State of Decay Gets Remastered: Does The Updated Version Breathe New Life Into The Game?

Rumours emerged last August that Undead Labs was intending to give State of Decay – its hugely successful open world zombie survival simulator – a bit of an overhaul and some Xbox One treatment.

Imagine the collective groans – much like those emanating from the undead featured in the game – when news of yet another remastered title was announced for the current crop of consoles.

Many of us may still argue that these re-releases are little more than blatant cash-ins, offering little more than slightly glossier graphics. And there have been plenty of them lately: Grand Theft Auto V, The Last of US, Halo: The Master Chief Collection, Resident Evil, Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition and Metro Redux to name but a few… Yet while we all yearn for new IPs, the remastering phenomenon seems to be here to stay.

"There are updated graphics, of course, new achievements, new supply crate missions, a nice auto-recording DVR feature to capture deaths and zombie kills, as well as an exclusive character if you’ve previously bought the main game."

Understandably, those who’ve not yet experienced the titles in their original form are excited at the prospect of getting the chance to try the ultimate version of the game in all its glory, but it’s clear that even existing owners relish the prospect at playing a new souped-up version.

Add the fact that many developers also use it as an opportunity to bundle game-extending add-ons and DLC with the new edition, complete with enhanced HD graphics and next-gen bells and whistles, and remasters actually look pretty good value.

And the new State of Decay is no different.

There are updated graphics, of course, new achievements, new supply crate missions, a nice auto-recording DVR feature to capture deaths and zombie kills, as well as an exclusive character if you’ve previously bought the main game. Gurubani Kaur is fairly handy with a sword too so is well worth having onboard. It also comes bundled with the “Breakdown” (infinite sandbox mode) and “Lifeline” (a campaign from the viewpoint of the military), which are both decent in their own rights.

"What I like most about the new offering, however, is the upgrade plan for existing owners. Xbox 360 gamers can expect a 33% discount when they buy the Year-One Survival Edition before the end of June."

State of Decay: Year-One Survival Edition sees everything captured in glorious 1080p and has a few other additions to lure previous players to the next gen. Visually, everything looks so much better. The environments are nicely detailed, the colours crisp, the animations smooth and the effects, impressive. There’s better lighting, and the textures and shadows all enhance the experience of the zombie apocalypse.

What I like most about the new offering, however, is the upgrade plan for existing owners. Xbox 360 gamers can expect a 33% discount when they buy the Year-One Survival Edition before the end of June. Now that’s quite tempting given all the extras, isn’t it?

When the original State of Decay emerged in 2013 it proved hugely popular with the masses, and despite issues with frame rates, pop up and clipping, it became Xbox Live Arcade’s fastest-selling original game – just a week after its launch. Those half a million paid downloads proved that zombie fever was still rife amongst the gaming community.

"Any doubters of remasters could do far worse than taking the plunge with State of Decay. It’s still a little rough around the edges but it’s a fantastic game and this is a pretty comprehensive package."

Rather than a standard hack and slash effort, State of Decay demanded careful and considered resource management and some tough moral decisions to ensure your survival. You got to build a secure base, rescue stranded survivors, prioritise food and ammunition collection… or die.

Zombies are everywhere, attracted by noise and often appearing in large groups. And they’re pretty speedy too, able to catch you when you least expect it. They’re perfectly happy to chow down on you while you’re rifling through supply crates or raiding a seemingly deserted house – so you better hope you’ve got a friendly face alongside you to watch your back. Keeping your fellow survivors alive and onside is a crucial element of the game – and what makes this stand out in a massively flooded zombie-themed market.

Any doubters of remasters could do far worse than taking the plunge with State of Decay. It’s still a little rough around the edges but it’s a fantastic game and this is a pretty comprehensive package. Here’s hoping any future visits to Undead Labs’ gruesome world will offer multiplayer, eh?

A Xbox One copy State of Decay: Year-One Survival Edition was provided by Microsoft for this feature.