ReKillers Review

The Mission: protect survivors taking refuge in the basement of a suburban mansion. The Team: a motley group of defenders determined to save humanity from extinction. The Play: strategic defense. ReKillers, however, is not a typical tower defense game. Players have the ability to position and reposition their zombie-mutilating defenders. Hack, slash, and beat zombies to a bloody pulp in order to earn Zombie Coins for the "bank." Take full advantage of bonus rounds - the more coins, the better to purchase weapon upgrades and power boosts, or return a defender to active status.

Once play commences, inner conflicts abound: Which defender/weapon combo to purchase? Where to place them? Which one to upgrade? When to sell back and reposition a defender?

Levels are divided into nights. Each night has a set number of waves to complete before advancing to the next. Night One opens with 10 waves and a five defender limit. The map at top right divides the mansion into eleven sections. A section will blink yellow to warn that zombies are approaching, and blink red to indicate that zombies have arrived. This is most helpful, due to the fact the on-screen action does not include a full view of the invasion sites; players must swipe to see.

Purchase defenders pre-wave by type of weapon - for example, bat, gun, crossbow, shotgun, or flamethrower. Place them by ravaged walls and doors and the defenders will automatically attack when zombies come within range. Tap on a defender to see their range (blue circle) and available weapon or power upgrades (ex. - bat to spiked bat). Exercise tapping fingers, because speed and dexterity are a must once the waves start coming. The first wave or so is "gentle." Once it ramps up, GAME ON!

Defenders and zombies have life bars that drain as they battle it out. Defenders will regenerate if they survive the attack. However, if zombies annihilate a defender, that defender must be repurchased using hard-won Zombie Coins. Bonus rounds and high scores provide more of the much needed coins or special item relief (ex - Walker Mine) While the ReKiller store offers in-app purchases of Walker Mines, sticky oil, Jaws of UnDeath, stun grenades, corpse cocktails, zomb bombs, and miscellaneous boosters.

The overall gameplay is intense, so thankfully the user interface is umcomplicated. And the graphics rock. It's 3D animated theater, not comic strip cartoon. Blood spatters and puddles ooze. Guns flash and zombies lurch. Eerie sound effects accompany the slaughter - the crunch of bludgeoned flesh, the moans and chomps of zombies feasting, the revving of chainsaws and popping of gunfire. Plus the ever-present horror film score playing in the background.

Leveling-up is no cinch, though. Money is always tight, and resources are scarce. It's awfully tempting to give in and go shopping at the ReKillers store. The app description claims it's not necessary. But is it? Also, what's up with the random clown zombies in the bonus rounds? Chasing them and their evil cackles could set anyone's teeth on edge, let alone those with legitimate clown issues.

Other than that, it's worth giving ReKillers a shot. Zombie aficionados will not be disappointed.