Welcome to Paradize – Test and News

Games that take place in a postapocalyptic world are legion, and the concept is quite old. However, with Welcome to ParadiZe the developers of Eko Software have decided to offer us an idea as crazy as it is original: that of inviting us to survive the hordes of creatures by being helped by domesticated zombies. Yes, you read it correctly, in this game, your best friends will be the undead! An original premise which, after a few hours of play, blows hot and cold. Explanations.

In this new world, ParadiZe is a dream resort where you are promised a normal life, far from all the worries and death perpetuated by zombies. Unfortunately, when you arrive, the situation is not what you expected. The dead have become the masters of the place and the promised sweet dream is nothing more than a distant memory. Moreover, as soon as you arrive, the welcome is very cold: a man is at the reception and asks you for help to eliminate the few zombies who are there, right next door. So you take your best weapon – which is none other than a stick – and you are going to hit the heads of these creatures as stupid as they are threatening.

The starting point is a quick introduction to the game which promises you an adventure lasting around ten hours. During your adventures, you will have the chance to meet astonishing characters, to experience incredible situations, all in the service of a most classic story. Indeed, an imitation of Elon Musk quickly announces your objective: to recreate a rocket and leave this world which is going into a tailspin. Although it works rather well, it is clear that the scenario remains behind and that the whole thing really lacks immersion. We go from point A to point B, without stopping, barely interested in the few NPCs we meet and the story they tell us. But hey, are we really here for that?

The principle of the game is quite simple: you have a life bar, an endurance gauge and the ability to run. With one touch you can use light strikes, while with another it is possible to use heavy strikes. Dodging is also included and it is possible to use support objects such as care, something to rehydrate, etc. All the gameplay works around the two sticks, a first for moving, and a second for aiming. Classic gameplay that will surprise no one, especially those who are used to this type of game. To this must be added the possibility of managing an inventory and therefore using a whole series of weapons capable of diversifying the experience game. A melee weapon (bat, knife, spear, etc.) offers certain advantages (hitting many enemies and pushing them back) but makes the confrontation significantly more dangerous. On the other hand, firearms require ammunition, but offer a certain security which is not at all negligible, especially when the threat is numerous. In terms of gameplay, Welcome to ParadiZe is classic and effective, but it sorely lacks precision. Indeed, many times, we found ourselves in situations where our shots passed “next to” enemies or even faced with shots that missed their target, a situation which very quickly turns out to be problematic in a game such as this one. -this.

But where the game differentiates itself from the competition is in the possibility of domesticating two zombies who can fight alongside you. These helpers can be equipped – just like your character – and it is possible to fully customize their attitude based on two criteria: out of combat and in combat. It's up to you to choose and select what suits different situations, but also your gameplay. It is possible, for example, to specialize one of your zombies in melee combat (by equipping it with a weapon and thorny armor that inflicts damage on approaching opponents), and a second at a distance (to whom you give a rifle and gunshot resistance tack). The possibilities are therefore very numerous and the objects which are available offer a multitude of different gameplay. The suicide zombie, the zombie that rushes at its opponents with a reactor… There's really something to do! This is also the main interest of Welcome to ParadiZe and it offers a real identity to the game. Once customization is complete, it is possible to command your allies with a simple press of the trigger by sending them into battle. It works well and it's quite fun, even if here too, the game lacks precision and responsiveness. Zombies – just like AI – lack intelligenceundeniably.

Beyond the pure action of this game, there is a survival and construction side which is rather nice. Indeed, it is necessary – it is not an option, therefore – to set up a base which serves as a relay between the different missions. So, in addition to building different buildings useful for your survival and your adventure (kitchen, workshop for weapons, etc.), you must establish a concrete defense to ward off the zombie threat. To achieve this, you can of course build fences, but also set up traps which must be activated by your domestic zombies (in the same way that we personalize the behavior of those who accompany us). The synergy and objectives that we set for our creatures within our base allow us to create a true autonomous ecosystem where it is possible to recover water, wood, grow crops, all while defending its environment in the face of the threat that constantly hovers around. It's quite pleasant to manage, especially since the system is efficient in its implementation. Placing buildings, establishing defenses… Everything is done simply, in the very good sense of the word.

In addition to this management aspect, Welcome to ParadiZe offers other customization possibilities such as the possibility of unlocking different skills. These are numerous and can therefore offer new customization in the gameplay since they are, sometimes, very specific. We can therefore improve ranged damage and/or melee damage or even offer more resistance (by increasing life points). Others are much more original and interesting, giving the game a new interest. We think, for example, of the possibility for our domestic zombies to be accompanied by other creatures, which increases the number of people accompanying you. It is obvious thata synergy is possible and reflection is required before spending these points which can greatly increase your survivability face the enemies that stand before you. Besides, speaking of enemies, it is good to note that the proposed bestiary is quite limited. There are zombies and… zombie animals. And that's about it. So yes, there is nuance in what you are told since some will be blown up, while others will face you in close combat or at a distance. Change and variety, yes, but nothing fundamentally crazy.

On a technical level, Welcome to ParadiZe does not present itself as a triple-A game, which means that it is not expected to live up to current blockbusters. That being said, if the settings prove to be visually satisfactory, all the close-ups still make us cringe. This is even more true for the character animations which are… dated, terribly dated. We really lose immersion with this visual aspect which is not at all convincing, unfortunately.

To this we can also add the fact that many bugs are still present : character remaining stuck in the setting, game crashing, elements that appear from time to time… A lack of finish always disturbing when you have to invest in a game. Finally, a quick word on the sound part which, in the absence of being memorable, does the job. The sound effects and music are effective, without disturbing us or even transporting us. For the dubbing, however, it's a little more complex because it seems to cut off well before the characters have finished speaking. Another bug, probably, that harms immersion.