Yes, it's been a long journey. But we came far and it was worth it. For those wandering how long this game was in development and how it looked back then, we've prepared a few before/after shots, a short comparison between our first ever public demo (2017) and the current game.
We are aware some of you expected a full release, considering how long it took us to reach this point. But we felt we had to own up to the “TBS Survival RPG” tag we have chosen to define our game. So when we had the turn-based strategy part dialed in, we looked at our RPG and felt it needed more. We added dialogue skill checks, character development and perks and we rewrote the story to give the player as much agency as possible. As soon as we had a good Strategy RPG, the survival part was crying for attention.
We came up with a modular base map, a barter economy with factional preferences and even a complex health system that goes from self-healing scratches to crippling injuries! Wounds can vary in their impact to your crew, with some requiring hospitalization or booster drugs that can even leave you with a bad hangover! Even more additions have been brought to the game, from backpacks, industrial crafting and much much more.
Each layer, taken separately, would’ve made a good game, but our ambition was to weave a unique combo of all three. And we believe we’re onto something really, really good. But it’s up to you, the players, to judge this. Yes, it’s Early Access. Yes, there are still nuts and bolts to tighten. But those wanting more from their games, those feeling the good old times of game development are gone - this game is for you. We dare you to join us for the final part of this exciting journey and put the finishing touches on a game we hope will become a classic.
Here’s a short glimpse of what is coming in Urban Strife Early Access:
- An American town in the deep south that is full of intrigue and territorial in-fighting amongst survivor groups, with the looming danger of an incoming zombie wave that destroyed Atlanta
- AI controlled enemies that dynamically adjust their tactics and weapon of choice based on your visible movements and group positioning.
- AI enemies capable of advanced and varied roles: snipers, flankers, grenadiers, medics, even zombie controlling herders.
- Special zombie AI that moves the horde in one turn, while preserving the individual sensors for each zombie (so you can split large groups if needed)
- Firearms ballistics simulation, from weapon characteristics to bullet specifics determining the chance to hit.
- Real material cover with five levels of penetration and three levels of body armor to go with it.
- A unique adaptation of classic tile-based, isometric and action points systems in Unreal Engine, combining the very best of both worlds.
- Full 24hr time passage with beautiful and immersive night/day progression that alters the schedules of the NPCs populating the world.
- Your own zombie survival vehicles, starting with a beat-up sheriff cruiser or, depending on your choice of allies and friends, an iconic RV, a zombie-proof 4x4 truck or a military Humvee.
- A base that you need to keep supplied with food, health and morale items in order to get a survival industry going and prepare for the incoming zombie siege.
- A barter system, so you can trade your surplus supplies with other survivor groups and procure whatever you need.
- Workshop and backpack crafting recipes, so you can fabricate items from scrap and looted resources, be those weapons, armor, medicine or even artisanal grenades
- Secret FBI files with hidden backstories of the faction warlords that will unlock different endings to the game.
- Slightly deranged recruits that you need to try and keep in harmony in your group by balancing their beliefs and friendship/adversities.
- And finally, a personal story you carve through the hordes of undead, in order to discover your own special place in the world of Urban.
For those willing to get involved with the game development even more, we’ll have a beta branch ready on Steam with the features that are in the pipeline. If you’re curious what’s coming next, this branch enables you to find out for yourself.