The downside – and I’d call it an emergent gameplay feature – is that unique NPCs from neutral or friendly factions can also be killed during events (or by the player), cutting off potential quest lines and limiting your outcomes.
As a result, too many deaths can leave your team woefully undermanned and under-skilled, but Heartland has been designed to push the narrative forward so long as you still have a few survivors. Your recruitable companions are also unique, with many returning from the first game (though my memory is hazy at this point). What-ifs aide, State of Decay 2: Heartland finally returns players to Trumbull Valley, offering up two new starting pairs, all of whom have a connection to characters or events from the first game, and provide several unique missions and NPC interactions at least for the opening hours before events converge. Outside of your camp, there's rarely a moment to stop and take a breath in Heartlands Welcome back to the relentless world of State of Decay. It’s a shame, as had they launched with the Heartland content first - and then moved onto more mechanically-driven expansions - I think State of Decay 2 would have been much better received. Unfortunately, the following year has been spent on much-needed patches and boring DLC, a gear and cosmetic-oriented pack, along with a horde mode that was enjoyable but throwaway.
However, there were still plenty of reviewers and players that highlighted the satisfying gameplay loop and complex role-playing (so long as you liked juggling numbers rather than narrative choices). I’m just worried they missed the boat.ĭespite mixed reviews, State of Decay 2 garnered millions of players at launch - helped no end by its inclusion on the fledgling Xbox Game Pass - though it was rightly criticised for its buggy and janky nature. A narrative that picks up from the events of the first game (and the Lifeline expansion) with unique, non-disposable characters that ensure there’s real tension in every encounter multiple factions and mission paths and even different endings - all of which gel with the existing mechanics and encourage replays.
#State of decay 2: heartland series
Arriving just over a year on from the launch of State of Decay 2 - a game I found mechanically satisfying, yet buggy and narratively sparse – the new expansion, “ Heartland”, feels a hell of a lot like what fans of the series were expecting in the first place.