We’re sent to the fallen city of Danforth to rescue scientists at the high of the initial outbreak, where a chain of command still exists. From there, society starts breaking down.
The studio wanted to explore almost the exact reverse of the original game, where we’ll start off rather powerful and given support, but then begin to lose that vital help.
Our first objective in Lifeline is to locate and secure a Landing Zone where supplies will be brought in off-map via military channels, as well as serve to evacuate civilians. This LZ becomes our base of operations and it will need to be vigorously defended by the encroaching zombie hordes. Base building is to receive new mechanics.
As you’re the military they know a thing or two about defending positions, and so Undead Labs look like they’re going to give us more than just a single manned sniper tower. We’ll also need to protect our gates and fences as otherwise civilians will be massacred, and if we lose too many then its game over.
We’ll have minefields and defences to build and upgrade with off-map artillery strikes to call in if need be. Our military-grade hardware will go a long way in culling the zed threat, but if they breach the base then it’s a free-for-all. The team wanted to explore the soldier’s side of things and not have them as the ‘go-to bad guy’ in State of Decay.
”Few people have a greater opportunity to make life-altering choices than soldiers. They’ve played that role as side characters in the original State of Decay…but now we are adding a new story, in which you take on that responsibility yourself,” blogged Undead Labs.
They’ll be revealing more about Lifeline as the weeks roll by. It releases for PC and Xbox 360 simultaneously.
