Zombies are everywhere. In a few weeks a new Resident Evil titles hitting the shelves and Zombie Apocalypse 2 has groaned it’s way on to the PSN Store alongside All Zombies Must Die. Dead Island gave us tropical corpses and it appears a sequel and a movie are in the works.
Brad Pitt has been fighting zombies in Devon for the first in a trilogy of ‘World War Z’ movies whilst Milla Jovovich is on Twitter spilling the secrets of Resident Evil : Retribution. Also in production is ‘Pride and Prejudice and Zombies’, the classic Regency romance now with ultraviolent zombie mayhem.
Television has succumbed to the zombie invasion with The Walking Dead grabbing ratings, Channel 4 recently repeated their zombie / Big Brother mash up ‘Dead Set’ and the sequel to the movie ‘Zombieland’ will now be shuffling its way on to screens as a TV series.
Comics have suffered outbreaks of the undead, Marvel zombified all their heros with great effect (Spiderman regretting eating Aunt May was priceless) and more recently publisher IDW managed to mash Star Trek, G.I. Joe, Ghostbusters and Transformers together and zombify the lot. Yes, really.
There are a lot of zombies about and with good reason as they represent the fears of mankind, our problems and worries. In George Romereo’s movies the zombies represent the fears of race riots and consumerism, in other media the massed undead have represented slavery, the AIDS crisis and immigration.
The recent zombie outbreak can be attributed to the financial meltdown, “Zombies represent America hitting a very low bottom, as we witness the spectacle of consumer capitalism transforming itself into a feudalistic dance of death,” said the cultural critic David J. Skal.
The undead have been found in gaming since the very beginning with ‘Zombie Zombie’ on the ZX Spectrum and today they have invaded every genre of gaming (Zombie Cricket anyone?), the most recent addition being the blood red, decomposing ships from Zombie Wipeout.
But have you had enough of zombies? Are they a ‘lazy’ option for games developers requiring little imagination or design? Should they rounded up and shot in the head (zombies that is, not games developers) or do you want more braaains? Get clicking!
John Malcolm
“Braaaainns!” “Entrails!” “Raahhhhh!”
I’m sorry, but as the official spokeman for the Zombies Are Human League I must protest at all these stereotypes and slurs.
Of course there are a few lone wolves who just love to live up to the Holywood image, but for the most part your average 21st Century zombie is more at home with a rotting sheep turning nicely on the spit over a roaring fire and buying makeup to hide their discolouring flesh.
Istead of terrorising the local population we are more likely to be visiting our local Zombie Drop-in Centre to discuss methods of re-attaching limbs, what’s the best way to get blood off your teeth, or how our friends have been doing as extras in the latest Zombie Eat Chomp Chase Get Hed Shot Off (this bloody hurts, and is a right pain to re-attach) film.
We also like playing games on our consoles, with many zombie gamers posting thoughtful reviews of many current games – who really wrote that last review you read? – so don’t take us as cannon fodder; we have a lot more to offer. Come on, become a Zombie, it’s great fun!
scavenga
LOL
TROPtastic
That was so well said I can’t decide if you’re trollin’ or not :P
Eldave0
I love Resident Evil and always pick up new entries to that series but otherwise I tend to give zombie shooters a miss these days. They’re all far too similar. That said if they ever do a Left4Dead3 I will buy it day-one.
sparkyscrum
Zombies no, zombie mode, yes.
Generally not a fan of zombies but Wipeout’s idea of swarm of ships attacking was great and nice addition to the modes in the game.
blackredyellow
This.
Full on Zombie games can get a bit much, but zombie modes attached to games appeal to me. Best example for me is Black Ops zombie mode, that was great fun with a few mates! And then when I played Dead Nation I got a bit bored with it all.
KeRaSh
I agree. I liked the idea of the mode. People moaned because of the name. I just hope they don’t dig up the idea and sell it as DLC later. They dropped it for the final release so if they decide to go through with it after the game comes out it would seem like a rip off. I’m hoping for free DLC…
sparkyscrum
I think free DLC annit going to happen with 2048. Pure got some great free DLC, that is still amazing for a game, but Pulse had paid for DLC. Expecting them to follow Pulse mode.
Zombie mode at a resonance cost isn’t too bad. I’d buy it, really like the sound of it. Perhaps it’d unlock a new ship or two?
fattyuk
over the past year i really have got into the zombie genre. I think its because of all the time ive been spending on my playstation I’m slowly turning into one
Grey_Ghost13
I like zombies when they are done well, you need to stick to George Romereo’s zombies. No running zombies for me, as he said “my zombies are more likely to pick up a book then run a marathon”. You need to be smart when implementing zombies
bacon_nuts
Exactly – only when done well! Like half life with the headcrab zombies and their variants. Although I guess you might not like the fast ones.. I’m fine with making zombies faster, sometimes. But what’s better is keeping things fresh, some fast, some slow, some reduce your health to 1 (damn poison headcrabs). HL2 also had the antlions and combine, and synths, so it never got boring. I always get bored when it’s just killing zombies with boring side characters.
Nocure-fd
World war Z is a fantastic read. If you haven’t yet, then I highly recomend it. Personally, I can’t wait for the movies!
Zombie themes always work best when they are used to highlight problems with society (e.g The origional dawn of the dead) rather than just being used as an excuse for blood and gore (e.g House of the dead movie).
The zombie scenario is only being done correctly if you feel you are in as much or more danger from your fellow humans as you are from the shambling hordes. The co-op of L4D being the exception to this rule (unless you’re playing with my bro, he’s a danger to everyone!).
Also, fast zombies are just bad bad bad. The whole point is that you should be able to outrun one zombie, but where exactly are you going to run to? THATs why it’s scary!
Tuffcub
You do know the WWZ movies have feck all to do with the books?
Nocure-fd
No I did not. And now you have burst my bubble :(
Was really looking forward to the battle of Yonkers on the big screen too.
How depressing.
teflon
It’s got everything to do with the books.
Tuffcub
If it was like the book it would be a faux documentary.
Synopsis of movie from Paramount
“”he story revolves around United Nations employee Gerry Lane (Pitt), who traverses the world in a race against time to stop the Zombie pandemic that is toppling armies and governments and threatening to decimate humanity itself.”
http://io9.com/5830389/world-war-z-movie-synopsis-is-nothing-like-the-book-internet-melts-down
Does that sound ANYTHING like the book?
Michael
@Zombie Malcolm – best comment ever.
cam the man
The only thing I have enjoyed with zombies in lately is The Living Dead series 2.
hazelam
The Living Dead?
are you thinking of The Walking Dead perhaps?
blackredyellow
Weirdly, when the clock struck 00.00 on New Years Eve/Day, the song playing in the bar I was in was ‘Zombie’ by the Cranberries!
moshi
Did you Linger around after!
OllyBobs
I am getting rather bored of zombies.
Origami Killer
similar thoughts here, in the last year or so they have been used too much in games. Now very bored of them.