If you've played zombie games before, you can usually assume 3 things about another zombie game:
1. The protagonist is alive.
2. The zombie-ness has an antidote.
3. The main objective isn't to eat brains.
This is all metaphorically thrown out the proverbial window in Stubbs the Zombie.
So, what is it about? Well, you're Stubbs, a man who was a salesman during the Great Depression, then killed by a customer and buried. A futuristic city (called Punchbowl) was built over the previous 'version' and there are now things like hover-cars and robots. Unfortunately for the citizens, Stubbs just HAPPENS to rise from the dead for reasons not explained. Ever. Seriously. Ever. Don't even try.
The story consists of you, a city, people and the kinda clichéd, yet rather interestingly portratyed love interest (Maggie Monday). And brains. Lots and lots of brains. Anyway, as you proceed through the city, eating brains and doing other zombie-ish things, you unravel the plot of WHY you were killed and by whom. Note (actual plot below).
So, before the game, Stubbs was a salesman who sold life insurance. One of his rather unwilling customers was a man called Otis Monday who had a daughter, Maggie. She and Stubbs did that unholy thing which, when mentioned in a game causes it to have an 18+ rating. Yes, yes, never mind the violence, it has a necessary part of life! BURN IT! Sorry. Anyway, back to the story. Maggie gets pregnant and Otis kills Stubbs and buries him in a field. Maggie then gives birth to Andrew Monday who designs the city of Punchbowl. Then Stubbs comes back as a zombie in 1959 and does what zombies do best, all the while chasing Maggie. In the end, Andrew dies, Stubbs eats Maggie's brains and they (un)live happily ever after. In the middle you also have things like boss-fights and a dance-off between Stubbs and T.S. Masters, the Chief of Police.
The game has an abundancy of humour, albeit some of it rather childish. For example, one of the levels takes place at a farm called 'Knob Cheese Farm' (note: the password is 'cornhole'). In another sequence, Stubbs makes a rallying speech consisting of the word 'Brains' repeated over and over, which ends with the morale-filled response of 'BRAINS!' from the crowd.
Gameplay is rather fun. You have a claw attack which stuns people in about 3 hits or you can just kill them with it. There's also the brain-eating attack which can only be done when someone is stunned, or you can jump above them and press said button to eat their brains, ninja/wrestling style. There're also the zombie powers which consist of: a gut grenade which zombifies people, a hand which can be used for exploration and possessing people, a fart attack which stuns people in a rather large radius and the 'head-bowl' where you rip off your head and throw it, while it spits zombie sputum at them, zombifieing them in the process. All of these powers need brains to be re-used. Along with that, eating brains replenishes some health. On the topic of zombification: when you zombify someone, they follow you, eating brains and clawing at people. A horde can be used as meat shields. Unfortunately, they can die. But they are rather expendable...unless you're playing on Insane. Stubbs can also drive vehicles, even though there isn't a very wide selection.
The game's atmosphere changes throughout the levels. In the first level, everything is all bright and colourful, while by the last level, it's rather dark, grey and gloomy. I'm not sure what exactly the effect is called, but the game has this effect, giving it the appearance of an old-fashioned movie. (For those who don't have a clue of what I'm talking about, (can't blame you) it has lines running down the side and flickers occasionally.
The music choice is similar to Bioshock. It suits the era and contrasts the whole atmosphere of the game, so you can sing along to 'Sandman' with a mouthful of brains. There are also screams before death by enemies, general zombie-like groaning and some threats hurled at you by the cops.
So, in general, it's a fun journey through a futuristic city with a tale of friendship, love and brains.
1. The protagonist is alive.
2. The zombie-ness has an antidote.
3. The main objective isn't to eat brains.
This is all metaphorically thrown out the proverbial window in Stubbs the Zombie.
So, what is it about? Well, you're Stubbs, a man who was a salesman during the Great Depression, then killed by a customer and buried. A futuristic city (called Punchbowl) was built over the previous 'version' and there are now things like hover-cars and robots. Unfortunately for the citizens, Stubbs just HAPPENS to rise from the dead for reasons not explained. Ever. Seriously. Ever. Don't even try.
The story consists of you, a city, people and the kinda clichéd, yet rather interestingly portratyed love interest (Maggie Monday). And brains. Lots and lots of brains. Anyway, as you proceed through the city, eating brains and doing other zombie-ish things, you unravel the plot of WHY you were killed and by whom. Note (actual plot below).
So, before the game, Stubbs was a salesman who sold life insurance. One of his rather unwilling customers was a man called Otis Monday who had a daughter, Maggie. She and Stubbs did that unholy thing which, when mentioned in a game causes it to have an 18+ rating. Yes, yes, never mind the violence, it has a necessary part of life! BURN IT! Sorry. Anyway, back to the story. Maggie gets pregnant and Otis kills Stubbs and buries him in a field. Maggie then gives birth to Andrew Monday who designs the city of Punchbowl. Then Stubbs comes back as a zombie in 1959 and does what zombies do best, all the while chasing Maggie. In the end, Andrew dies, Stubbs eats Maggie's brains and they (un)live happily ever after. In the middle you also have things like boss-fights and a dance-off between Stubbs and T.S. Masters, the Chief of Police.
The game has an abundancy of humour, albeit some of it rather childish. For example, one of the levels takes place at a farm called 'Knob Cheese Farm' (note: the password is 'cornhole'). In another sequence, Stubbs makes a rallying speech consisting of the word 'Brains' repeated over and over, which ends with the morale-filled response of 'BRAINS!' from the crowd.
Gameplay is rather fun. You have a claw attack which stuns people in about 3 hits or you can just kill them with it. There's also the brain-eating attack which can only be done when someone is stunned, or you can jump above them and press said button to eat their brains, ninja/wrestling style. There're also the zombie powers which consist of: a gut grenade which zombifies people, a hand which can be used for exploration and possessing people, a fart attack which stuns people in a rather large radius and the 'head-bowl' where you rip off your head and throw it, while it spits zombie sputum at them, zombifieing them in the process. All of these powers need brains to be re-used. Along with that, eating brains replenishes some health. On the topic of zombification: when you zombify someone, they follow you, eating brains and clawing at people. A horde can be used as meat shields. Unfortunately, they can die. But they are rather expendable...unless you're playing on Insane. Stubbs can also drive vehicles, even though there isn't a very wide selection.
The game's atmosphere changes throughout the levels. In the first level, everything is all bright and colourful, while by the last level, it's rather dark, grey and gloomy. I'm not sure what exactly the effect is called, but the game has this effect, giving it the appearance of an old-fashioned movie. (For those who don't have a clue of what I'm talking about, (can't blame you) it has lines running down the side and flickers occasionally.
The music choice is similar to Bioshock. It suits the era and contrasts the whole atmosphere of the game, so you can sing along to 'Sandman' with a mouthful of brains. There are also screams before death by enemies, general zombie-like groaning and some threats hurled at you by the cops.
So, in general, it's a fun journey through a futuristic city with a tale of friendship, love and brains.
