The Farm of the Living
Overview
The Farm of the Living is an Italian CYOA game set in a zombie apocalypse. You are the First Ranger of the Farm, where a fire has started the fight for survival, all while the Empty Ones are closing in. Multiple choices will carry the story through several segments, granting you stats and keywords, which remind you of your choices, alongside unlocking different paths. Several endings can be achieved, from good to bad.
All the images were AI generated.
Gameplay
Since the story is rather short (the game can be completed very fast), I’ll skip to this section. This is a gamebook, where you choose options that lead you through segments of the story. You pick one, and you jump from segment number 1 to 16. Stats increase or decrease accordingly to the story, such as where you lose supplies, life, or trust with other characters. Some paths vary if requirements are met or not. The keywords are reminders of your previous choices, and future choices were applicable, granting bonus points in stats or subtracting them.
Because it is a gamebook, you can jump back to segments already visited by the number, but its effects cannot be applied again. Backtracking can be done if the story provides it so as to achieve multiple endings. However, you can save the game and load it whenever you want, so you get more control in this regard. Only one save can be done at a time.
If an option requires higher stat numbers, or you have the corresponding keyword, the best outcome is chosen. Otherwise, a bad outcome can only be played. Depending on these choices, multiple endings can be achieved on a single run if you saved previously, or the story allows an option to backtrack. Read carefully and don’t feel rushed to choose; how you act with others or choosing poorly might end the game faster.
Audio & Graphics
The gamebook was built on the Chrome engine. There is only image and text, no audio or videos. The UI shows all the stats that modify with choices made, as well as keywords (markers) of importance. If an option has multiple outcomes that depend on stats, they’re highlighted to show what outcome will be taken. The game starts in the Italian language by default.
Bugs Found
There were definitely images in Act II that clearly did not belong to the game whatsoever.
Pros & Cons
Pros-
A decent CYOA gamebook.
Non-linear endings.
Cons-
Several choices that backtrack to other segments feel confusing for the story.
Very short book (only 400 segments), can be completed faster under half an hour.
Rating: 6/10
A piece of World War Z and Night of the Living Dead.
