Dead Static Drive Review
Dead Static Drive is launching on Xbox and Game Pass on November 5th. The game brands itself as “Grand Theft Cthulhu,” drawing clear inspiration from Lovecraftian horror.
Setting and Story
Set in a mid-1980s American Southwest slowly consumed by nightmarish creatures, you play as Hearst, a teenager whose gender, first name, and appearance you customize. Hearst is on a journey to find their missing parents across various cities. Along your travels, you encounter monstrous hunters, stop madmen, and explore a dying world.
Gameplay and Issues
The map is divided into multiple cities that you visit repeatedly while searching for clues. Progressing requires managing fuel for the vehicles scattered throughout the world.
Despite an intriguing premise, Dead Static Drive suffers from numerous technical problems. Quests often break or disappear unexpectedly, frequently due to issues linked to the in-game radio delivering new objectives. Many quests fail to complete properly, leading to frustration.
“Dead Static Drive had more quests break on me than any game I can remember.”
The controls are sometimes problematic, and the game struggles with a lack of cohesion among its systems, resulting in a mix of enjoyable moments and significant flaws.
Summary
The premise and visuals of Dead Static Drive are outstanding, but the execution falls short, hampered by bugs and inconsistent gameplay systems.