There’s always something satisfying about repeatedly smashing zombies in games. The Walking Dead has proved this many times across different game types, including some excellent VR titles. This time, we’re dropping back into the AMC universe in the form of a beat ’em up for The Walking Dead: Streets of Survival.
Set during the TV series’ All Out War storyline, Streets of Survival throws Rick, Daryl and Michonne into a walk ‘n brawl across 12 stages. It’s unmistakably inspired by classic arcade brawlers, but developer Odaclick Game Studio has mixed in some survival-horror and RPG elements to make this more than simply “The Walking Dead meets Streets of Rage”. That mixture is arguably the game’s greatest strength.
The basic formula is familiar: move through a level, smash anything that moves and try not to become walker food. Rick has his trusty magnum, Daryl brings his crossbow and Michonne has her katana, with an unlockable character becoming available later. Each protagonist has their own skill tree, while optional objectives, collectables and environmental interactions provide reasons to look beyond the obvious path through each stage.
The combat, however, is something of a mixed bag. When you’re surrounded by walkers and everything starts flowing, there’s a satisfying rhythm to smashing through a crowd. Enemies can be herded together, knocked back and dispatched in groups, while the game’s occasional use of firearms and cover gives certain encounters a welcome change of pace. Unfortunately, the relatively limited move set means the action never quite reaches the fluidity of the genre’s best examples.
The lack of a dedicated attack for downed enemies is particularly odd, while ranged enemies can occasionally turn an otherwise enjoyable scrap into a frustrating exercise in dodging bullets. Throw in some inconsistent responsiveness and occasional performance hiccups, and Streets of Survival doesn’t always feel as precise as a game built around arcade combat really needs to be.
Thankfully, the presentation goes a long way towards making up for some of those shortcomings. The combination of chunky pixel-art characters and polygonal environments is an unusual choice for The Walking Dead, but it works remarkably well. Rick, Daryl and Michonne are immediately recognisable, while familiar locations such as Alexandria, Hilltop and the Sanctuary have enough detail to make the journey feel connected to the television series. It gives the game a distinctive identity rather than simply looking like another generic retro brawler.
The soundtrack also deserves credit for helping maintain the atmosphere. There’s little in the way of traditional voice acting, with most of the story delivered through text, but the music and combat effects provide enough atmosphere to keep things moving. Those expecting a full-blown recreation of the show’s production values will obviously be disappointed, but that’s not really what Streets of Survival is going for.
The campaign can be completed in only a few hours, which will be a sticking point for some. Higher difficulties, collectables, skill progression and the unlockable character provide some incentive to return, but there’s a nagging feeling that there should simply be more here. The absence of co-op is even more noticeable. A genre practically built around screaming at a pal while you both batter your way through an arcade cabinet feels like a strange omission.
Still, The Walking Dead: Streets of Survival deserves some credit for trying something different with a licence that has already been squeezed into seemingly every possible genre. Its combat isn’t refined enough to compete with the best modern beat ’em ups, and its short campaign leaves you wanting more, but there’s genuine fun buried underneath the rough edges.
-Mark
