Zompocalypse

Believing that a zombie apocalypse is near no longer constitutes a form of mental disorder nowadays, what with all the bunkers that are being built by the people who take The Walking Dead a bit too seriously. Although it would probably be the most overrated apocalypse ever, one can still entertain himself at the thought of making his way to the grocery store with a shotgun in each hand, albeit video games would be a more reasonable way to satisfy the thirst for global catastrophes.

Zompocalypse makes it quite clear right from the title that it just wants to get to the subject and cut everything in between, since there is no point in being clever about it anymore. The zombies have risen from the grave and the event is quickly classified as an apocalypse, which means that everyone is out for themselves and shooting the undead becomes a daily routine for the survivors.

The game is a simple sidescroller with basic gameplay elements, which means that moving from one side of the screen to the other and shooting at creatures is about as good as it gets. You use the classic WASD keys for movement, the E key to shoot your gun and the N key to reload, which sort of changes the pace of the game, since you also have to keep an eye on the number of bullets left in the chamber, or risk being mauled by the incoming horde.

Once in a while, certain power-ups are dropped by the zombies you succeed in decapitating, which provide you with various bonuses when it comes to hit points, weapons, or money. Your character can also level-up after it gathers enough experience, which in turn unlocks better gear and more serious firepower to deal with the zombies. Beside the pistol you start off with, there are shotguns, machine-guns, and a lot of other weapons to make your life easier along the way.

If you succeed on surviving for long enough, you also get to change the scenery every once in a while. Back street alleys and run-down buildings provide you with a different type of challenge, since the environment can either work for, or against you. Speaking of which, these landscapes look about as good as you would expect from a basic sidescroller like this, but they get the point across nonetheless.

The challenge is what keeps you going back for more, despite the frustration that always takes over after a few minutes of gameplay. Zompocalypse plays its cards well, though, which means that it has the potential to squeeze an hour or two out of your spare time, if given the chance.