Info about Ground Zero:

Official game description:
**Ground Zero is a retro survival horror set in post-apocalyptic South Korea.**
A devastating meteor impact has wiped out South Korea. 2 months later as the dust and lightning storms settle and the air becomes breathable, an elite Korean operative and her Canadian partner are sent to investigate. What waits for them in the foggy remains is more terrifying than they ever could have imagined…
*   **Fight terrifying monsters** that lurk in the dark corners of Busan, mutated by the fallout of the impact.  
*   **Uncover the truth** of what really hit Busan that day. What are these strange growths unravelling from the meteor impact, and why has it corrupted what little life remains in the aftermath?
*   **Explore a beautiful city in ruins,** from shoreline towns and temples to the urban center.
*   **Defend yourself** with an array of abilities; shoot, stab, kick and counter as an expert soldier trained in firearm and martial combat.  
*   **Perfect your fighting skills and get rewarded.** Cleaner kills means more Genome Points, which can be traded for powerful gear upgrades.
*   **Take on huge, terrifying bosses.** Seo-Yeon has no idea just how bad the mutations can get in the heart of the city. Be prepared for anything.  
*   **Relive the spirit of classic Survival Horror.** Ground Zero captures the nostalgia of retro horror titles with fixed cameras and pre-rendered backgrounds, puzzles, custom difficulty and optional tank controls.
*   **Have fun with unlockables and extra content:** alternate outfits, additional game modes and hidden endings await players curious enough to find them.

Release date: Apr 16, 2026

Categories: Survival Horror, Action Horror, Atmospheric Horror, Exploration, Fixed-Camera Perspective, Pre-rendered Environments, Puzzle Solving, Resource Management


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: N/A
  - Story completion: N/A
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The evidence provided does not contain explicit information about the typical playtime metrics such as game completion, story completion, session length, or endgame hours. The first quote indicates that the user has not finished the game yet, which does not provide any specific playtime information. The second quote, which is in Japanese, mentions that the user has spent 11 hours on the game up to chapter 7 and expects more gameplay ahead. This suggests that the game has significant content, but it does not provide clear metrics for the required playtime fields. Due to the lack of specific playtime evidence, all playtime metrics are set to `null`.
- Time-to-fun: No data
- Player Archetypes:
  - Nostalgic Horror Enthusiast (buy)
    - Motivation: To relive and enjoy the classic survival horror experience.
    - Playstyle: Immersive and exploratory, focusing on the atmosphere and mechanics reminiscent of classic survival horror games.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: survival horror head; old school RE and Silent Hill fans; fans of the style
    - Reference games: Resident Evil; Silent Hill; Dino Crisis
  - Completionist Replayer (buy)
    - Motivation: To unlock all content and achieve 100% completion.
    - Playstyle: Methodical and thorough, focusing on unlocking all possible content and achieving full completion.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: completionist; replayer
    - Reference games: Resident Evil; Dino Crisis


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Strong visual and atmospheric design (weight 0.97): The game features good environment design, atmosphere, and graphic style. It has pitch-perfect environments and a beautiful location that evokes feelings similar to classic survival horror games.
- Appeals to retro survival horror fans (weight 0.96): The game is highly recommended for old-school Resident Evil and Silent Hill fans. It is praised for its retro gameplay feel and faithfulness to the genre's conventions.
- Diverse and creative content (weight 0.83): The game includes a diverse roster of enemies, creative monster designs, and a variety of animations. It also features unlockable costumes and new difficulties.
- High value for money (weight 0.56): The game is considered worth the price and a good value for money. It is also described as cheap, making it an attractive purchase for budget-conscious gamers.
- Interesting story elements (weight 0.52): The game has an interesting background story and charming characters with plausible dialogues. The story knows when to stay out of the way, allowing gameplay to shine.
- Positive reception and comparisons (weight 0.52): The game is praised as one of the best played in the last few years and is considered way better than RE3 Demake (2020). It is also described as a solid debut for Malformation Games.
- Nostalgic and authentic feel (weight 0.44): The game evokes feelings of nostalgia, making reviewers feel like children again. It is described as the most authentic Resident Evil clone with a deep understanding of the classic vibe and aesthetic.

Common complaints:
- Inventory and control problems (weight 0.95): The inventory system is cumbersome and inconvenient, and the controls, especially for shooting and melee combat, are poorly implemented.
- Performance and optimization issues (weight 0.88): Players report severe optimization problems, including high GPU utilization, unplayable framerates, and high temperatures leading to loud fan noise.
- Gameplay mechanics need polish (weight 0.75): Various gameplay mechanics, including combat and movement, feel unrefined and janky, leading to a less enjoyable experience.
- Lack of graphics settings (weight 0.42): The game lacks sufficient graphics settings, leading to issues like a pixelated mess at lower settings and a vaseline effect on the monitor.
- Ammo and combat issues (weight 0.32): Ammo drop rates are very scarce, forcing players into mandatory melee combat, which is repetitive and unsatisfying.
- Technical bugs and glitches (weight 0.32): Players encounter various bugs, such as T-poses and other minor glitches, which can be frustrating and immersion-breaking.
- Localization and translation issues (weight 0.3): There are problems with localization, including poor simplified Chinese translation and unnatural Korean pronunciation and dialogue.
- Uncapped framerate (weight 0.26): The game features an uncapped framerate, which can be both a positive and a negative depending on the player's hardware and preferences.
- Navigation issues due to fragmented maps (weight 0.17): The maps in the game are fragmented, causing navigation issues and making it difficult for players to find their way.
- Inaccurate depiction of police ranks (weight 0.17): The game's depiction of Korean police ranks is inaccurate, which may detract from the authenticity for some players.

Gameplay feedback:
- Survival horror genre (weight 0.76): The game is a survival horror tour de force, drawing elements from classic titles like Resident Evil and Dino Crisis. It features zombie-like enemies and a retro survival horror atmosphere.
- Complex control scheme (weight 0.74): The game utilizes a complex control scheme involving multiple fingers for aiming, moving, and shooting. Players use the middle finger to aim, left thumb to move, and right thumb to aim the gun. Additionally, six buttons are used for shooting, and players can switch between targets with the pointer finger.
- Timing-based combat mechanics (weight 0.42): Combat in the game is based on timing mechanics, requiring precise inputs from the player. However, some mechanics are not perfect and may have issues.
- Critical shot mechanic (weight 0.3): Players can perform critical shots by holding the A button. This mechanic adds a layer of strategy to the combat.
- Resource management (weight 0.3): Players must manage limited resources and inventory, adding a layer of challenge to the gameplay.
- Save points and puzzles (weight 0.28): The game includes save points and puzzle-solving elements, such as key finding, which are common in survival horror games.
- Blocking and counterattacks (weight 0.26): Players can block and perform counterattacks, adding depth to the combat system.
- Multiple paths and choices (weight 0.18): The game offers multiple paths and choices that affect gameplay, increasing replayability.
- Unique aiming mechanics (weight 0.17): The aiming mechanics are similar to those in Nocturne and Blair Witch Trilogy, offering a unique experience for players.
- Post-game content and unlockables (weight 0.17): There is post-game content and unlockable skins, providing additional content for players to enjoy.
- Unique enemy encounters (weight 0.17): The game includes dinosaurs and other unique enemy encounters, adding variety to the gameplay.
- Healing and infection systems (weight 0.17): The game features healing and infection systems, adding a layer of survival management.
- Multiple locations and level design (weight 0.17): The game features multiple locations and a well-designed level layout, enhancing the exploration aspect.
- Holding gun on target (weight 0.16): Players can hold the gun on a certain target by holding the B button, allowing for more precise aiming.
- Unclear left bumper function (weight 0.16): The function of the left bumper is unclear, which may cause confusion for players.
- Top-down combat mechanics (weight 0.16): The game features top-down combat mechanics, providing a different perspective for players.
- Scanning defeated enemies (weight 0.16): Players can scan defeated enemies for currency, adding a reward system for combat.
- Tank controls (weight 0.16): The game uses tank controls, which may be familiar to fans of classic survival horror games.
- Unique setting in Busan (weight 0.16): The game is set in a devastated Busan, providing a unique backdrop for the survival horror experience.
- Targeting issues in combat (weight 0.16): The combat system has targeting issues, which may affect the gameplay experience.

Performance notes:
- Severe optimization issues (weight 0.58): The game suffers from significant optimization problems, leading to poor performance and high GPU utilization. Players report that the game is poorly optimized, resulting in various technical issues.
- High GPU usage (weight 0.45): The game has high GPU usage even when the graphics fidelity is set to low. This results in high temperatures and loud fan noise, indicating inefficient use of hardware resources.
- Positive performance feedback (weight 0.4): Some players report that the game runs great, with framerates of 45+ FPS in gameplay and up to 90 FPS in cutscenes. This indicates that the game can perform well under certain conditions.
- Graphical fidelity problems (weight 0.32): The game has poor graphical fidelity, described as a pixelated mess even at the lowest settings. This detracts from the visual experience and overall enjoyment of the game.
- Framerate management issues (weight 0.31): The game has issues with framerate management, including uncapped FPS and lack of vsync. This can lead to inconsistent performance and potential screen tearing.
- Unplayable framerate issues (weight 0.2): Players experience unplayable framerates, making the game difficult to enjoy. This is a significant issue affecting the overall gameplay experience.
- Performance compared to other games (weight 0.19): The game's performance is disappointing when compared to other games. Players feel that the game does not meet the performance standards set by similar titles.
- Various bugs present (weight 0.17): The game has various bugs that affect the overall experience. These bugs can range from minor issues to more significant problems that impact gameplay.

Recommendations:
No recommendationpoints

Other player notes:
No miscpoints

Emotions:
- Excited (weight 0.15): Players are thrilled by the game's high replayability, multiple paths, and unique elements like dinosaurs. The engaging atmosphere and combat mechanics also contribute to their excitement.
- Excitement (weight 0.12): Reviewers are excited about the game's potential and recommend it to fans of the genre. The retro feel, specific mechanics, and Korean voice acting add to the anticipation.
- Frustration (weight 0.06): Players are frustrated with the shooting controls and melee mechanics. The lack of basic features and the game's unfinished state also contribute to their frustration.
- Frustrated (weight 0.03): Various bugs and an unstable combat system are causing frustration among players.
- Satisfied (weight 0.06): Players feel satisfied due to the overall positive experience and the value they perceive for the price. The game meets their expectations and provides enjoyable gameplay.
- Disappointed (weight 0.06): Players are disappointed with the poor character animations and cutscenes. Severe optimization issues and performance problems further detract from their experience.
- Disappointment (weight 0.03): The game's technical state and lack of polish are major sources of disappointment for players.
- Nostalgic (weight 0.06): The game evokes nostalgia, reminding players of classic titles like Resident Evil and Dino Crisis. The retro graphics and gameplay style contribute to this feeling.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.03): Players feel nostalgic as the game reminds them of classic horror games they enjoyed in the past.
- Hopeful (weight 0.06): Players are hopeful about future games from the developer and expect the final release version to be more polished.
- Impressed (weight 0.03): Even reviewers who are not fans of old-school games are impressed with the game's quality and features.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.03): Players are satisfied with the game's performance, particularly on the Steam Deck, indicating a smooth and enjoyable experience.}