The First Open-World Extraction Shooter Emphasizing Realism.
Author Quote - "Never has a game given me PTSD quite like it"
Gray Zone Warfare - The First Open-World Extraction Shooter Emphasizing Realism. that quickly gained attention following the public dissatisfaction among fans of Escape from Tarkov. I was surprised by the game's intensity. I experienced more deaths in the "Noobie Starting Area" than in any other game I've played. I never tried Tarkov since it didn't interest me, but after some friends on my Discord told me about Gray Zone, I added it to my wishlist and purchased it on the first day (elite edition).
Gray Zone Warfare is in early access and currently Available on Steam, or via our CD-Keys link below and Search Gray Zone Warfare.
As you can see, there are four editions available for purchase, from the basic Standard Edition to the premium Supporter Edition. In my opinion, the key feature that makes the different editions valuable is the "Secure" lockbox and Locker size (in game inventory at base), The Secure lockbox is a loot box that retains its contents even if you die! Therefore, the larger, the better. From what I've seen you receive a larger Secure lockbox at after certain missions, and a bigger inventory every 20 levels until reaching the maximum size (supporter edition). Many reviews and reports suggest that you can only get them through the different editions, leading some to claim the game is Pay to Win. However, this is fortunately not true! It does, however, provide a nice head start.
Upon launching of the game you are greeted with a choice, Warfare or Joint Operations, Warfare is Player Vs Player Vs Enemy and pits the 3 factions against each other and against the games AI or Joint Operations, which is PvE which is the one I play, All 3 factions still work independently, with different starting locations and different locations of some of the mission objectives, the difference being you can't kill each other.
These are the Faction choices, since the launch of the game and its first reset I've stuck with Mithras Security Systems which start at the very south of the map.
The map in the grey zone is vast, surpassing my expectations for this game. Locating some of the landing zones can be difficult, but joining helicopters with players who have already unlocked them simplifies the process. However, nothing beats scouting them with light weighted gear, hoping to avoid detection by nearby enemies. Each destination on the map has between two and three landing zones, such as Bravo one, two, and three for Mithras Starting town Nam Thaven. The game divides the map and landing zones into several main regions, including three starter towns (one for each faction), a military airbase called Fort Narith, holiday resorts like Blue Lagoon and Hunters Paradise, a golf course and hotel at Midnight Sapphire, a civil airfield known as Pha Lang Airfield, Ban Pa, and Tiger Bay, with the potential for more in the future.
At the beginning of the game, you have access to three Vendors/Mission givers: Handshake, Gunny, and Lab Rat. As you progress through the game, more will become available. I've included information about these vendors from their bios on Wiki/IGN.
Handshake: Lewis Pell heads your PMC's Lamang operations, managing its public image and hands-on tasks.
Gunny: A retired US Marine Corps gunnery sergeant, Gunny is an awkward, truculent character who doesn't seem to much like anything or anyone. However, he is extremely good at what he does, hence why the PMC recruited him to help run their operation, and if part of that job means looking after the company's PMC operators, then that's what he's going to do to the best of his abilities.
Lab Rat: Lab Rat is the only vendor in Gray Zone Warfare willing to go above and beyond to help not only the mercenaries working for her but also the locals. She's also your go-to source for all things medical, including bandages, surgical kits, and even food and drink.
Artisan: Artisan has worked at her father’s workshop since she was a little girl, learning all there is to know about machines and how they work. She blames UNLRA for the chaos their arrival caused and thinks of the PMCs as opportunistic vultures scavenging whatever remains of value in her country. Despite this animosity, she offered her services as a mechanic. Naturally reserved and wary of others, gaining her trust could prove challenging. However, once earned, her expertise and knowledge of Lamang could become a pivotal asset.
Turncoat: Turncoat will happily work alongside the PMCs in Lamang, and he'll sell you a variety of local weapons, including AK variants, like the AK-74M and AK-74N, alongside other weaponry, such as an SKS. He'll also sell various tools, helmets, and parts.
Banshee: For Banshee, the turbulent events unfolding in Lamang were akin to a gold rush. The widespread chaos proved to be a lucrative market for his trade, attracting a surge of potential clients in dire need of his merchandise. Unfettered by moral reservations, Banshee operates under a simple yet effective principle: anyone with the means to pay is a potential collaborator. He gladly brings in possible business partners for his various plans, setting up deals that promise gains for everyone involved.
The most significant and arguably the best feature of the game is the gun customization. It's still a bit overwhelming for me, and I'm trying to learn more, but I've been able to customize my weapon as needed. One of my friends on Discord managed to attach five lasers to his gun just for fun. I can't adequately describe or demonstrate the depth of customization possible, but I transformed a basic M4 into a long-barrel DMR with a scope and silencer, which I primarily used as a sniper rifle before the first server reset. Currently, I'm using a modified AK-74 as shown below (my quick and easy cheep gun for doing stupid stuff with).
Authors Quote "It's awesome how in-depth the weapons are, and also how much of a PAIN IN THE ASS it also is trying to figure it which part goes where and to which gun!"
You can also personalize your character's appearance and the gear they wear to some extent, with the most significant alteration being the equipment you choose.
My main problem with the game is the spawn rate of certain "key" items and the way some missions are structured, which feel very "personal." For instance, if a group of me and three others is on a mission to "Kill the Gang Leader at Blue Lagoon," we team up and fly to the mission site, find our target, and kill him. However, only the person who lands the killshot completes the mission, not the entire group. The rest have to wait for the Boss to respawn for the next person to get the kill, which really frustrates me. The same issue occurs with tasks like "get 20 kills" at a location, as it's counted individually rather than as a group, which can be disappointing. These small issues aside, the game is fantastic!
The recent major patch and reset introduced Night operations, new weapons, mission changes, and significant alterations to many locations. Some missions now have to be completed at specific times of the day. Personally, I'm lazy, so if it's daytime on my server and I need to complete a task at night, I simply switch the server region to the USA or Asia, for instance, since the in-game time differs between servers. This is very convenient and saves me from waiting around.
Night operations can be an entirely different experience. I've personally felt my heart rate rise while sneaking around enemy positions at night. Using Night Vision to see as clearly as possible, I've tried to take a shot only to realize I can't see through my scope anymore (as intended). That's when I have to tilt my gun 45 degrees and rely on my laser! However, be cautious, as the Enemy AI can detect and respond to your flashlight, lasers, and any noise you make in the bushes.
I'm not the best at FPS games because my reactions are slow and my eyesight isn't great. Despite losing equipment in the game when I die and can't find my body to retrieve my inventory, I still highly recommend it. Gray Zone Warfare is my personal favorite FPS.
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