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Review: Age of Zombies

2:00 PM on 03.02.2010   |   Jim Sterling

Review: Age of Zombies photo

I must confess to be among those who are getting very tired of zombie games, but a good undead romp can still win my heart now and again. Halfbrick's Age of Zombies makes no bones about the fact that it is a big dumb zombie shooter for big dumb zombie fans. Bad jokes and buckets of blood are the order of the day, and Age of Zombies delivers both in equal quantities. 

So, is Age of Zombies worth your hard earned money? You're going to need a review to tell you. Our review, more specifically!

Age of Zombies (PSP) 
Developer: Halfbrick
Publisher: Halfbrick
Released: February 25, 2010
MSRP: $4.99

Age of Zombies is an undead-slaughtering romp through time as protagonist Barry Steakfries undoes the history-altering work of Professor Brain. Traveling to prehistoric times, thirties Chicago, ancient Egypt, medieval Japan and the future, Barry will take down zombies with all manner of weaponry, earning points for combo kills and taking on a number of bosses, all the while making silly one-liners. 

It's very hard to screw up a top-down shooter, so it's safe to say that Age of Zombies is pretty damn playable. The aim of the game is to score points by using unique weapons and hitting as many targets as possible before the ammo runs out. Barry earns no points for using his standard gun, so the player is encouraged to run around the map, grabbing SMGs, flamethrowers, shotguns, miniguns and explosives. 

It can be immensely satisfying mowing down over 100 zombies with a minigun, and the chaining system keeps things involved and makes the player think about herding zombies into a nice fat crowds, perfect for racking up easy kills. It just feels good to get a huge pile of zombies following you and then tossing in a grenade. The weapons are varied and all of them are rather useful, and it soon becomes easy to work out how to get the maximum potential from each firearm. 

Not that the game itself likes to keep things too simple. Age of Zombies, like all good top-down shooters, has plenty of challenge to it. Not only are there always more than enough zombies chasing Barry around, each time period has its own unique undead warriors, such as ninja zombies with throwing stars or zombie mobsters with guns. Some of the bosses, like the Ramen Samurai, can also be rather tricky too. 

Unlike in other shooters, Barry won't die after being hit once. Borrowing a page from the FPS handbook, Age of Zombies dispenses with one-hit kills and health meters in favor of recharging HP. If Barry gets hit enough times, the screen starts to go slightly red, and players need to avoid damage until it recovers. 

If you think that will make things easy, think again. It doesn't matter how much health you have when the zombies close in, and that is perhaps Age of Zombies' biggest flaw. It is very easy to get painted into a corner, with zombies coming in from all angles at all times. Getting hemmed in against a wall, or crossing a bridge only to be surrounded on both sides, is a bit too common, and there are many times when you simply know you can't fight your way out of a situation and have to sacrifice a life. 

That frustration aside, Age of Zombies is a great little addition to the PSP Minis channel, and well worth a download. It looks pretty good, with simple cartoon visuals and over-the-top gore, and the game is also pretty funny, albeit in a rather cheesy way. Each time period also has its own announcer who shouts out the weapon names as you collect them. This is worth noting because the Japanese level sounds everso racist.

Your enjoyment of Age of Zombies will most likely be determined by your tolerance for top-down zombie shooter games, of which there are a lot. If you've still got room in your belly for another zombie shooter, then this is most definitely for you. It's simple, it's fun and it's very silly. Those sick to death of the undead might want to give it a miss. 

Score: 8.0 -- Great (8s are impressive efforts with a few noticeable problems holding them back. Won't astound everyone, but is worth your time and cash.)









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Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize. Likes PS2, iPod Touch, Silent Hill 2, Metal Gear Solid, Dynasty Warriors 3 Meet the rest of the team



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77 comments | showing # 1 to 50
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JDefined's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/02/2010 14:05
JDefined
Why won't zombies just die already?
Telephis's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/02/2010 14:07
Telephis
@Double J
Hohoho...haha...heh.
CRKFIEND's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/02/2010 14:07
CRKFIEND
This isn't the review I was hoping for... *Cough* Battlefield *Cough*
Knivy's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/02/2010 14:08
Knivy
Had me at zombies, lost me at PSP
Tubatic's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/02/2010 14:09
Tubatic
Lost me at PSP also.
barnabyjones's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/02/2010 14:19
barnabyjones
I liked it better when it was called Burn Zombie Burn.
PappaDukes's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/02/2010 14:23
PappaDukes
IN STERLING WE TRUST.
Space Moose's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/02/2010 14:27
Space Moose
I hate cute zombie games, they piss me off.
Chad Almasy's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/02/2010 14:44
Chad Almasy
Shit, sir, you didn't stear us wrong with Deadly Premonition...I may very well give this one a shot, too.

That's two awesome cheap thrills from you. My penny-pinching roommate would love you.
Solidus187's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/02/2010 14:44
Solidus187
People saying "Lost me at PSP", aren't PSP Minis playable on the PS3 now? I'm not too familiar with the Minis but I believe this is the case, could be wrong though.
DrKoolman's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/02/2010 14:44
DrKoolman
Since this is a mini it can be played on the PS3 now right?
Chad Almasy's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/02/2010 14:46
Chad Almasy
*steer. Darn my spelling.
Chris Carter's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/02/2010 15:05
Chris Carter
Sony is brilliant! 90% of the gaming public have no idea how pap minis works.

Yes, they are playable on the PS3.
Chris Carter's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/02/2010 15:05
Chris Carter
Sony is brilliant! 90% of the gaming public have no idea how psp* minis works.

Yes, they are playable on the PS3.
Keres's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/02/2010 15:06
Keres
"Barry Steakfries"?

Brilliant.
mrblacksuit's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/02/2010 15:21
mrblacksuit
It looks like fun!
matics's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/02/2010 15:32
matics
I was hoping this was for iPhone. Weird huh.
hswbaz's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/02/2010 15:37
hswbaz
@matics

I actually saw the screens and Immediately thought it was an iPhone game.
Hammersmith's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/02/2010 16:04
Hammersmith
I didn't know Mini's could be played on PS3
Mr Andy Dixon's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/02/2010 16:56
Mr Andy Dixon
Well hot damn. Looks like I'm going to be charging up my PSP during Lost tonight so I can download my first Mini. This looks fantastic!
RitualNet's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/02/2010 18:51
RitualNet
What are the controls? It's not a twin-stick shooter, so is it "shoot in the direction you're pointing in"?
Boatz's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/02/2010 19:50
Boatz
Anything with zombies is good in my books.

Also, inb4"OMG THIS SCORED HIGHER THAN HEAVY RAIN"bullshit
DinnertimeNinja's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/02/2010 20:43
DinnertimeNinja
I was considering this, and now, it shall be mine!
Stephen Beirne's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/02/2010 20:45
Stephen Beirne
I'D BUY THAT FOR A DOLLAR
Freequebec86's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/02/2010 22:10
Freequebec86
WTFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF NO 10
Turd Burglin Chodeo Clown's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/03/2010 02:14
Turd Burglin Chodeo Clown
Could you BE any more of a Sony fanboy Jim? You're killing me.
youngskeletor's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/03/2010 03:58
youngskeletor
if it's one stick, you'd better just be navigating your character as he runs backward, otherwise, things will get stupid really fast.

NOBODY RUNS TOWARD A ZOMBIE.

i don't know if i like the cutesy art direction. the campy evil dead spoofage is what bothered me most about burn zombie burn, and while ZA was slighly more serious, the mechanics were garbage compared to BZB.

i'd rather play NAZI ZOMBIES over any of them really. now those were classic one-liners and ethnic stereotypes!
Khelric's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/03/2010 22:44
Khelric
Is it just me or does Barry Steakfries bear a resemblance to Jim?
omnislayer's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/05/2010 16:06
omnislayer
Wow an actual PSP review. 1 down 3 more to go for the year haha.
DarkReaper's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/07/2010 17:25
DarkReaper
Do I win?
PySk's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/07/2010 17:28
PySk
8.0
Syncmaster's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/06/2010 00:48
Syncmaster
I enjoyed this game a lot. its pretty addictive, you just cant let it go until is finished. even my girlfriend finished in one sitting. and thats the only problem with the game, it feels a little short. but man, it BEGS for multiplayer. if it had multi in that survival mode I could get many many hours of more fun out of it.
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petersonpol's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/29/2010 18:46
petersonpol
This game is brilliant :)

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petersonpol's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/29/2010 18:47
petersonpol
This game is brilliant :)

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youbetcha's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/03/2010 14:10
youbetcha
This game is crazy; just a dumb zombie shooter for big dumb zombie fans. <a href="http://www.coachlikeapro.com/">Coaching Youth Basketball</a>
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