While 2019’s World War Z was successful in its own right, it has somewhat struggled to escape from the shadow of Left 4 Dead, one of the main games that inspired it. That may not come as a surprise to many - Left 4 Dead has left an enduring legacy as a co-op shooter that leaves some similar games at risk of being seen as derivative. It also did not help that World War Z was released after the zombie fiction craze that began to dominate popular culture from around the mid-2000s to the early 2010s, at a time where the public had somewhat gotten over its zombie obsession. Despite this, a recent announcement from World War Z developer Saber Interactive has shown that it hasn’t given up on the IP.
On June 11, more than three years after the game’s initial release, Saber Interactive announced World War Z: Aftermath, an upgraded version (for lack of a better term) of World War Z. Aftermath will cost $39.99 at release, but those who own the original game can buy it at half the price. While it contains all of the content found in the original World War Z, Aftermath adds many improvements to the first game, as well as entirely new maps, mechanics, and stories. To further the Left 4 Dead comparison, World War Z: Aftermath seems to be the Left 4 Dead 2 of its franchise, tiptoeing over the line between an enhanced edition of its predecessor and a full sequel.
World War Z: Aftermath's New Content
One of the most notable features in Aftermath is the inclusion of a new perspective for gameplay. While World War Z was exclusively a third-person game, Aftermath will now allow players to play in first-person. Perhaps Aftermath is actively following the lead of other games in the genre by implementing this feature; while third-person zombie games exist, a majority of them - such as Left 4 Dead, Killing Floor, and the open-world Dying Light and its sequel - utilize a first-person camera. It makes sense to do so in the zombie survival genre, as the perspective limits the player’s field of vision, heightening a game's horror elements and tension, and offers a more personal connection between the character and the player.
Other notable features in Aftermath include 4K support for next-gen systems, a new player class, weapon customization, progression paths for characters, and some additions to its melee combat system. The game promises to allow dual wielding melee weapons, unique moves, and perks, and the additional Vanguard player class is designed to take advantage of some of the new mechanics. A particularly interesting moment in Aftermath’s trailer shows a character using an energized shield to ram through a horde of zombies. Melee combat has always been to gameplay in zombie games like World War Z. After all, there are often scenarios in which people get trapped in a horde of zombies, making it harder to use ranged weapons, and zombies can be encountered in such large numbers that the use of melee can be a valid strategy to preserve ammo. World War Z has both of these tropes in spades, so a refinement of the system will be welcome. All these new mechanics can be used in the game's new story episodes set in Rome, Vatican City, and Kamchatka in the Russian Far East.
It's hard to say whether Aftermath will be just what World War Z needs to be brought back into the limelight in 2021. Even so, the fact that Saber Interactive is still actively working on the game shows considerable dedication, which may be justification enough for new players to give it a try. World War Z was offered for free by the Epic Games Store at the beginning of April 2020, so chances are high that many EGS users have it in their libraries. For those who've given World War Z a shot, an upgrade to Aftermath might just make things even better.