As a sequel to cult movie classic Zombieland takes a bite out of cinemas, so too do the undead shamble onto PlayStation 4, Switch and Xbox One.
Game: Zombieland: Double Tap – Road Trip
Genre: Top-Down Shooter
Developer: High Voltage Software
Format: PS4, XBO, Switch
Out: Oct 22
Back in 2009, pop culture’s fascination with zombies was just about to go supernova. The Walking Dead TV series was a year away from kicking off, and a quirky indie traumedy called Zombieland was punching above its weight at cinemas. Layering the menace of the undead with a spoonful of comedy, killer dialogue and bang on casting, it’s one of Maxim’s favourites.
Ten years later and said film is getting a sequel, Zombieland: Double Tap. It brings back all the key cast members, led by Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, Abigail Breslin and Bill Murray. And to help bridge the gap between the film’s two stories, we have a video game that couldn’t have chosen a better genre.
The top-down shooter is an old-school genre, but it remains great fun. It enables four friends to jump into the action together, working together as a team – or not – to progress through the world firing off bullets in all directions. You move with one stick, fire with the other, making sure to avoid obstacles and grab pick-ups as you go. Think of games like Assault Android Cactus, AlienNation, Helldivers and Enter the Gungeon.
Zombieland: Double Tap – Road Trip follows the genre’s tried and true principles, but goes in deep on the movie’s canon. For starters, we get a whole new story, which links the two films together and gives those who play it a better understanding of what our heroes have been up to. You and your friends play as Columbus, Tallahassee, Wichita and Little Rock, but you’ll also meet new characters and zombies on your journey.
All up there are 16 different zombie types you’ll face across 18 diverse levels as you road trip your way from the Whitehouse deep into the American heartland. When all those zombies swarm on you at once, the action gets very fast and frantic. You may remember from the film, these aren’t the slow stumbling undead variety; they come at you fast.
Amidst all the headshots, there are Zombie Kill of the Week objectives to hit, and new weekly challenges will arrive post release. Perhaps more intriguing for fans is the way the “rules of Zombieland” have been incorporated into the gameplay. Following the rules is part of the fun, especially as the game – like the film – aims to be funny (even while taking itself seriously).
With a variety of modes, including a Horde mode, Boss Battles, Campaign and Co-op, there’s plenty to do. It’s may not be the big budget blockbuster game adaption you may have seen from the likes of Star Wars, but by smartly opting for co-op play and an action-centric genre, Zombieland: Double Tap – Road Trip still demands a look.
For the full article grab the November 2019 issue of MAXIM Australia from newsagents and convenience locations. Subscribe here.
