Survival Games Reimagined: The Last Plague Breaks the Mold

In the ever-evolving landscape of video games, the survival genre has long been a staple, offering players the thrill of eking out an existence in harsh, unforgiving environments. However, for one writer, the familiar tropes of the genre have often left them feeling uninspired. That is, until they stumbled upon The Last Plague: Blight, a solo developer's ambitious attempt to breathe new life into the survival experience.

Crafting a Unique Survival Experience

Challenging the Conventions

Survival games have long followed a familiar formula – start on an island, punch trees and rocks, and eventually unlock the ability to industrialize. But Sergei Bezborodko, the solo developer behind The Last Plague: Blight, is determined to break that mold. "I feel like a lot of the survival games coming out these days follow a fairly specific formula that has shown to have success time and time again," he explains. "Things like crafting, inventory management, base building, hunger and/or thirst management, etc, seem fairly similar in a lot of games."Bezborodko's goal is to avoid these well-trodden tropes, or at the very least, to put a unique spin on them. "I tried to be very conscious of these commonly seen elements in the genre and avoid them in my game," he says. "For the elements I can't avoid, I've tried to at least change them up to be a bit different."

Crafting with Complexity

One such example is the game's approach to crafting. Rather than a "simplistic" system of converting resources into finished products, The Last Plague requires players to engage in a more laborious process. "For example, being able to make bronze blades or objects requires you to make a mold first and then pour molten bronze into the molds to make the desired item, rather than just clicking something to convert bronze ore into an axe."This level of complexity may not appeal to all players, but for those seeking a more immersive and challenging survival experience, it could be a welcome change of pace. The developer acknowledges that this approach may not be for everyone, but it's a deliberate choice to set The Last Plague apart from the competition.

Radiation and the Blight

Another key aspect of The Last Plague that sets it apart is the introduction of the titular Blight, a spreading phenomenon inspired by the radiation elements found in games like Fallout. "I'm inspired by non-survival games like Fallout with elements like the radiation in those games," Bezborodko explains. "That's where the Blight in The Last Plague comes from."This Blight adds an extra layer of complexity to the survival experience, as players must factor it into their base-building and resource-gathering strategies. Rather than simply trying to position themselves as close as possible to necessary resources, the Blight forces players to consider the broader implications of their actions and the long-term impact on their environment.

A Fresh Perspective

For the writer, this shift in perspective was a welcome change from the typical survival game experience. "Factoring that into my thinking about the where and how of building my base made the choice more interesting than in other survival games, where I'm generally just trying to put myself as close as possible to necessary resources to cut down tedium."Additionally, the game's overhead perspective, which the writer describes as feeling "a bit more like I was playing a CRPG than your traditional, first-person survival thing," further contributes to the unique feel of The Last Plague. While the writer acknowledges that the game's more complex crafting system may not be their personal preference, they found themselves enjoying the overall experience more than in many other survival titles.

A Promising Departure from the Norm

The Last Plague: Blight represents a promising departure from the well-worn survival game formula. By challenging the conventions of the genre and introducing unique elements like the Blight, Bezborodko is offering players a fresh and engaging survival experience. While the game may not appeal to everyone, it's clear that the developer has put a great deal of thought and effort into crafting a survival game that stands out from the crowd.For those interested in exploring the world of The Last Plague: Blight, the game's demo is currently available on Steam, providing players with the opportunity to experience the game's unique take on the survival genre firsthand.