ZombiU - First 5 Hours

To start this off, I'll admit that I am not the one who played ZombiU, even though that's usually the way these reviews go. However, that would force me to ignore the adventure of hilarity that proceeded to happen a few nights ago while I watched a friend of mine play ZombiU.

I'd also like to point out how surprised I was when the game started up and I got to view the graphics on the WiiU for the first time. For a system that I expected to be an upgraded Wii, this one was already starting to impress me.

So what about ZombiU? Well it's a survival horror game, with zombies. Yes, just like all the others that proudly include zombies for us to kick, maim, injure, and kill. But even from the first few hours of gameplay, you can tell that this is going to be different. It's not going to be a walk in the park. You aren't meant to go off fighting everything; that will get you killed. Your game character isn't some overpowered, hulking behemoth, zombie-killing machine who happens to be super effective against zombie types. He or she is just a regular citizen trying to fend off the horde as best as they can, which is a feature I find of particular enjoyment. Being a fan of survival horror to begin with, I can say that this game holds true to its genre.

When you start up a game, you choose your difficulty and are greeted with a randomly generated player character, who is, in fact, named. And when that character dies, you'll have the unique opportunity to find him/her later, in the same spot that you succumbed to the zombie horde, as a newly indoctrinated member of the shambling masses. And there they will stay, until you find them again, with all your hard work and items safely stored in the backpack that they are wearing. How's that for incentive to take it easy? You thought getting to that point was hard the first time? Try doing it again, but this time without all the cool items you've been scavenging.

But enough on what the game is about, and on to the adventure I promised you at the beginning.

Like I mentioned earlier, a friend of mine is actually the one playing this through. He is an avid Gamer (note that term) and enjoys games with lots of action and little story. So why not put his FPS skills to the test against some zombies? Or so he thought...

The game starts up, and the shit talking begins. Apparently, some zombies don't know whats coming. He chooses Easy difficulty, and I proceed to paint a vivid picture of future gameplay including armless/legless zombies laying on the floor waiting for the nuclear, moon-cannon carrying player character to come end their misery.

After a quick cut scene of your character being surrounded by zombies you are prompted to sprint out of harm's way and straight up a ladder. This didn't really go over so well, since Johnny (the player character) decided to ignore the tutorial's suggestion of 'Run the hell away'. Instead of learning to sprint, we instead watched on as Johnny lazily sauntered past zombies on his way to the end point. After taking a few rotting claws to the back Johnny makes it up the ladder, surprisingly...

...into what looks to be a janitors closet. We are then shown how to use the flashlight. Looting around yields nothing but the way out. Walking into the next room we see that the hallway is somewhat blocked by soda machines that have been toppled over as a barricade of sorts. It's at this point he complains about not having any guns to start; at least we find out how to 'shove' zombies away. Which will be coming in handy here real soon as there appears to be a group of zombies chowing down on some soylent green down the hall past the soda machines. I mention that it would probably be a good idea to sneak by without the light on. But, like the tutorial on sprinting, this is taken as more of a suggestion than anything else. Johnny proceeds to climb over the soda machines, walk up to the gang of zombies with his flashlight on, take a gander at what could be so delicious, and attract their attention. Johnny turns around and calmly walks back to climb over the soda machines. He gets hit twice on the way over. 'How can Johnny be still alive?' I wonder, 'and why aren't those zombies climbing over that soda machine to come say hi?'

Well, Johnny's a Tunnel Snake, he's too cool for running around, and he's too cool for zombies. He's taking this outbreak like a champ. And the zombies are intimidated by his swagger. It's the only logical explanation. As for the apparently impervious zombie barrier, I'm informed that this is the only time they won't be able to climb things. Which is a relief, as I almost cried for game mechanics.

Johnny goes in for a second try, shoving his way through the horde at the soda machine and walks to the end of the hallway. Unfortunately for Johnny, it's blocked. So he turns around, shoves some more zombies away and makes a right. Its at this point Johnny learns to sprint, which is good for him since there are more zombies in this hallway blocking the way out. Through some luck and a bit of divine intervention, Johnny makes it to the end of the level.

Starting up again, we're contacted by some British guy on an intercom. He says he's here to help, and directs Johnny to some computer monitors and a map. The monitors show us the last guy our new British friend tried to help. He's stuck in a window. But he has a backpack, and we want that. Besides, its not like our window traveling friend is using it. The map shows us how to get there. It's at this point all reasonable navigation ends, as looking between a map and in front of himself is just too much for Johnny. We see the quest objective on the map but not many of the obstacles that lay in our path. Because of this Johnny's shins and face start taking some self inflicted punishment, as Johnny is too busy looking at a map to notice the concrete barriers, fences, road signs, and walls he's running into. After some painful navigation, Johnny finally makes it to the man without a plan, but he's got a backpack with some useful bits inside.

Poking around in the backpack yields a cricket bat and a gun. We're also told again that using the sonar ping would be a good way to find zombies on the map, as our next objective is to get out of the building. Some more painful navigation follows until Johnny finds a machine gun emplacement overlooking the mall plaza. Pinging the sonar shows us that there is indeed a zombie down there, minding its own business. Something tells Johnny that using that machine gun would be a poor idea, as it would probably attract a lot of zombies. But Johnny has never heard of a survival horror game, and just the thought of zombies offends him. So Johnny equips a bit of ignorance and gets himself over to the machine gun. With careless disregard, Johnny starts throwing lead down range at the lone zombie, turning it into soup. Unsurprisingly, Johnny has attracted the attention of the other zombie in the room, who begins to climb up in front of him. Johnny looks down and continues making as much noise as possible, turning that zombie into jello chunks. The gods of gaming cry out for vengeance but realize Johnny is protected by the unholy demi-gods of easy mode.

Johnny hops off the machine gun and starts making his way to the way out, but quickly finds out that its locked and requires a key card. Luckily for him, there's one in the mall, and its only on the complete opposite side of where he's at now. Johnny looks at his new objective on the map and starts walking, ignoring his legs while they wonder why Johnny hates them so much. Coming up to the objective, Johnny is reminded that he can ping the map with sonar by the very noisy zombie in the next room. Looks like the door is blocked by filing cabinets, which makes zombies incredibly angry. Johnny takes one look at the disgruntled zombie and starts rummaging around in his backpack for the only answer to this sort of problem. A gun. Taking it out, Johnny realizes he is exceptionally bad at aiming, but goes for the gun solution anyways. Shooting through the broken window ends in the zombie taking several shots in the arm, a few in the chest, and one or two in the leg. Johnny decides he's tired of shooting lame ducks in a pond and equips his cricket bat. Vaulting over the window, Johnny begins beating the already quite defeated zombie over the head. Johnny proclaims his triumph over his obviously equally matched opponent and grabs the key card.

Johnny begins wandering around for several minutes in a state I can only describe as "being lost with a map", but eventually makes it outside.

Ah, the great outdoors. Alas, it is raining and there are zombies about. Johnny doesn't hesitate, he has some surviving to do. Walking a little ways reveals some peculiar noises coming from behind some construction vehicles. Johnny doesn't even think twice, zombies ate his neighbors. He runs straight over to the zombies with his pistol and picks a fight, even though he's outnumbered. Johnny runs out of bullets and is forced to use his cricket bat, but he continues beating down the enemy until nothing but himself is left standing.

Moving on past the construction area, Johnny finds a zombie standing in an alleyway. It's the zombies unlucky day because that's the way Johnny was walking. Using his only weapon, Johnny runs over and beats down the poor fellow without remorse because Johnny hates zombies, they killed and ate his dog. Johnny continues his evening stroll until he finds some scaffolding to climb up. He finds some ammo and some flares. He also finds a couple of zombies down below him shambling around. Johnny, being unable to contain his rage, ignores the suggestion of throwing a flare as a distraction and instead goes for a more direct route. Jumping down he runs towards the zombies with his cricket bat and starts handing out blunt damage. Again, he becomes the only one left standing and heads on down the street towards the next objective, picking up a few flares along the way. Finding the building he's supposed to enter, Johnny goes to open the door, tripping an alarm, and attracts the attention of the horde. The British guy on the intercom urges Johnny to enter the building for safety, but Johnny's not a push over and he stands his ground. Johnny turns around and runs away from the safety of the open door, ready to cricket bat anything that stands in his way. Within seconds, Johnny is dead.

And thus ends the first few hours of ZombiU gameplay. It ended, as I hoped it would, in a much deserved and long-time-coming death for Johnny. Overall, I'd say it stands out as an example of survival horror doing it right. Instead of having a few cheap scares and a few less bullets, ZombiU takes up the challenge by providing you with an intense atmosphere and a lot less bullets. I think its time to experience Survival mode, Johnny must be avenged.