ZOMBIU (WIIU)
|
Publisher: Ubisoft.
Developer: Ubisoft Montpellier. Released: November 2012 (Europe). Genre: FPS; Survival Horror. Posted 2nd November 2014. By Chris Weatherley © 2014 |
Together with the obligatory release of a trademark Mario rehash, Nintendo packaged the Wii U with a somewhat surprising launch title. Normally known for firmly aiming for the family demographic, Ubisoft came to support the new console with an adult-orientated survival adventure. Blood, gore and scares ensue aplenty with ZombiU, because this is no light-hearted Mario caper or Kirby silliness. Whereas some may argue it’s merely a technical vehicle for the Wii U’s gamepad and second screen usage, ZombiU has plenty of guts to it, both figuratively and visually. It even could be considered as a spiritual sequel to (or reimagining of) Ubisoft’s very first published title way back 1986, simply titled Zombi. But this is no 8-bitter, it’s HD cricket-bat slaying, head-smashing all the way. As the game’s tagline says “How long will you survive?”
Playing on the historical records of the Great Plague of London, the black prophecy is foretold by the real life royal advisor and alchemist John Dee, telling of a terrible event that will destroy the city and its inhabitants. The mysterious disease inducing a zombie-state spreads quickly among the populous, and the second blight of London begins. You have to survive the following events in any way you can. Running, looting and killing, nothing is off the table. Aided by the enigmatic Yorkshire voice of ‘The Prepper’, you scour London to find an escape, salvation or a solution, before the prophesied ‘black angels’ come to purify the city. It’s a brave take on the infected style of zombie scenarios, and being set in London creates the chance for many location-dropping opportunities. It is however different from other horror games due to the original method of re-spawning, the intentionally-awkward fighting mechanics and the insightful, game-changing use of the Wii U’s gamepad. No other title can claim to be exactly like this.
Jim is dismayed to see the state of the office on Monday morning
|
The police typically offer limited help in instances of zombie invasion
|
Right out of the gates, ZombiU makes its presence felt in dramatic fashion. If you don’t perish during the opening escape tutorial from a horde of flesh eaters, then you have been very lucky. This is something deliberate, because it not only states the intent of the tough, jarring challenge that awaits, but introduces the re-spawn characteristic also. The makers have made it clear that you WILL die in this game and join the rest of the infected, permanently. But when you do, you become another survivor of the blight, and emerge ready to battle the undead from the shelter of the Shadwell safe house. This is your base of operations, where ‘The Prepper’ guides you and supplies you with advice and more importantly, the prepper pad, your invaluable tool to stay alive. Surprisingly easy to get accustomed too, the gamepad becomes a map, comlink, radar and provides all the interaction with the environment played out of the TV screen. It’s a wonderful way to showcase the consoles’ primary hardware feature, and it works really well. Using the pad to aim a sniper rifle, scan for zombies in the dark or to hack a CCTV junction box is really enjoyable and stimulating. This makes ZombiU stand out from other survival titles with great prowess. Some functions may feel a little unnecessary, like tapping the pad to remove a manhole for example, but it’s all part of this new way of first person interaction.
The pad also is home to your bug-out-bag, a rucksack you carry your inventory in. This is a key piece of equipment, and also becomes an important part of the dying sequence in the game. When you die, your next survivor has to find your previous ‘self’ to retrieve all your possessions contained in the BOB, as they are now ‘one of them’. This adds a brilliant element to the gameplay, giving you a second chance so to speak. However, if you die before reaching your bag, then it is lost completely, along with all your spoils within. Becoming a new character on each death has other interesting aspects. Every survivor has slightly different attributes, so these have to be taken into account. You may be faster and more accurate at shooting then before, or be able to run quicker. It’s another thoughtful part of a game that’s more complex than it seems.
The pad also is home to your bug-out-bag, a rucksack you carry your inventory in. This is a key piece of equipment, and also becomes an important part of the dying sequence in the game. When you die, your next survivor has to find your previous ‘self’ to retrieve all your possessions contained in the BOB, as they are now ‘one of them’. This adds a brilliant element to the gameplay, giving you a second chance so to speak. However, if you die before reaching your bag, then it is lost completely, along with all your spoils within. Becoming a new character on each death has other interesting aspects. Every survivor has slightly different attributes, so these have to be taken into account. You may be faster and more accurate at shooting then before, or be able to run quicker. It’s another thoughtful part of a game that’s more complex than it seems.
Cecil is positively outraged at the exorbitant cost of his local laundrette
|
The caravan holiday was a nightmare from start to finish
|
Taking comic cues from British humour, a cricket bat is your primary and ever-present weapon. It’s the go to item for one-on-one combat, and several hits have to be landed before a zombie is dispatched via decapitation. Staying firmly with zombie mythology, this is the only way to kill the buggers outright, and whilst using a firearm is great from distance or for instant kills, its realistic recoil and shaky aiming make it hard to use all of the time. With very limited ammo on hand its easy to waste bullets, so you must choose wisely how to take on the next infected civilian. You can also push the zombies back to gain vital seconds to ready your next attack. Killing is not always the best decision though due to the instances of no-win scenarios, where escape or hiding is the only option, and this is never quite clear in any given situation, so judging the circumstances carefully rewards greatly. When you are not defending your life, searching and looting are main requirement to keep your stocks up and gain access to other areas, and with the modestly large vision of a dark, cold, London, this can take time, not helped by the insides of buildings looking samey on occasions. Re-tracing your steps can be an unwanted annoyance. That said, the environments are gloriously crafted; darkly coloured foreboding streets and such like create that all-important sense of trepidation and fear, and this is enhanced by using your torchlight in the grim alleyways and corridors scattered around this world. The graphics are not flawless; glitches can occur on occasion, items can blend with the scenery and frames sometimes jump unexpectedly. Despite this, frights and scares happen at frequent junctures, some rather predictable then others, but it’s still able to send goosebumps down the arms on many occasions. Hearing a tortured moan out of the dark with nothing in sight is always an ass-clencher.
Capping off the fine gameplay and fairly impressive visuals is the audio, with some creepy undertones, flesh ripping and bone snapping gore effects and those all so haunting zombie cries out of the distance. What’s better is the fact ‘The Prepper’ talks to you through the gamepad, making the whole experience more authentic and evocative. With a typical but very well arranged score, it’s a very well conceived twist on the zombie apocalypse genre, combining faithful elements and original ideas into a rather skilfully built game. It becomes clear why Nintendo wanted gamers to play this first off on their new system, as it demonstrates what the Wii U gamepad is capable of. Sadly, few games have used it to this potential since. It’s not completely perfect with several minor ailments, but even so, should be placed among the survival horror alumni. Its simultaneously unforgiving yet thrilling gameplay shows real audacity, whilst it delivers a unique control system and plot along the way. ZombiU puts the YOU really there!
Capping off the fine gameplay and fairly impressive visuals is the audio, with some creepy undertones, flesh ripping and bone snapping gore effects and those all so haunting zombie cries out of the distance. What’s better is the fact ‘The Prepper’ talks to you through the gamepad, making the whole experience more authentic and evocative. With a typical but very well arranged score, it’s a very well conceived twist on the zombie apocalypse genre, combining faithful elements and original ideas into a rather skilfully built game. It becomes clear why Nintendo wanted gamers to play this first off on their new system, as it demonstrates what the Wii U gamepad is capable of. Sadly, few games have used it to this potential since. It’s not completely perfect with several minor ailments, but even so, should be placed among the survival horror alumni. Its simultaneously unforgiving yet thrilling gameplay shows real audacity, whilst it delivers a unique control system and plot along the way. ZombiU puts the YOU really there!
|
|
|
|
Similar to...
Dead Island
|
VERDICT
Visual: 7/10
Audio: 8/10 Gameplay: 8/10 Longevity: 8/10 OVERALL: 8/10 |
PIXEL SECONDS: ZOMBIU (WIIU)
ZombiU deserves to be remembered as one of the finest launch games there’s been. Not simply because it plays and runs uncommonly well for a day one release, but because it goes to considerable lengths to extol the strengths and utilities of its then-new hardware. The game presents a good old-fashioned blend of survival horror and FPS action, defining itself amongst a crowded group of contemporaries through unusual controls and interesting gadgets. Zombie-ravaged London makes for an evocative location that’s great fun to explore, with areas such as the Tower and the bunkers of Buckingham Palace making for a remarkable and affecting contrast. There’s a raft of cool touches, including the ability to use the Gamepad alternately as a backpack and a map. The combat is really good; there’s a smart range of weapons that all pack a satisfying punch, and there are some sections, most notably being chased by a wraith-like zombie though a dark, labyrinthine basement, that are really unsettling. The one-death-and-its over Survival mode feels superfluous as the game isn’t geared to deliver quick-fix action, but on the whole, it’s excellent. ZombiU does however lose a mark due to a prominent, game-breaking bug that prevents progression should you die between completing the tough survival arena and returning to the safe house. Disappointingly, Ubisoft never saw fit to patch this, despite swathes of gamers flagging it up online. A word of caution for those interested in the PS4 and Xbox One versions; despite the benefit of feedback and hindsight, the issue has so far remained unfixed. [7] – Tom Clare © 2016