Deadside Review (DuVallx)
Deadside is a prime example of a game with great potential that is completely wasted due to poor execution. The concept is interesting, blending survival mechanics with a harsh open world, but everything around that core idea just falls apart.
First off, the community is toxic to the point where it drives away new players. Veteran players with thousands of hours in the game will actively sabotage any chance newcomers have of learning the ropes. Instead of offering help, they belittle and insult anyone who isn’t already an expert. It’s almost as if they’re trying to keep the playerbase small and elitist.
The inventory system is another disaster. There’s no explanation of where items should go in your character’s gear slots, leaving you to guess what fits where. To make matters worse, item stacking is unintuitive and awkward. Sorting through loot feels like a chore rather than a rewarding experience, which is a huge letdown in a survival game where inventory management is key.
Vehicle controls are laughably bad. Whether you're trying to escape a dangerous situation or just navigate the world, the vehicles feel sluggish and unresponsive. They handle like you're driving on ice, making any sort of meaningful travel an exercise in frustration.
The AI is another major flaw. Enemy NPCs have ridiculously far aggro ranges, so it's nearly impossible to move around without triggering every hostile in sight. Combine this with difficulty scaling that feels completely out of whack, and you have a game that punishes you for simply existing in its world. Encounters are often more difficult than they should be, making progression feel like an uphill battle where you’re constantly fighting just to survive.
Overall, Deadside feels unfinished, unbalanced, and riddled with frustrating mechanics. While the idea is solid, the execution is far from it. The game desperately needs better community management, more intuitive mechanics, and a complete overhaul of its core systems if it ever hopes to become the game it could have been.