BUS: Bro u Survived is a co-op looting action game set in the zombie apocalypse, developed by indie studio Herbarium Games. While it's possible to play the game solo, BUS: Bro u Survived is particularly designed to be played with up to four players as an upcoming online co-op game for PC. Out on the road on Fang Island, players must join forces to survive its various obstacles and challenges as they rescue the island's inhabitants, build a base, and try to escape. While one player drives the bus, others must fight back the zombies, loot resources, and fix the bus.
It's all about working together, and players can customize their bus to become the ultimate fighting machine and build a base from a makeshift tent to a small settlement. Game ZXC recently spoke with Herbarium Games head and founder Matthew Tkachev (translated by Herbarium designer John) about BUS: Bro u Survived's bus customization options and base-building mechanics.
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BUS: Bro u Survived's Bus Customization Won't Be Basic
Focusing on bus customization in BUS: Bro u Survived, Tkachev said it will be anything but basic and wants to give players "the freedom to create their own crazy bus." Playfully, he added this could include adding 10 wheels if players want to, and it could also mean adding automatic turrets and even super magnets to attract resources like wood. Ultimately, it sounds like there will be many fun bus customization options made possible by the island’s technology. Tkachev explained Fang Island includes a lot of unique customs and traditions that the inhabitants don't share with outsiders because of their isolated existence:
"The technology in the game is pretty insane. For example, in the demo, we showed how we rescued the main mechanic Lou and she had her own giant fighting hand. Don't expect basic bus customization."
Tkachev also mentioned the technology takes BUS: Bro u Survived's crafting elements in an "interesting direction," including the opportunity to build a vacuum artillery that will help players fight off zombies in the vehicle as just one example.
Base-Building in BUS: Bro u Survived
Discussing the role of base-building in BUS: Bro u Survived, Tkachev explained that crafting a base gives players some respite from the zombie apocalypse. It's also where players can take rescued NPCs to work on their base and open up more upgrade possibilities.
"During missions, we can rescue other NPCs and then they'll work on these buildings on our base. On the base, we can unlock bus customization. We can research new technologies, new weapons, upgrades, new buildings—everything like that."
BUS: Bro u Survived's base-building mechanics goes a little deeper than that, though, featuring a unique assembly and disassembly system where players can fold and unfold buildings. Given the game is inspired by games like Moving Out, it might come as no surprise that these also lean into players working together.
"Every building you create is foldable, so it can unfold into a giant building and it can unfold into a small one. We created unique, interesting animations and meshes with lots of ideas. How fun would it be to collapse a tent or something, or a research table into a small package and then what should unfold?...It’s a very tactile base-building experience where you can grab the building and physically move it somewhere else. In other games, it's usually done through lots of UI interfaces. We wanted to make it visceral."
BUS: Bro u Survived is due for release in 2024 for PC.