The Last Zone (PS5) | REVIEW | Apocalyptic Wave-Based Zombie Horde Defense!!!

The Last Zone is a third-person shooter survival game developed by Kodobur Games, where players take on the role of a lone defender in a zombie-mutant apocalypse. It combines wave-based horde defense with progression elements, tasking you to hold off increasingly brutal attacks on fortified gates while scavenging resources to upgrade your arsenal and fortifications.

The Story ...

The game's narrative unfolds in a ravaged world decimated by a mysterious virus that has transformed much of humanity into grotesque mutants. Survivors cling to existence within isolated, gated zones, the last bastions of civilization. As night falls, these mutants swarm in relentless waves, forcing your character, a customizable survivor (with options for gender selection), to arm up and repel the onslaught. The story progresses through acts or checkpoints, revealing hints about the virus's origins and the escalating threat, including random events like a "blood moon" that amps up the horror with tougher, more aggressive foes. It's a gritty tale of desperation, where each night feels like humanity's final stand, blending base defense with personal survival in crumbling, immersive arenas.

The game's main menu system serves as a hub for preparation and progression before and after a playthrough. The character upgrade menu allows you to allocate points to stats like health, speed, or damage resistance, earned from collected resources. The weapon loadout menu lets you select and customize your guns, swapping out primaries and secondaries for different scenarios. There's a store menu where you can spend in-game currency on new weapons, ammo, or enhancements, acting as a post-death shopping spree to bolster your next attempt. Finally, the statistics menu tracks your performance across runs, displaying metrics like total waves survived, resources gathered, and combat efficiency, helping you analyze and improve your strategies.

The Gameplay ...

At its core, The Last Zone revolves around a tense, wave-based loop. Survive the night by fending off hordes at your gates, then use downtime or post-death interludes to prepare for the next assault. Mechanics emphasize quick thinking and adaptation. Time slowdown activates during critical moments, letting you dodge attacks, line up precise shots, or reposition strategically in slow motion. Your weapon loadout is also important, with options to equip rifles, shotguns, or explosives tailored to enemy types. An evasive roll helps you weave through crowds, avoiding grabs or explosions. Between waves, you can unlock additional gates using scraps (the primary currency scavenged from defeated enemies), which grant access to defensive traps like explosive barrels or automated turrets, as well as survival kits for health restores or ammo replenishment. These upgrades create a layered defense system, turning solo shooting into a mini-tower defense setup. 

The enemies in the game range from lesser mutants such as fast, swarming zombies that overwhelm in numbers to larger brutes like explosive "boomers" that can one-shot you if not handled carefully, culminating in boss encounters with unique patterns, such as massive mutants requiring targeted weak-point exploitation. 

The scoring system in this fight for survival rewards skillful play, factoring in total kills, headshot accuracy for bonus points, and boss takedowns that yield extra scraps and progression boosts, encouraging precision over spray-and-pray tactics. 

The Presentation ...

Visually, the game adopts a gritty, post-apocalyptic aesthetic with detailed arenas that capture the chaos of ruined urban landscapes, though the graphics can feel dated and rough around the edges, lacking polish in character models and environmental textures. The soundtrack, on the flipside, leans into tension-building ambiance with eerie, pulsing tracks that ramp up during waves, complemented by punchy sound effects for gunfire, explosions, and mutant growls that heighten immersion. 

Tutorial information during an initial playthrough or through the Tutorial menu is delivered via a female voice-over, which guides players through mechanics like upgrades and gate unlocks, but they're marred by occasional grammatical errors and awkward phrasing that can pull you out of the experience.

The Verdict ...

Overall, The Last Zone delivers a fairly solid gameplay flow with its high-stakes wave defense and strategic depth, making each night a pulse-pounding test of reflexes and planning. However, the progression system veers into excessive grind territory. Unlocking meaningful weapons, character upgrades, and gate services demands repeated runs to farm scraps, which can feel repetitive and frustrating, especially in early acts where death comes swiftly. 

On the positive side, customizable sliders for sensitivity and aim assist options allow you to fine-tune gunplay to your preference, making shots feel more precise and accessible without dumbing down the challenge. Replay value is decent for fans of roguelike survival loops, as checkpoints and escalating difficulties encourage multiple playthroughs to push further, though the lack of varied modes limits long-term appeal beyond chasing high scores. 

This game is best suited for budget-conscious players seeking a no-frills zombie shooter with Souls-like punishment, ideal for short, intense sessions rather than deep narrative dives. Pick it up only if you're into indie horde games like "Killing Floor" or "Left 4 Dead," but skip if grind-heavy progression turns you off.