Surviving the end of the world is no joke. That’s the lesson I learned playing ZERO Sievert, a video game that throws you into a post-nuclear disaster land where every step could be your last. It’s a tough survival game that doesn’t hold your hand. Imagine waking up with just the basics, in a safe bunker after everything outside has gone wrong. You’ve got to face the world and find stuff for yourself and for the people living with you. This is the world of ZERO Sievert.
Welcome to the Bunker: Your Safe Haven… Kind Of
When I first started the game, I found myself in a bunker called ZERO Sievert. It’s a place where people can hide from the chaos outside. In this bunker, everyone has a job, and mine was to be a Hunter. Hunters are the ones who go out into the danger zone, grab supplies, fight bad guys, and make it back alive. The bunker’s like a home where I can get ready for my trips outside. I can fix my gear, heal up, sleep, and pick up tasks that need doing. Without a main mission, though, I sometimes felt not sure why I was risking my neck out there, except for the excitement of playing.
A Harsh World Without a Guide
The real action happens outside the bunker, where you explore, fight, and pick up anything useful. But let me tell you, figuring out how to survive was tough. The game doesn’t really teach you how; it just tosses you into the deep end. The instructions are hidden in menus and aren’t much help. This made starting out harder than it needed to be. If you’re like me, expect to trip over many unseen rocks before you start to get the hang of it.
Despite the rough start, the exploring and looting is where the fun is at. Sneaking into enemy bases, finding treasure, and escaping alive made me stay up late at night for just one more expedition.
Sounds and Sights of a Fallen World
ZERO Sievert is pretty to look at, in its own pixel art way, and the sounds almost make you feel like you’re there. But there’s no background music, which can make things feel a bit empty. On the other hand, the quietness kind of fits with the serious mood of the game. And when your character gets zapped by radiation, the sound is just bad—like a real bummer to your ears.
Despite the problems, ZERO Sievert can be really enjoyable if you stick with it. The deeper you get into the game, the more you see how smart the world is, with its own history and cool gameplay. If you’re into survival games and don’t mind a challenge, give it a go.
Starting Off Rough
My first moments in the game were confusing. I chose my starting gear from six sets, not really knowing what was best. I hit the cold, harsh land with little more than hope. I met another Hunter (I thought he was a friend) and before I could finish saying hi, I was killed. That’s how real this game is.
I tried again, this time more careful. I saw a wolf, took it down, and went to grab its fur. But while I was busy with that, its wolf friends jumped me and I was gone, just like that.
Even trying to be friendly didn’t work. Walking into a camp, looking to make nice, they shot me without thinking twice.
The game drops you into a harsh world, but there’s a strange beauty in its danger. Every new place is a puzzle. Crafting at a workbench, talking to bunker friends, riding the train to unknown parts—it’s the quiet moments that stick with you.
A Hunter’s Struggle
Being a Hunter isn’t just fighting and looting. You need to keep an eye on your hunger, thirst, the need to sleep, and staying away from too much radiation. When you’re out there, you might fight bandits, wild beasts, and things that used to be human. Each enemy drops stuff you can use to stay alive or finish a task. And upgrading your gear and skills is the cherry on top.
Piecing Together a World
The pixel graphics and the sounds do a lot to pull you into the game world. Every gunshot, footstep, and creature call counts. You have to use your ears as much as your eyes to make it through. Changing your guns, making food, and even finding a Gameboy from one of the fallen—it’s these details that make you feel part of the world.
As I played more, my character got better. My skills sharpened, my gun became a silent powerhouse, and I made a small corner of the bunker my own. The loot, the crafting, managing my little supply—it all made the game much more rewarding.
Verdict: Not for the Faint of Heart
ZERO Sievert can be super tough, especially when you’re just starting out. But if you’re patient, and willing to learn the hard way, there’s a deep, engaging game waiting for you. It’s still being worked on, so there’s hope some of the rough edges will get smoothed out in time. But if you’re up for the challenge, there’s a strange joy in making it through another day in a world where everything wants you gone. This is not an easy-going game, it’s one that asks you to dig deep and see if you have what it takes to survive when the world has moved on without you.
My score: 8/10
