Developer:Tequila Works
Publisher:Microsoft Studios
Price: MSP: 1200 Price: 14.99
Genre:
Cinematic plat-former,
Survival Horror,
side-scroller,
Platform/s: PC, Xbox360 XBLA
Release Date: XBLA Aug 1st, 2012 – (Windows) Steam Oct 25th, 2012
Think if Prince of Persia, met out of this world, then watched a “Of the Dead” movie. With those combined elements turns out a pretty well made outcome. You are a protagonist that is called Randall Wayne. Not to be confused with Bruce Wayne who is from Batman. Your landscape is Seattle. Distorted by war and decay. Once filled with coffee drinking humble folk, now filled with flesh ripping monsters. The year is 1986. You have to think of this with the tasks in mind. Move, think quick. Which is the addicting element to this game. Throwing me back to the games I mentioned above.
The Erie nature of this game goes boundaries in the way I assumed any side scroller could scare me. Not on visuals would this game cause me fear, as much as my heart pounding in my chest as I am thinking of how to dodge a large group of almost endless zombies. In regards to the story plot, I actually enjoyed it. It felt like a blend of walking dead, meets a retro zombie flick I grew up watching and loving.
However while the game shines with atmosphere, it sometimes clutters in another. Most times when I make a jump, knowing I have the perfect angle and procession, Wayne at points clips through the ledge causing me to do costly falls. While I understand this happens in most games when you miss a jump completely, I usually hit on mark. However, again it is a surface detection issue. Beyond visuals, cut scenes feel much like I am reading a “Tales from the Crypt” comic book. With some decent voice acting to charm the mood.
Closing thoughts:
While a short summery, the game itself handles a decent play time. While I am one for not spoiling plots in any game. The game itself is about story. Gritty, dark and luring. It was truly a enjoy experience. A story of a man trying to find his friends in a world gone sour. Equipped with timing, a handgun, and a fire axe. While the axe itself use good to blunt down enemies and not the go to weapon to keep the zombies dead. You soon have a handgun, which after a pretty decent “how to use this gun”. You have to use the gun sparingly. More zombies in the wild means reduce the use of what you shoot. With a cast of interesting characters along the way, such as “the Rat”, I personally enjoyed. Controls overall were good. Decides the issues with detection of edges. I overall will say it handles great out of the box. Twin-stick shooting is what you must do with ether the mouse, or game pad when handling your gun. This is a classic I known of since the release of Abuse on the PC. If you want a great zombie game and do not want to pay too much money, I insist, this is the game to get. It combines the brilliant feeling of a 80s zombie flick, with elements of a well made jumping puzzle game. Combat, while sparing. Is pretty wild, with Head shots being what you need to do.
8.5
