Beyond the Ocular Pat Down: Deciphering the Zombie Bureaucracy and Dwarf Tactics of Rebel FM 688
Most games published by Devolver Digital come with a specific visual pedigree, usually leaning into high-end pixel art or a distinct, curated style. This is why the latest discussion on Rebel FM Episode 688 regarding Quarantine Zone: The Last Check is so intriguing. Anthony Gallegos describes a game that looks like "asset store slop" at first glance, yet carries that unmistakable Devolver DNA in its core loop. It is essentially a zombie-infested take on Papers, Please, placing you at the inspection point of a safe zone where you determine who is a survivor and who is merely a ticking viral time bomb.
The Bureaucracy of the Undead
While the comparison to Papers, Please is inevitable, the crew notes a distinct lack of the emotional weight that made Lucas Pope’s masterpiece so haunting. In Quarantine Zone, the moral stakes are replaced by survival necessity. If you let a zombie in, everyone dies. The choice is less about "can I afford to help this person?" and more about "did I miss a bite mark under their clothing?"
- Tool Progression: The game evolves from simple visual checks to using UV lights, heartbeat sensors, and lung capacity tests.
- Liquidation vs. Research: There is a brutal efficiency to the gameplay, where you eventually stop caring about the humans and start focusing on the "disqualifying symptoms."
- The Streamer Factor: The game includes jarring cameos from real-world streamers and Dead by Daylight characters, which Anthony notes can break immersion but clearly serves a specific business purpose.
Dwarves, Loot, and the Auto-Battler Hook
Transitioning from the grim gates of a quarantine zone, the episode shifts focus to Dwarves: Glory, Death, and Loot. Despite not being a fan of auto-battlers, Anthony found himself sucked into this side-scrolling tactical RPG. It’s a run-based roguelike that relies heavily on how you kit out your squad. The strategy isn't in the moment-to-moment combat but in the post-game stats, adjusting your formation and gear to ensure your healer isn't getting bogged down by arrows or falling behind the frontline warriors.
The Slow Expansion of Pagonia
Matt Chandranay brings Pioneers of Pagonia to the table, a town builder from the original creators of Settlers. It features a fascinating territorial mechanic involving magic stones and guard towers to push back a literal fog of war. However, it isn't without its growing pains. Matt highlights a significant pacing issue: toward the end of a mission, you often find yourself at 5x speed, simply waiting for borders to expand so you can finish the objectives. It is a game of high-level management that rewards patience, though perhaps a bit too much of it.
The Golden Nugget: "There’s a lot of mechanical foundation here that’s really good, but right now it’s all riding on the mechanics, and the mechanics can only carry it for so long. They need some drama."
The Destiny Paradox
Finally, the episode touches on the Destiny 2: Renegades expansion. It’s a Star Wars-adjacent triumph that features some of the best reward loops the franchise has seen in years, yet it arrives at a time when the player base is at an all-time low. It serves as a stark reminder of the "tech debt" and onboarding hurdles that prevent new players from experiencing these high-water marks in live-service gaming.
Whether you are performing an ocular pat down on a potential zombie or micro-managing a dwarven skill tree, this week's highlights prove that even games that look like "slop" can hold a surprising amount of signal if you're willing to filter through the noise.
Listen to Rebel FM: https://podranker.com/podcast/rebel-fm