Recent reviews by Skagi the Skald

Initially frustrating but beautiful game (albeit, a bit shallow). Deaths are abundant as you get the mechanics down; but after awhile, the game becomes more second nature and easier to navigate.

Things to know:
- This is NOT an MMO. In fact, it really is primarily a single player open world Dark Souls'ish game. There is some PvP - but cooperative multiplayer is almost pointless as virtually every main boss requires you beat it alone (NPC help excluded) to advance the story.
- Deaths are annoying but no big deal. Just be judicious with your runes and keep few on you whenever possible.
- Timing of dodges and rolls matters far more than damage for the majority of bosses. Most can be beaten via a war of attrition - so, practice the patterns and learn their attacks. You don't need massive strength to take out bosses...but you do need perfectly timed rolls.
- The aesthetic is cool but the graphics aren't "perfection". It looks good and has some crazy creature design; but don't go in expecting photorealism.
- The infamous game difficulty settles down as you level up. By the time you're 50 (which comes quick), you're able to dominate the landscape.
- Melee is great. Casting is great. But the game rewards hybrid play the most (and feels like what the devs intended). "Spellblades" tend to dominate heavily with a solid mix of swords and magical staffs.
- There is ZERO quest log. This wil be the single-most frustrating part of a game that has convoluted multi-step quests. Keep a notebook handy and write down EVERYTHING when interacting with primary NPC's.

The most frustrating thing about DayZ is the potential - the idea of real consequences in your struggle for survival against other players and the undead.

The issue with DayZ is horrid execution.

The gameplay is simplistic - but that stems from this not being a real game at all. Rather, it's a game mod from a different game that they're charging a premium for. As you wander the world, the vast majority of doors, cabinets (including refrigerator doors) etc. cannot be opened. So, it all feels static and very "circa 1996". Additionally, the world feels large but not immersive; there just isn't enough to do but wander quietly between buildings hoping to find loot that will feed, hydrate, warm or protect you.

But the biggest drawback on gameplay are the time mechanics. You immediately begin to dehydrate...and begin to starve from your first step. Without drinking, you can die in under a game day. You can starve in just over twice that. This completely breaks the intense realism of the game. Dehydration will weaken you, but takes at least 3 days to kill you (and this is an Eastern European country where it rains constantly - but somehow, water is unbelievably scarce). And, a human can survive for a VERY long time without food. Creating a "MacGuffin" mechanic where you're dying instantly feels lazy...the rate of biological deterioration should be more realistic as it takes away the ability to just explore and feel more free to survey the world.

Also, rain in this game can give you the flu. Yes, you read that correctly...the rain can cause viral infections. Certainly, being wet and cold can lower a person's immune system; but you still need to come in contact with a viral carrier to get the flu. Once again, the DayZ devs just went the lazy route and decided that illness was merely a product of the environment (something we've known isn't very correct since the 1600's). And, any body of water, no matter how fresh it is from recent rains, will give you either cholera or salmonella (as will unmarked tin cans of food). The devs decided to make whatever universe this game takes place in, the most unrealistically unhealthy environment ever seen by man.

Finally, they use objects as a "puzzle" of sorts, with combinations thereof doing various things. But, they don't often track to real life - and the game enforces a bizarre form of amnesia on you...your character would have to have zero life experience to be as helpless as this game makes them. Ingenuity plays no real role and there simply aren't enough varying objects to hold ones' interest.

Finally, this game is infamous for two things: bugs and hackers. The latter has been a recent focus and is slightly improving - but game bugs are still prevalent. It feels like it's still in "Alpha" state years after launch.

If this game goes on sale for $10, then it's perhaps a maybe. But at $44, it's akin to theft due to gameplay malpractice.