Generation Zero

The most interesting part of this open-world shooter is its setup. Generation Zero's setting is integral to its premise. It takes place in a country with mandatory military training for young adults to defend against a potential Soviet invasion, which makes the notion of a group of late teens taking up arms to defend themselves believable. It's also set in a time prior to the internet and cell phones, which makes plausible the idea that a crisis could take place while the teens are away without them being aware of it. The scope and beauty of the lonely but extremely dangerous world furthers the sense of isolation and catastrophe. Moving through a lush but chilly forest as night falls and a thunderstorm rolls in from the sea, fearful that at any moment you could be spotted by a cadre of lightning-fast four-legged machines, creates heart-pounding tension.

Sadly, though, this strong staging makes the game's faults all that much more disappointing. Nature may often appear beautiful, but humanmade elements are less so. Vehicles and buildings suffer from cookie-cutter design, with details such as posters, dishes, and furniture copied straight over from one location to another. It effectively breaks the game's spell, and makes scavenging a lot less interesting. And while the fast-paced and viciously difficult combat rewards caution and strategy, there are also plenty of scenarios where the speed, number, awareness, and intelligence of enemies effectively eliminates any chance at survival, especially when playing alone. It makes the idea that this army of machines could so quickly and effectively take over believable, but it can also be extremely frustrating. Perhaps the biggest letdown, though, is that the story takes a backseat to the action, left mostly to notes and newspaper clippings. A premise this interesting deserves more thorough investigation than it's been given. Generation Zero has potential, and could perhaps evolve through updates and patches, but the initial offering isn't what it could have been.