Interview: Population Zero's Combat Is Detailed And "Souls-like"

While many survival games have simple aim-and-fire or hack-and-slash combat mechanics, Enplex Games is looking to do things a little different with Population Zero. Their overarching plans for combat were detailed in a blog post on the Pop Zero site today, and the team also took the time to answer a few questions from us about the game's combat.

Q: What's the difference between the various weapon damage types (pointed, edged, and blunt)?

A: There are two armor sets currently crafteable in the game: merid carapace armor and sahrim scale armor. Each of them gives better protection against certain damage type.

We are reviewing and expanding the crafting tree, which means that many more armor sets and weapons are coming. As new weapons are introduced into the game, we will emphasise the distinction between damage types further:

Sources of slashing damage will commonly boast higher average damage values, but opponents resistant to this damage type will also be abundant.

Piercing damage will be associated with weapons and tools that require nimbleness and some practice to use, and which sacrifice raw damage for mobility and additional effects (such as causing bleeding). Enemies resistant to piercing damage will be much less common.

Blunt weapons will be slow, but a successful hit will certainly break your opponent's posture. Only the best armor can protect you from a powerful swing of a hammer.

Q: You say “you won't be skill spamming in Population Zero” … but people will try to win that way. What do you have in place to make sure that's not a valid tactic?

A: Just like in a Souls-like game, spamming leads to longer animation times you can’t cancel (you can keep fighting games in mind as well) and so exploiting a spammer’s weakness won’t be too hard.

Q: Can you give us an example or two of those perks you talk about?

A: Here are some perks we enjoy using when we play and explore the world:

Hoarder - Inventory Max Weight +10; Fall Damage +10%

Miner's Luck - 25% chance to get X2 mineral resources

Inorganic - Overheating 20% slower, Freezing 20% slower, Detoxication +100%

There are, of course, many more perks, and our players are still figuring the best ways of combining them since the perk slots are limited. Include battle perks to that and you you can tune your character to suit your specific gameplay style:

Quick - "Speed +10%, Stamina Regeneration +40"

Glass Cannon - Damage +20%; Health -500

Q: While progression, both in terms of stats and gear, will be important, what options are there for a newer player to beat someone with better abilities and gear?

A: With combat being reliant on skill, not just stats, this means that someone who is better at maneuvering, targeting, and avoiding an attacker should be able to win the day, even if the other player is more prepared in terms of gear.