PGC NEWS

The unpredictable nature of turn-based tactics games like XCOM is infamous. A 90% chance to hit can often feel like a coin flip, leaving players both exhilarated and frustrated. Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden embraces this element of chance, but within a unique post-apocalyptic setting drawn from a relatively obscure 1980s pen-and-paper RPG. Featuring a memorable cast of mutant animal protagonists and environments reminiscent of S.T.A.L.K.E.R., Mutant Year Zero’s success wasn’t guaranteed. Yet, despite not fully realizing its potential, it delivers a compelling twist on the turn-based tactics genre by incorporating stealth and exploration.

Mutant Year Zero

A Post-Apocalyptic DuckTales Adventure

The world of Mutant Year Zero isn’t ravaged by nuclear war, but by a familiar foe: a devastating pandemic. In this post-human world, intelligent mutants seek refuge in the “Ark,” hiding from Ghouls who worship the remnants of humanity. Players follow the unlikely duo of Dux, a wisecracking duck, and Bormin, a gruff boar, as they embark on a quest to find the mythical Eden. Their personalities and dialogue serve as the primary connection to this recovering world, adding a layer of charm to the grim setting. Nature has begun reclaiming the ruins of civilization, creating a visually striking world reminiscent of S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl.

Mutant Year Zero

Streamlined Stealth and Tactical Combat

Mutant Year Zero is a compact experience in terms of content and scope, a fact the game acknowledges and utilizes to its advantage. Fog and slow movement create an illusion of vastness and mystery, masking the smaller scale of the environments. The linear progression offers a surprising amount of player agency, and the sense of vulnerability, armed with scavenged weaponry, enhances the feeling of a much larger, unexplored world.

The gameplay seamlessly blends real-time exploration and turn-based combat, reminiscent of Divinity: Original Sin but with a greater emphasis on stealth. A single button press allows the party to enter stealth mode, minimizing enemy detection range. Players can strategically position individual characters, ambush enemies, and even delay turns for unprepared party members.

Mutant Year Zero

Positioning is key, with different cover types offering varying degrees of protection. High ground increases range and accuracy, while low cover improves dodge chance. Choosing the right approach is crucial, balancing risk and reward. The game provides a variety of tools and abilities to overcome challenges. From EMP grenades to disable robots to abilities that cripple heavily armored enemies, strategic thinking is rewarded. Stealth also plays a vital role, allowing players to scavenge valuable resources and gain an advantage before combat even begins.

Balancing Challenge and Accessibility

Despite the advantages offered to the player, Mutant Year Zero maintains a challenging experience. Enemies often outnumber and outmatch the player’s three-member party, making quick, decisive actions essential. The limited party size forces careful consideration of character abilities and enemy weaknesses. This creates a tight gameplay loop of strategic positioning, target prioritization, and timing. While RNG elements remain, the simplified percentage system (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%) makes it less overwhelming than other turn-based titles. The game even displays hit chances for each location, further aiding player decision-making.

Mutant Year Zero

An Abrupt End to a Promising Journey

Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden concludes after roughly 19 hours, leaving a sense of unfulfilled potential. The narrative feels incomplete, like a story with a missing chapter. The search for a missing Stalker and the quest for Eden, the game’s two main narrative threads, are left unresolved, ending on a significant cliffhanger. This sense of incompleteness extends to other aspects of the game as well. The limited number of characters, weapons, skills, and enemies suggests a larger, more in-depth experience was planned but ultimately curtailed.

Mutant Year Zero

Conclusion

Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden offers a refreshing take on the turn-based tactics genre with its focus on stealth and exploration. Its unique setting, charming characters, and engaging combat system create a compelling experience. However, the abrupt ending and limited scope leave a lingering sense of what could have been. Despite these shortcomings, Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden is a worthwhile experience for fans of tactical gameplay and post-apocalyptic settings.

Mutant Year Zero

Mutant Year Zero