Lifeafter is a mobile game developed by NetEase, the same company that also developed Rules of Survival (ROS).
Debuting in the Chinese market in 2018, Lifeafter quickly garnered attention from gamers worldwide. Despite not being officially released globally, some gamers went the extra mile, downloading the app and games and attempting to navigate through the Chinese language.
In 2019, NetEase officially launched the English version of Lifeafter. Intrigued by a friend’s recommendation, I decided to give this game a try and share my experiences in a review.
Having immersed myself in Lifeafter for 3 years, I’m excited to share my insights and experiences with you all.
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Graphics
First and foremost, the graphics in Lifeafter are nothing short of exceptional, a trait consistent with all games developed by NetEase. The quality of the graphics is superb, showcasing well-balanced and realistic colors throughout the game.
Whether it’s the expansive landscapes with detailed features like trees and mountains or the intricate design of weapons and avatars, the graphics leave no detail untouched.
Even in mundane tasks like cutting down trees, the realism is striking, with the developers putting evident effort into perfecting every small detail. Lifeafter truly stands out in its commitment to delivering a visually immersive and realistic gaming experience.
Gameplay
In terms of gameplay, Lifeafter stands out for its unique approach. Players have the autonomy to craft everything—from gears, weapons, and tools to armor, houses, and even food.
Once you’ve crafted all your gear, you’re ready to dive into action, battling zombies in a wasteland. However, caution is crucial, especially in maps resembling a warzone, where hostile players might pose a threat. Vigilance is key, and it’s essential to equip better armor and weapons, especially when entering intense areas like Farstar City.
Beyond warzone maps, Lifeafter introduces a PVP mode like Nancy City Battle, where teamwork is vital to defeating opposing teams. However, one challenge in the PVP mode is the controls, particularly in aiming, shooting, and jumping simultaneously. Unlike on PC, where you can seamlessly shoot while jumping, coordinating these actions on mobile can be challenging due to the difficulty of pressing the shooting and jump buttons simultaneously.
Cert/Job
Choosing the right job or certification in Lifeafter is a critical decision for players, as it provides benefits and opportunities to earn gold bars. The selection process can be confusing, given the various options available.
In my case, I opted for the Lumberjack or Logger certification, allowing me to cut down trees that others can’t, unless they are also Lumberjacks. Similar exclusivity applies to other gathering master certifications, such as Hemp Picker and Miner, enabling players to obtain unique items that can be sold in the market for gold bars.
Apart from crafting gears and weapons, players can also purchase them from the Trade City using gold bars. This is the hub where players engage in buying and selling weapons, gears, armors, and more.
For free-to-play players, it is recommended to choose gathering expert certifications like Hemp Picker, Lumberjack, or Miner. These certifications make it easier to sell exclusive resources in the market, providing a source of income.
In addition to gathering expert certifications, there are combat expert certifications that prove useful in PVP modes, dealing high percentages of damage. Certifications like Warrior, known for their tankiness, and Virus Expert, Rifleman, and Sniper, recognized for their substantial burst damage, enhance the combat experience for players.
Life After Cert Tips
Tip #1
Choosing the best certification in Lifeafter depends on your playstyle. For free-to-play players, I highly recommend opting for gathering expert certifications like Hemp Picker, Lumberjack, or Miner. This is because it’s easier to earn gold bars by selling exclusive resources to the Trade City.
Tip #2
If you find yourself on a new server, consider choosing crafting expert certifications like Upholstery and Gun Maker. These professions can earn gold bars by selling their professionally crafted exclusive items, which are in high demand during the early stages of Lifeafter.
Tip #3
For players willing to invest real money in the game, combat expert certifications might be the right choice. Combat experts, such as Rifleman and Virus Expert, are known for dealing significant damage even in PVP. However, it’s important to note that combat expert certifications don’t have exclusive resources or products to sell in Trade City. Be prepared to spend real money to progress in the game.
Controls
The controls in Lifeafter might feel challenging initially, particularly for PC gamers, but you’ll gradually adapt. Developers have invested effort into making control buttons more customizable, allowing you to shoot and jump simultaneously, resembling the controls of the PC version of Lifeafter.
An additional feature is the option to enable Gyroscope and Aim Assistor, aiding in better aiming and shooting, especially against moving targets. However, whether to use Gyroscope and Aim Assistor is a personal preference. In my case, I’ve chosen not to use Aim Assistor, as it interferes with my aiming and shooting strategy.
For an enhanced gaming experience on mobile, you can also explore learning the “four-finger claw” technique, improving your ability to aim and move simultaneously during gameplay.
Performance
The performance of Lifeafter is commendable, delivering a fluid gaming experience. However, the overall performance still relies on factors such as the device used, internet speed, and geographic location.
While I don’t intend to be critical of those with lower-end devices, it’s worth noting that this game is better suited for smartphones with higher specifications. While playable on lower-end devices, users may experience lag, particularly in areas with a significant number of players nearby. For a smoother experience, opting for a more capable smartphone is advisable.
Tips For Better Performance When Playing Lifeafter
Tip #1
When selecting a phone for playing Lifeafter, it’s highly recommended to choose a device with at least 6GB of RAM and a robust processor.
Opt for a Snapdragon processor over Mediatek, as Snapdragon processors are proven to provide a better gaming experience. While Mediatek processors are improving, Snapdragon processors are more widely recognized for gaming performance.
Tip #2
Internet speed and geographical location play crucial roles in your gaming experience. Even if you have a high-end phone, slow internet speed can hinder performance. Geographical location also matters.
For instance, if you’re in the U.S. and create an account on a server located in Southeast Asia (SEA), your ping will be significantly high due to the distance. Ping represents the speed of data transmission between the server and your device. Therefore, it’s advisable to choose the North American (N.A.) server if you’re in the U.S. and the SEA server if you’re in Asia for a smoother gaming experience.
Note: While smartphones with 4GB of RAM can be used to play Lifeafter, they may experience lags. The minimum requirement for smoother gameplay is 6GB of RAM, but there may still be occasional minor to moderate lags. For a more fluid mobile gaming experience, it’s recommended to opt for a smartphone with 8GB of RAM or higher.