Delving into the Isometric Apocalypse of HumanitZ
Keep your wits sharp and your machete sharper in this world overrun by the undead.
Early Access Review
last updated Jan 17, 2024
If you can stomach the rawness of its current state, strap on your best pair of running shoes, because this game's got legs—and they're sprinting toward greatness.
JoySticks and Shambling Hordes
Navigating through the post-apocalyptic wasteland of HumanitZ can be as graceful as a zombie ballet. That is to say, it's clunky—but with style. While some might dread the constant Q and E abuse for camera twirling, I found a charm in the frantic multitasking that mirrors the chaos of a zombie infestation. Movement, although as fluid as a frozen zombie on a cold day, still suffices as you scavenge, craft, and fortify against the ceaseless undead and pesky bandits. Combat can feel like a missed swing at an undead pinata at times, with hitboxes apparently designed by a blindfolded apprentice. Yet, overall, gameplay captures the nail-biting essence of survival amidst the collapse of civilization.
Orchestral Moans and Shotgun Serenades
The audio of HumanitZ is like a zombie's diet—nothing too fresh but satisfyingly meaty. Gunshots echo with a gratifying boom, and the groans of the undead could wake the dead—oh, wait. Although the looping soundtrack may drive one to insanity (or at least to turn the music volume down), the ambient soundscape otherwise teeters between eerie silence and adrenaline-pumping action. While musical monotony isn't music to anyone's ears, remember: in the zombie apocalypse, a repeating track should be the least of your worries.
Pixel Apocalypse Now
Graphically, HumanitZ serves up an appealing platter of zombie tartare. Decent, consistent art direction effortlessly sets the mood, and the top-down isometric visuals provide a clear, if not occasionally obstructed, view of the action. However, the camera mechanics, which I can only assume were designed to simulate neck cramps, do require a call to action from the developer chiropractors. And while performance generally hums like a well-tuned chainsaw, cities can chug along like a horde of geriatric zombies. A few tweaks here and there could transform this from a graphical Shaun of the Dead to a Dawn of the Dead masterpiece.
Bring Out the (Early Access) Dead
Despite its rough edges, HumanitZ exhibits commendable developer vigor, with steady updates patching up the world like duct tape on a broken skull. It’s the little things, like a new drag-and-drop mechanic, that show there’s a heartbeat in this cadaver of a game. Sure, teleporting zombies and levitating toward players are charming party tricks, but they're about as welcome as a bite to the neck. Thankfully, the dev team isn't slouched over a barrel feasting on human remains—they're busy, they're present, and they hear the cries for help from their community.
Potential Un-dead
With players clamoring for a beefier survival game with friends, HumanitZ is taking shaky but promising strides toward something special. The developers' active engagement and roadmap tease mouthwatering morsels of upcoming content—we're talking multi-story buildings and complex survival scenarios. It's clear that this indie darling is mustering all its indie might to deliver a game that'll knock your socks off, assuming the zombies haven't already eaten your feet.
EARLY ACCESS RATING
Developer
Yodubzz Studios
Publisher
Freedom Games
Early Accesss Release Date
September 18, 2023
The Zombie-Sized Verdict
In the shattered remains of the world, HumanitZ has erected a shanty-town of potential. For $19.99, it's a survivalist's bargain—the grimy rough diamond just waiting for that extra polish. If you're the patient type who doesn't mind supporting a game with a long road ahead, this is undoubtedly a venture worth sank teeth into. HumanitZ offers more than just a promise; it offers a view into an apocalyptic future we can craft and survive in, together. If you can stomach the rawness of its current state, strap on your best pair of running shoes, because this game's got legs—and they're sprinting toward greatness.
