SCUM...

In many ways picks up where the DayZ standalone fell off the map. This game has amazing potential to breathe new life into the survival genre. As it currently stands the multiplayer leaves a lot to be desired. Mainly due to most players knowing where to find the high end loot and quickly growing bored of other challenges the game presents, thus they begin the slaughter of lesser equipped players. The net-code and lag issues also tend to make multiplayer a rather tedious endeavour, as when you chance upon another player within the incredible 144Km2 map SCUM boasts, you will find the combat rather clunky and extremely un-immersing due to the issues stated. Thankfully Single Player is available, allowing you to experience the true breadth of PVE this game will forever continue to throw at you. Whilst I have myself not yet grown bored of SCUM. I find myself distancing from the game as I want to be able to return time and time again to find even more wonderful updates and patches, that have not only served to improve the overall experience so far. But continue to add more dimensions to this in depth take on survival mechanics.

I have played somewhere in the region of 5000 combined hours across multiple survival games. Most notably, DayZ. Both the original mod and all of it's sub mods as well as the standalone. Already DayZ pales in comparison to this, the latest edition to the hardcore survival genre. The level of detail is simply staggering, regardless of how much you research into the game prior to playing it yourself, you will inevitably become overwhelmed by the vast array of stats the game offers. All of which have an effect on your character in game, ranging from relatively harmless to stat effecting, most can even be life threatening. SCUM is extremely punishing to players who do not play with common sense, would you cross a river to get from A to B in real life? Of course you wouldn't. You're clothes would be soaked through, which could cause you to get sick. On top of that due to the water they would have soaked up you are now carrying more weight. All of these real life decisions and effects are proudly displayed with incredible detail and precision within the game.

The overall graphics quality is also a huge step up compared to what we are used to seeing from previous titles. It reminds me of ARMA III, only with a more polished feel. The lighting, enviroment, and even the foliage is totally immersing. However there is one area I feel could use some improvements. Obviously the game is in beta and not without its share of bugs and glitches. But despite all of this, my only gripe with the game is the UI, I find the HUD and inventory/crafting screen rather basic and lacking compared with the rest if the game. I am sure this will be changed at a later date as it does seem to be a little too standard for a game with this amount of detail to stick with. But if I had to make a criticism, that would be it.

Over all SCUM already offers so much more than most other games within the genre. I am greatly looking forward to the future of this game.

8.5/10