Life Gets Derailed – The Final Station Review

The Final Station is the video game cousin to Snow Piercer and Kabaneri Iron Fortress that you didn’t know about but now need in your life

Tiny Build shows us the end of the world is on track with The Final Station. The world has a growing infestation of zombie-like creatures, and it’s your first day back from vacation. It’s pretty much the worse Monday ever. You’re a train conductor turned savior as the world slowly succumbs to this viral disease. It is up to you to guide the train to deliver supplies and survivors, stopping at every station to save whatever and whoever you can. It’s like the video game prequel to Kabaneri Iron Defense and Snow Piercer.

Story

The set-up of the game is kind of slow. You’re a guy back from vacation and you conduct a train station to station. You do this about 3 times, slowly unraveling a dire situation and begin really playing the game. The plot thickens as you aid the government and forces in charge, and realize the measures they are taking to contain the epidemic. But inevitably as it all fails, and you are the only one making any sort of difference in the dying world. The story is gripping and intriguing. It starts off SLOW, but once the action starts it hooks you in and keeps you playing.

Gameplay

Controls are very basic but somehow provides a surprisingly deep gameplay experience. You are able to grab and throw items, run and gun, run and melee, and use the environment to your advantage as you face the monsters destroying the world. The train and passenger maintenance is a bit tasking and rides the line between annoying and necessary, but it makes perfect sense in the context and forces you to make decisions that you probably have to make during an apocalypse. Does that passenger really need to eat? Will they live until the next station if I don’t give them a med kit? It’s very remedial tasks, but with huge consequences that make it worth the effort and also intriguingly satisfying.

Mechanics

The game has a very advanced 8-bit feel to it. It does a great job with layers, but it really doesn’t look any better than Tiny Tower. However, what they do with the arts, sounds, and graphics, is masterful and work to really bring the most out of the game. If the monsters were more than the colorless figures and blobby shapes I would probably have nightmares. It’s embarrassing how many times this game got me to jump in my seat when those creatures pop out of random walls. It may not have the flashiest of graphics, but the game is masterfully put together.

The Verdict

The Final Station is a fun game. Great action, good story, polished gameplay, it is a lot of fun. It builds suspense, it fills you with adrenaline and annoys you the appropriate amount. If those sound like experience you like having, I highly recommend you head over to Steam and buy the game.