their own adventure story.
Wild and ruined, mutated creatures can be seen everywhere, and it's hard not to feel sad when you first enter the world of The Shattered Lands. Humans who have survived on the earth for tens of millions of years can always continue to reproduce. As I stepped into the town, everything suddenly became clear again.
Beneath the shell of the wasteland, there are many elements of The Broken Lands that resonate with Chinese players. The stone lion at the entrance of the mansion of the wealthy family, the architectural furnishings of the Republic of China, the paragliding that looks like a wooden kite, and the gang that worships Guan Gong...... These are things that you can't see in the previous wasteland games.
Walking in this wasteland world, you can see the signs of Chinese restaurants everywhere, and the slogan "Idlers are not allowed to enter" makes people laugh. When talking to NPCs, you can clearly feel that they are talking with "Chinese thinking". From the player characters to the plot characters, they are full of "Jianghu Qi".
"When a powerful man helps a weak person, his deeds are called chivalry."
Taking this as a starting point, the protagonist (player) in "Shattered Lands" who is looking for the core of creation and rebuilding civilization has a higher level of intention and pursuit in behavior. In the past wasteland games, there are few protagonists who meet the definition of the word "chivalry", and they are more for their own survival, which seems too simple.
In the development process of "Broken Land", the setting of the external environment was taken into account, and the shaping of the spiritual core was also involved. After the combination of the inside and the outside, the element of Chinese wasteland has also been better interpreted.
How does "The Broken Lands" break through in the era of gameplay first?
During the 2-hour actual game of this wasteland tasting meeting, the author has experienced novice levels, secret exploration, 50-level multiplayer PVE dungeon battles and PVP gameplay. And the two teammates are also quite powerful, passing at a faster speed in both PVE dungeons and PVP battles. I was very impressed by the gameplay mode of "The Broken Land".
The Shattered Lands is an online multiplayer game, but it's more PVE-oriented. In PVP mode, there is not even a circle shrinking mechanism. In the group interview session after the end of the trial, the planner answered for the author, saying that the core of the PVP mode is actually to evacuate with loot, rather than letting players "just shoot".
Compared with the PVP mode, the PVE mode is much higher in terms of content richness. Through the choice of guns, talent bonuses, the choice of drones/towers, NPC companions, ...... We have built a gameplay with RPG elements that can be freely equipped according to personal playing habits.
For example, if you choose to play with dual wielding, your character will get more firepower. This kind of wide-open and closed combat style is suitable for players who like to face it.
If you prefer stealth play, the "stealth sniper" genre, which allows you to hide your body after shooting, may provide a better gaming experience.
For example, uncharted exploration and PVE dungeons are actually quite challenging. Regarding the flexible use of props, the cooperation between teams is indispensable. The level 50 dungeon boss in the trial stage, its doppelganger ability has caused problems for many players who are tackling the problem for the first time, which also further illustrates the importance of the choice of playing style and teamwork.
In addition to teaming up with real players, The Shattered Lands also features an NPC companion system. NPC companions with different loadouts, functions, and playing styles can also be the choice of lone wolf players to open up wasteland and explore large maps. Even if it's a "punching bag" that attracts firepower, it's actually a way to improve the gameplay experience.
Of course, the gameplay mentioned above is actually only a small part of what Shattered Lands shows. Due to the limited time for this trial, more specific content elements can only be explored by everyone in the future.
Towards the characteristic path of Chinese wasteland games
When the creators were developing "Broken Land", they were actually avoiding some long-standing fixed gameplay modes on the market to avoid serious homogenization. During the group interview, the game's planners also expressed their vision of "making our own wasteland game".
As a lover of wasteland-themed games, I have seen many differences in "The Shattered Land" from previous games of the same genre. For example, sandbox building, simulation management, and other content designed to increase the amount of time players invest in the game are not available in this game.
The Shattered Lands itself is more of an exploration, so there is a lot of content involved in climbing, swimming, ziplining, and gliding while experiencing the game. Of course, there is a reason for setting up these features, which means that the space becomes more three-dimensional within the scene. And in the environment of the post-apocalyptic wasteland, the way to get materials is often so complicated.
However, this game does not completely abandon the DIY element, such as the indispensable guns for every player, which can be produced by collecting materials and crafting. Compared to the four equipment levels of white, blue, purple, and jade, crafting equipment can produce equipment with specific "affixes". For players, there is also a stronger drive to explore the wilderness and obtain materials.
At this point, some players may be concerned about the relationship between krypton and stats. Regarding this aspect of the content, of course, the creators have also taken it into account. During the group interview, the planner confirmed that "Shattered Land" is mainly paid for costumes and appearance, and as for other equipment and materials that affect the game experience and combat power, all of them can be obtained in the normal game process.
Focusing on PVE elements, emphasizing exploration and combat shooting experience, not involving equipment payment, and incorporating Chinese elements, "Shattered Land" is such a wasteland-themed game with a unique temperament.
Write at the end
The 2-hour trial experience is fleeting, and the author has seen a new way to open a wasteland-themed game during this trip to "Broken Land". Of course, this trial is at most a peek in the tube, and I believe that in the official version of the game, there are more things that deserve everyone's attention and attention.
At present, the start test of "Shattered Land" has been officially set for May 24, and supports IOS, Android, and PC multi-terminal interoperability. Interested players may wish to join in and experience a different kind of Chinese wasteland world for themselves.
has ideas, execution and can give full play to its own characteristics, such a "Broken Land" is also worth the market's expectations. Perhaps in the near future, we will see the birth of a new track.