Draft:Dead Paradise

not to be mistaked for death in paradise

Dead Paradise (flash game)

is a Flash game series developed by Smokoko, first released in 2012. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, the game follows an unnamed protagonist navigating through the desolate remains of what is presumably America. Players engage in various vehicular combat missions and exploration, with the storyline unfolding through the protagonist’s encounters and challenges in this hostile environment.

Plot

Dead Paradise begins with the player assuming the role of an unnamed protagonist living in a city called "Paradise Falls." The game opens with the protagonist driving to work in a sun-faded white pickup truck, listening to the radio and reflecting on mundane thoughts, such as the upcoming weekend golf game. This tranquil moment is abruptly interrupted when sirens begin blaring, and a catastrophic event occurs; a nuclear explosion devastates the city, though no planes or dropping sounds are visible or heard.

Ten years after the disaster, the protagonist decides to leave the safety of the city and embark on a journey to find another "paradise" over the horizon. However, upon reaching this new location, the protagonist discovers that it too has been destroyed. The once hopeful sign marking the entrance is now defaced, reading "Paradise BLOOD," and the area is littered with the bodies of the fallen.

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In Dead Paradise 2, the protagonist continues their journey through a world that has been devastated by the fallout of the previous game's events. The game opens with the protagonist reflecting on the destruction of "Paradise." The city has been looted and overtaken by raiders, and the protagonist’s only hope for survival is to reach a place called Zone 51. As they state: "The Paradise that I had dreamt about has been destroyed. The city has been looted and captured by raiders. My only chance of survival is evacuation to Zone 51. But first, I need to get out of town."

The protagonist begins their drive, retracing familiar roads, encountering the same enemies, and passing the same structures as in the first game. However, things take a turn in the second level when the protagonist is betrayed by the military. Mistaken for a raider, their vehicle is blown up, forcing them to purchase a new car from an unknown character known as “the black dealer.”

The protagonist’s journey continues as they attempt to reach Zone 51, but their path is fraught with danger. The military is also trying to cross the Lastriver Bridge, which is the only route to escape “Paradise.” To catch up with them, the protagonist takes a risky shortcut through a swamp. This proves to be a poor decision, as they lose precious time and make new enemies. Failing to catch up means missing their chance to reach Zone 51.

As the protagonist presses on, they encounter more military forces, who are moving through a mountain pass for reasons unknown. Eventually, the protagonist reaches a military base, where they learn the military is transporting alien weaponry. The protagonist attempts to destroy the caravan carrying the weapons but arrives too late. Now, the protagonist must break into the military base to stop the weapons from reaching Zone 51. However, the military proves to be a formidable opponent.

In a shocking twist, the protagonist learns that the chaos they’ve been facing is not the result of the raiders. Instead, they are caught in the middle of an alien invasion. The protagonist must now fight their way into the safety of the military base, with both military and alien forces closing in.

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In Dead Paradise 3, the protagonist is tasked with leading a group of refugees to a new "paradise," where they will establish a colony. However, their mission becomes complicated when a rival military faction declares war on the protagonist's group, determined to destroy their convoy at all costs. As they journey through familiar territories from Dead Paradise 2, including mountains and raider-infested areas, the protagonist begins to question why their convoy is being targeted.

Upon reaching the marshes, the situation worsens. Without their local leader, the bandits in the area have grown more aggressive, and the convoy’s provisions are nearly depleted. The protagonist’s vehicle is also close to breaking down, but stopping now would mean failure.

The protagonist’s companions, who are revealed to be scientists, already have a plan to stop the chaos. However, their city is blocked by raiders, and they must fight their way through to a classified scientific complex. The final step is to input a code into the collider. The collider is believed to have the ability to send the protagonist back in time to before the nuclear war, potentially allowing them to undo the devastation.

However, something goes wrong. Instead of traveling back in time, the protagonist is sent into the future, where all the raider bands have gathered around "Paradise." The raiders now plan to use the collider for their own purposes, and the protagonist must race against time to stop them from using it for destruction.

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Dead Paradise 4 picks up right where the previous game left off. The protagonist is racing to reach the collider before the raiders can get to it. Upon arrival, it’s clear that the raiders have already caused significant damage. In the chemical labs, scientists and workers are in a state of panic, with machinery malfunctioning across the facility. The situation is even worse in the bio-weapons lab, where the containment systems have failed, and the bio-weapons are no longer confined to their glass enclosures.

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gameplay

In Dead Paradise 1, the player navigates a post-apocalyptic landscape in either the "Taiga" or "Corsair" vehicle, aiming to reach the end of each level while avoiding destruction. The game centers around vehicular combat, where the protagonist battles enemy vehicles along the way.

The player can choose to travel with a "navigator girl," who provides alerts such as when fuel or rockets are running low. However, her reminders can often be more distracting than helpful, especially when the player’s vehicle is already on the brink of destruction. Along the journey, the player can collect various items, including gas cans (for fuel), repair kits (for health), and donuts. Donuts serve as collectible items, granting the player 150 bucks per donut. Skulls are also collected and used for vehicle upgrades.

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In Dead Paradise 2, the protagonist begins with a car known as the "Light" (also referred to as the "Raider" in Dead Paradise 3's garage menu), which is similar to the vehicles used by raiders. The starting car comes equipped with basic features: a bow and arrow as the weapon, no armor, a small gas tank, worn-down wheels, and fireworks as rockets. These components can be upgraded as the player progresses.

The core gameplay remains similar to the first game, with the player navigating various post-apocalyptic environments and engaging in vehicular combat. Alongside the main levels, the player is tasked with special missions, including:

• Destroying a caravan transporting valuable cargo, such as heavy-duty weapons, radioactive material, experimental combat armor, or salvaged UFO technology.
• Hunting down raiders or looters on motorcycles who have been interfering with the black dealer.
• Engaging in boss fights against local leaders, including the Punisher, Harvester, and Digger, as well as having the option to destroy a tank in revenge after being treated as an enemy at Zone 51.

The game takes place across several locations, including a city, a swamp, mountains, and finally, a military base. The player can also purchase an upgraded truck or ATV, provided they have enough money.

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In Dead Paradise 3, the protagonist is tasked with escorting a fortified ambulance carrying important scientists through hostile territory. The protagonist utilizes the "Predator" tank to clear the way and protect the convoy.

However, one of the main challenges in this mission is managing the slow-moving ambulance. Unlike other vehicles in the game, the ambulance won’t speed up if the player drives ahead. If the protagonist moves too far from the ambulance, it will stop and self-destruct, even if there's no immediate danger, making it a delicate balancing act to avoid leaving it behind while dealing with threats.

One of the main challenges in this mission is managing the slow-moving ambulance. Unlike other vehicles in the game, the ambulance won’t speed up if the player drives ahead. If the protagonist moves too far from the ambulance, it will stop and self-destruct, even when there's no immediate danger. This requires the player to carefully manage their position to keep the ambulance moving while also dealing with threats.

The mission culminates in the protagonist reaching a scientific complex where a collider is housed. The goal is to activate the collider, which the protagonist believes will send them back to a time before the apocalypse. However, during a special mission, the collider malfunctions, sending the protagonist into a dystopian future instead. This unexpected event sends the protagonist into a timeline where greater dangers lie ahead.

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In Dead Paradise 4, the protagonist’s journey brings them to an underground laboratory complex where they must fight their way through several key areas to reach the collider once again. The protagonist obtains the "Viper" car, which is used to navigate through the hazardous environments of the lab complex.

The mission takes the player through four distinct areas: the Chemical Labs, Genetic Labs, Robotics Labs, and Bio-Weapons Labs. While each area is distinct in its setting and theme, there are no significant gameplay changes based on the specific location. For example, despite the descriptions of certain hazards in each lab (such as potential contamination or biohazards), the core mechanics remain consistent throughout the levels.

Each section of the underground lab complex presents its own unique environmental challenges:

1. Chemical Labs – The environment here is heavily contaminated with toxic waste, posing a constant danger to the player’s vehicle.
2. Genetic Labs – This section is filled with radiation hazards, which the player must quickly navigate through to avoid prolonged exposure. Speed and efficiency are key, as lingering too long in certain areas can lead to significant damage, urging the player to blast through the levels rather than proceed cautiously.
3. Robotics Labs & Bio-Weapon Labs: Both areas are infested with unidentified blue goo, which deals damage if the player stays within it. Again, the key is to move through these areas quickly to avoid being overwhelmed.Robotics Labs & Bio-Weapon Labs: Both areas are infested with unidentified blue goo, which deals damage if the player stays within it. Again, the key is to move through these areas quickly to avoid being overwhelmed.

In addition to environmental hazards, all areas feature trip mines that the player must carefully avoid or disarm, adding an additional layer of challenge to each level.

The primary goal of this mission is to reach the collider at the end of the lab complex. Along the way, the protagonist must deal with the various environmental effects and hostile forces while navigating the hazardous labs to stop the spread of the chaos unleashed by the collider.

trivia

• the protagonist's favourite number is 13
• The Light/Raider car from Dead Paradise 2 is one of the series' more notable vehicles, making a return as an Easter egg in later games.
• Dead Paradise 4, featuring the Viper vehicle, is only available on Flashpoint, making it relatively obscure compared to earlier titles.
• Dead Paradise uses royalty-free rock music, which is featured across most of Smokoko's games. The music can be found here.
• The 'Nomad' enemy, which appears in the special missions of Dead Paradise 3, is a reskin of a truck featured in Monsters' Wheels, another game developed by Smokoko.

References

https://www.newgrounds.com/series/dead-paradise https://smokoko.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Lsf0U0Q41o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQyHNqmfLeI

Category:Flash games Category:Apocalyptic fiction