But as Bohemia makes so clear from the moment you boot up DayZ, this is an alpha. It's incomplete, and it shows. Yet Chernarus is well on its way to growing into the clothes that the developer has stitched for it, and if you feel you've got the steely will necessary to survive, DayZ is ready to test it. What's There?A vast, explorable (but seriously unfinished) Eastern European map that captures the experience of living in a postapocalyptic zombieland.
What's to Come?More zombies, animals for hunting, greater variety of gathering opportunities, cooking, better server architecture.What Does it Cost?DayZ costs $29.99 on Steam, although the developers discourage paying for it unless you are "prepared to handle with serious issues and possible interruptions of game functioning." And, yes, these things exist.
When Will it Be Finished?There's currently no concrete release date, and Bohemia Interactive has repeatedly spoken of DayZ as a work in progress.What's the Verdict?DayZ oozes with potential, though some elements are either bugged, unfinished, or unimplemented. That said, it delivers uncommonly appealing survival experiences and risky player interactions that lend credibility to its pretty environments. It'll probably be great, but for the time being, it requires uncommon patience.
