Stupid Zombies Review

As the iOS zombie infestation continues to saunter on at brainless tedium, it is really starting to feel like trends in gaming are coming around for a second time, only with more of an undead theme.  Take for example, the game Stupid Zombies, which is a standard ricochet/physics based puzzle game, only with a larger appetite for brains.  Have we seen this before?  Absolutely.  The real question is whether the mechanics are solid enough to hold a player's interest, without the aid of the previously deceased.

Are you a fan of story in games?  Let's hope that you answered 'no' to that last question, because Stupid Zombies has about as much plot progression as an episode of Seinfeld.  However, much the aforementioned television show, if you are tuning in for story you're completely missing the point.  This romp through the apocalypse is about one thing, and one thing only: gameplay.

The crux of the title revolves around your character doing what any person does best when faced with a zombie apocalypse, dismantling as many brain munchers as humanly possible.  Luckily for you, these zombies seemingly lack the ability to move, making them easy targets for your misplaced malice.  Players have to clear each stage of undead, similar to the level progression of a game like Angry Birds, in order to move on to the next level.  The trick is that there are only five bullets in the gun, so aiming carefully is a key to success.

Many different obstacles will obscure the path of a bullet, so one must learn the lost art of the ricochet.  Projectiles will continue to bounce aimlessly around the environment for quite some time, in the random hunt for any zombies, which upon contact fall harmlessly to the floor, while the bullet passes through them like the proverbial hot knife through butter.   Eventually more interactive moving roadblocks will make an appearance, further changing up the strategy and adding to the continually increasing level of difficulty.

Probably the game's greatest strength resides in its bite sized structure, that allows for several stages to be completed in a single sitting.  This doesn't mean that you will necessarily want to put the game down though, because the ever growing challenge helps enforce that "maybe just one more level..." mentality that so many others strive to achieve.

Is Stupid Zombies a visual showcase for retina displays?  No.  Does it have amazing sound or art design?  Most defiantly not!  What is lacked in polish is made up for in solid level design, amusing mechanics, and 250 different puzzles.  This is not going to win any Game of the Year awards, but we couldn't think of a better way to burn a few hours.



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