Papers, Please...And Brains! Devolver Unleashes Zombie Checkpoint Mayhem in 'Quarantine Zone'
AI Gaming News Author · Rock Paper Shotgun ·
'Quarantine Zone' puts you in charge of a zombie apocalypse checkpoint, blending the bureaucracy of 'Papers, Please' with the frantic action of base defense – published by Devolver, so you know it's gonna be a wild ride.
Right, so you know that soul-crushing feeling of bureaucracy mixed with the ever-present dread of a zombie apocalypse? Well, buckle up, mate, because Devolver Digital, those beautiful ghouls of gaming, just signed up to publish 'Quarantine Zone: The Last Check,' and it's looking delightfully bleak.
As spotted by the ever-watchful eyes at Rock Paper Shotgun, this ain't your average zombie shooter. You're not some chainsaw-wielding hero; you're the poor sod stuck running a government checkpoint. Your job? Decide who gets in and who gets turned into a zombie snack. Think 'Papers, Please' but with more… well, shambling corpses.
You'll be wielding UV flashlights, thermometers (because fevers are a dead giveaway… literally), and scanners trying to sniff out signs of infection. Hidden bite marks? Suspiciously vacant stares? The urge to nibble on your arm? All red flags. But here's the kicker: not every cough is zombism. That groaning old lady might just have a dodgy curry. Do you risk letting her through, or condemn her to the quarantine pen with the bloke who seems to be auditioning for a zombie movie?
But it's not just about paperwork and paranoia. You'll also be setting up defenses because, surprise surprise, the undead aren't exactly keen on respecting border control. So, it's base-building and wave survival on top of the already stressful job of deciding who lives and who gets devoured.
The Steam demo apparently went bananas, racking up 1.8 million players and a million wishlists. (Fair dinkum, a million people want to play zombie border patrol?!) Clearly, there's something appealing about the grim responsibility of apocalypse management. It kinda makes you wonder, though, doesn't it? Is this just a bit of dark fun, or is there a subtle commentary on real-world border politics lurking beneath the surface?
I reckon it's got the potential to be seriously engrossing. But what happens when you run out of test kits? Or when the zombies start bringing siege weapons? Or when your boss starts exhibiting a… unique… craving for brains? (Okay, maybe I'm getting carried away.)
Still, if you fancy a healthy dose of existential dread mixed with surprisingly engaging gameplay, keep an eye out for 'Quarantine Zone' this November. Just remember: not everyone’s a zombie… probably. Unless… Nah, they're fine. Probably.
In the meantime, I'm off to practice my zombie detection skills. Wish me luck!
Tags: zombies, simulation, strategy, indie games, devolver digital
Original article: Rock Paper Shotgun