Dead Purge: Outbreak

Dead Purge: Outbreak is a first-person shooter set in a post-apocalyptic world where players engage in pure survival gameplay against waves of zombies. Developed by Microlith Games and released in 2017, the game features two modes, a limited selection of maps, and a variety of zombie enemies, though it lacks a narrative story. Players must fend off increasingly difficult hordes using their shooting skills in a top-down perspective, though the title has been criticized for its minimal content and steep price compared to similar alternatives.

Dead Purge: Outbreak: Review

Introduction

In the crowded landscape of zombie shooters, Dead Purge: Outbreak (2017) stands as a curious artifact—a game that promises intense, action-packed survival against the undead but ultimately falls short of its ambitions. Developed and published by Microlith Games, this first-person shooter was released during a time when the zombie genre was already saturated with titles like Killing Floor 2 and Left 4 Dead 2. Despite its modest visual polish and atmospheric environments, Dead Purge: Outbreak suffers from a lack of depth, repetitive gameplay, and technical issues that undermine its potential. This review will dissect the game’s development, narrative, mechanics, and legacy to determine whether it deserves a place in the annals of zombie gaming history.

Development History & Context

Microlith Games, a small indie studio based in Budapest, Hungary, developed Dead Purge: Outbreak using the Unity engine. The game was released on July 13, 2017, for Windows via Steam, priced at $14.99. The development team aimed to create a post-apocalyptic shooter with a focus on survival mechanics, weapon customization, and atmospheric settings. However, the game’s release was met with mixed reviews, with critics noting its similarities to established titles like Killing Floor 2 and Left 4 Dead 2.

The gaming landscape in 2017 was dominated by high-budget AAA titles and well-established indie hits. Zombie shooters were particularly popular, with Killing Floor 2 (2016) and Left 4 Dead 2 (2009) setting the standard for cooperative and wave-based gameplay. Dead Purge: Outbreak attempted to carve out its own niche by offering a more solitary experience, but its lack of innovation and technical issues hindered its success.

Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive

Dead Purge: Outbreak is devoid of a traditional narrative. The game’s premise is straightforward: an epidemic has decimated the world’s population, and the player is one of the few survivors tasked with purging endless waves of zombies. There is no overarching story, character development, or dialogue to engage players beyond the basic premise of survival.

The game’s themes revolve around isolation and desperation, common tropes in post-apocalyptic settings. However, the absence of a compelling narrative or meaningful character interactions limits the emotional impact. The player’s journey is purely mechanical—survive, scavenge, and upgrade—with no deeper exploration of the world or its inhabitants.

Gameplay Mechanics & Systems

Core Gameplay Loops

Dead Purge: Outbreak offers two primary gameplay modes: Horde Mode and Survival Mode. In Horde Mode, players face a set number of waves of zombies, with the difficulty increasing with each wave. Survival Mode is an endless mode where players must survive as long as possible. Both modes lack variety, as the gameplay loop revolves around shooting waves of identical zombies with limited weapon and map diversity.

Combat & Progression

The combat system is rudimentary, featuring a variety of weapons ranging from pistols to shotguns and melee weapons. Players can purchase weapons and upgrades between waves using in-game currency earned by killing zombies. The game includes a research system that allows players to unlock minor upgrades, such as increased damage or health, but these upgrades are negligible and do not significantly alter gameplay.

The dismemberment system, while visually impressive, is largely superficial. Zombies can be dismembered with well-placed shots, but this mechanic does not affect gameplay beyond aesthetics. The slow-motion effect triggered by consecutive headshots adds a cinematic flair but becomes tedious over time.

User Interface & Controls

The user interface is functional but lacks polish. The shop menu, inspired by Killing Floor 2, allows players to purchase weapons and upgrades between waves. However, the controls are clunky, with issues such as doorways requiring precise navigation and reload animations that do not always register correctly.

Innovations & Flaws

Dead Purge: Outbreak attempts to innovate with its atmospheric environments and gore effects, but these elements are overshadowed by technical issues. The game suffers from bugs, such as hit registration problems and performance drops, which detract from the overall experience. The lack of multiplayer or cooperative modes further limits its appeal.

World-Building, Art & Sound

Setting & Atmosphere

The game’s environments are its strongest asset. The suburban, police station, and alley settings are well-designed, with detailed textures and atmospheric lighting. The post-apocalyptic aesthetic is convincing, with abandoned buildings and eerie silence broken only by the groans of the undead.

Visual Direction

The visuals are impressive for an indie title, with realistic gore effects and dynamic lighting. However, the limited number of maps and enemy models leads to repetition. The game’s use of purchased assets, such as LCD screens with “Office Pack” labels, is a notable flaw that detracts from its originality.

Sound Design

The soundtrack is atmospheric, with a mix of tense background music and intense tracks during combat. However, the sound effects are inconsistent, with weapons sounding reasonable but environmental audio lacking depth. The voice acting is minimal, with a single voice yelling “Rampage!” during headshot streaks, which feels out of place.

Reception & Legacy

Dead Purge: Outbreak received mixed reviews upon release, with critics praising its visuals but criticizing its lack of content and technical issues. The game holds a 48% critic score on MobyGames and a “Generally Unfavorable” rating on Metacritic, based on user reviews.

The game’s legacy is one of missed potential. While it showed promise with its atmospheric environments and gore effects, its repetitive gameplay, technical issues, and lack of innovation prevented it from standing out in a crowded genre. The absence of multiplayer or cooperative modes further limited its appeal, and the game has since been overshadowed by more polished titles like Killing Floor 2 and Left 4 Dead 2.

Conclusion

Dead Purge: Outbreak is a flawed but visually impressive zombie shooter that fails to deliver on its promises. Its lack of narrative depth, repetitive gameplay, and technical issues make it a forgettable entry in the zombie genre. While it may offer a few hours of mindless fun, there are far better alternatives available. Ultimately, Dead Purge: Outbreak serves as a cautionary tale for indie developers—ambition without execution leads to mediocrity. Its place in video game history is that of a curiosity, a game that could have been great but fell short due to its own limitations.