The creators of the game, inspired by the classic science-fiction games and movies, strived to carve there own niche in the genre, adding new twists like the roguelike/lite gameplay with high production values. Overall, the idea behind the theme was to give the player a real sense of progression despite the odds being stacked against them. Here’s some hints and tips for first time players heading into The Persistence.
Play it Stealthily
The chances are you are going to die a lot. Your old mutated crew-mates will stop at nothing to rip you limb from limb. You play as Security Officer Zimri Eder. Well, sort of. With each new life, you play as a fresh clone with her Engrams (her memories and personality) restored.
With each new life comes the opportunity to re-sequence her DNA to create more powerful clones on each run from stem cells that have been harvested from the wretched creatures you will encounter. You can also recover DNA from the hosts of dead crew-mates and clone their bodies to inhabit too, each with their own unique advantages.
Stealth is Your Friend
The Persistence isn’t a run and gun type of game – you have a variety of weapons in the game from melee, projectile to Dark Matter prototypes but these tend to come with limited ammunition. These mutants are extremely dangerous, especially on the lower decks of the ship and can take you out with one swipe. Familiarising yourself with the environment and knowing when not to fight is just as important as knowing the right moment to strike.
Navigation is Key
The Persistence has an extremely unique technology – it has a macrostructure that can shift and change, so with each run, the layout of the ship will change and shift as you move between decks, so no two expeditions into The Persistence are ever the same and each run will play out differently. Each of the decks of the ship have a unique feel and you’ll need to make your way through down through each one unless you are able to find Deck Modules to allow you to teleport directly to a specific deck as required.
Constantly checking the map and dropping markers to help you navigate is a good start as is keeping an eye on the door buttons which will change colour to indicate that you have already been through it; a handy shortcut for knowing which way you have been.
Upgrading is Essential
So, you’re able to upgrade your core stats, but there’s also gear (such as your shield), suits (which give buffs and enhancements) and weapons that can be unlocked too via Erebus Tokens and Fabricator Chips. You will find various schematics as you play, and you should regularly check the Schematic Fabricator on the Recovery deck to make sure you are equipped with the best items you can afford to fabricate.
So there you have it – these tips should give you something to shoot for on your first few runs in The Persistence. Good luck!