The Walking Dead "Survival Instinct" Update

David Brown

Many of you know about the game The Walking Dead by Telltale Games that has been releasing episodes for a few months now.  That game is a great game and is deserving of all of the praise that it has gotten thus far.  The biggest concern that a lot of people have had, including myself is that it included locations and characters from the show, but the protagonist was not one of those main few we were familiar with. 

Activision is looking to change that next year with their newest video game inspired by "The Walking Dead". Titled "The Walking Dead 'Survival Instinct'" this game allows players to assume the role of Daryl Dixon.  According to Activision when describing the game:

It is a first-person survival title takes place within the universe of “The Walking Dead” and before the events of the AMC show, following Daryl and his brother Merle on a gruesome journey to reach the supposed safety of Atlanta as the world around them ends. Reedus and Rooker will bring life to their characters' desperate, unforgiving struggle against limited resources, the nightmarish walkers and, perhaps, their fellow survivors...

The best news of all came today when it was announced that Norman Reedus and Michael Rooker would be reprising their roles as Daryl and Merle for the game. This is exciting news and if it is an indicator of what is to come there is much excitement in the future.  Stay tuned to Zombies & Toys for continued coverage of The Walking Dead "Survival Instinct" and watch for the game to drop next year on Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and Windows PC.

Call of Duty: Black Ops II Zombies Review

Dave Brown

We have been talking a lot about Call of Duty: Black Ops II for the past few weeks and now that the game is out,  we finally get the chance to ask if it is worth the price of admission or not.  Activision has been so gracious as to give us a copy of the game for the purpose of this review. I would like to take a look at each of the different modes in the game ultimately, but would like to start with a mode that has been close to our hearts for a while now, the zombies mode.

The Zombies mode in Call of Duty: Black Ops II is a much more fleshed out experience than it has been in previous releases. In the zombies mode you can choose to do the story centric Tranzit mode, the Survival mode, or the new 8 player Grief mode. 

Tranzit is the so called meat and potatoes of Zombies mode as it allows you to traverse an open world setting finding all of the mysteries that the map has to offer all the while avoiding the hoardes of the undead that are following right at your heels.  In Tranzit you and up to three other players start out in the bus terminal on a ruined earth.  The dead have overrun everything and all you have at your disposal are your combat knife and a handgun.  It is up to you to find the weapons to survive from this point on.

As in the past games, as you kill zombies you gain point that can be used to purchase weapons, purchase powerups or access parts of the map that are locked.  In Tranzit mode you have two very important new additions to your survival plan. The first is the zombie bus which will allow you safe passage from one part of the map to the next, but is also succeptable to zombies attacks. The bus can also be upgraded with parts that are scattered around the map allowing for ladders which will allow roof access and various other add ons.

The second addition is buildables.  As mentioned earlier with the bus, you have the ability to find items scattered throughout the map. These items can be combined at workbenches around the map and used to create a number of different things including a tool that will open locked doors without the need for points in some cases. Tranzit is a fun mode, but be cautioned that you will have a very hard time if you choose to go alone.

If you don't feel like discovering the mysteries that lie within Tranzit you can play the survival maps, which function much in the same way that they have in the past, these are very fun maps that lend themselves to fast action and a dash of strategy.  The other mode that you can try out is the Grief mode.  This new mode allows two teams of four to take over a map and fight with or against each other against the undead.  The ultimate goal of this mode is for one team to be left standing.

You cannot just kill the other team members though, you must make them die from the zombies. All the team work in the world will allow you to survive far into the waves, but at the end of it all the question becomes when to choose to turn on the other team and fight your way to survival and victory.

With this all being said, I can enthusiastically say that Call of Duty:Black Ops II Zombies mode is everything that fans of the previous games asked for and so much more.  There is enough to keep even the most seasoned hunter busy for a while.  The tight controls and great ambiant sounds keep you in the action and you will be on edge the whole time.  Run out and pick up this game today. This is just one mode and there is so much to offer, the multiplayer and single player mdoes are great additions that all create one hit game. 

Call of Duty is available now on PC, Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 systems and retails for $59.99.  Stay tuned to the blog as we further follow this game through the add ons and if you are lucky we may even throw in a few surprise announcements along the way.

Skylander Giants Review

David Brown

For those of us whom are zombie fans, the Activision company name is one that is synonymous with the decimation of the hoardes of the undead.  They have built a name from the Call of Duty franchise and further broadened their horizons with the Zombies subgame that many of us have played and loved. They are now bringing us a game that younger generations can enjoy while we mow through the undead mencae.

Last year Activision released Skylanders Spyro's Adventure for the Wii, Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 to cater to younder audiences. It was a big hit because of its great gameplay and the interchangeable characters that could be purchased to expand your game.  This month they have released Skylanders Giants, a game which they are anticipating to be a hot seller this holiday season.

In Skylanders Giants, players assume the role of the portal master as they utilize their skylanders in order to battle the evil Portal Master Kaos and his many minions. This time around Activision has added 16 new characters, new LightCore technology and new worlds to explore.  This begs the question, is it fun to play?

The game is compatible with last year's game, but if you haven't played before, you will need to pick up a starter kit, which features a portal (a shown above), the game and three characters.  The portal is your method of transporting characters into the game world.  It is interesting to see it glow with "power" as it is plugged in to your gaming system.  When you begin the game you are instructed to pick one of your Skylanders and place them on the portal. Upon doing so, they are scanned into the game world and you are ready to play. 

 

The figures themselves all hold the information about their in-game progress. This is intriguing as you can level your characters up and take them to another place where the game is and all of your character information will be accessible, this includes leveling information as well as gold supply.  These figures are a fun form of collectible that is not only fun to look at but useful in game as well.  The figures are detailed and you can tell care was put into their design.  But this means nothing if the gameplay is not up to par.

 

 

The controls in Skylanders Giants are simplified to accomidate younger players. The face buttons are responsible for the various attacks and the control stick moves your character around.  This is not a game of platforming prowess, but more-so one of strategy and proper character utilization.  In each level, you have objectives, not only for level completion, but for item collection and overall efficiency.  There are certain areas that can only be accessed by certain Skylanders, so this can cause some problems if you don't have certain characters.  There are eight different character types and unfortunately in the starter pack you only get three, so there will be areas of the game world that you cannot access.

 

Skylanders is a game not only of action, but of good puzzle solving skills.  There are a number of areas where you must unlock doors that are locked with puzzles or create paths to get through the level and these offer a good challenge while not turning away any specific player groups.  The atmosphere is kid friendly as their are many bright shiney color and the dialogue, while sometimes repetitive, is enjoyable by younger audiences.  I found myself having a lot of fun with this game despite it being for younger audiences. 

 

If you have children and want a game that isn't overly violent for them, get this game.  It will give them something fun to play while you are erradicating zombies in Call of Duty.  Skylanders is available now from Activision on the Xbox 360, Wii, 3DS and Playstation 3. It will also be available for the Wii U system in the future. It may not have zombies (although it does have an undead class), but it is still a fun diversion for kids and adults alike.



Dishonored Review

David Brown



Bethesda has always been a company that knows how to deliever an epic storyline that gives players the freedom to choose how they complete a mission.  In Dishonored you are a royal protector who is framed for murder and kidnapping.  It is your mission to get revenge on those that wronged you and try to find the princess who was kidnapped. 

If you are unfamiliar with Bethesda, you can see our review of Fallout 3: Vegas here to see just how grandiose their games can be.  From the minute you start Dishonored you are engrossed in the storyline.  This game is played from a first person perspective that helps to draw you in. You get a steampunk style victorian setting where guards are not your only worry.

This game is one of choice, you can choose to take enemies out head on in battles where that will see you blocking, parrying, and attacking with various weapons and magic.  The enemies in this game can quickly outnumber you if you aren't careful and combat can you tense.  If you don't feel like fighting Dishonored also allows you to utilize stealth to complete your objectives.  I was able to get through the first section of the game by only killing one enemy.

The controls in this game are very similar to many first person shooters, but I have to say that I haven't seen such tight controls in a long time.  The controls make it easy to drop down from a vantage point silently and sneak up behind your enemies. From here  you can pickpocket them, kill them or render them unconscious. 

The question arises from here, why even care about killing or just knocking out guards.  The answer comes in the form of rats.  The rats in Dishonored carry the plague virus and when in large enough numbers can devour flesh off a human being with rapid pace.  The more that you kill in this game the more rats that will begin to populate the world.  You will also see the world grow darker in order to reflect your actions. Know this brings us to the question of why we would review this game on a zombie-related site?

The answer comes in the form of plague victims.  As I stated there are many plague rats that fill the streets infecting unlucky citizens.  These plague victims become very disoriented and will attack with viciousness.  They want to hurt you.  The more you kill, the more the plague will overtake the city and the more enemies that you will come across.  The plague throws out shades of a virus and the rapidity that it spreads throughout a populous once a proper catalyst is in place.

As for the rest of Dishonored I will say that the soundtrack is amazing and that the dialogue is spot on in many situations that I have come across.  The general atmosphere is dark in the streets and luminous in the target areas. You will see the dire environment around you and want nothing more than to make things right. 

In regards to length all I will say is that this is a Bethesda game.  With that I mean that you will not be completing this in a few settings.  You can easily put many hours into this game as it keeps the action at a reasonable pace.  This game may not have zombies in the typcial sense, but the plague victims that litter the streets make this a game where you must avoid the infected in order to make your mission a bit easier.  We see moral choice upfront in this game and that creates the immersive environment that makes this game an instant hit. The game is currently available for Windows PC, Xbox 360 and Playstation 3.  Go out and pick this one up and get revenge on those that 'Dishonered; you. 

Zombie Driver HD Plows Onto Xbox Live Today

David Brown

Are you a fan of games where you can drive fast and spread destruction? Are you a fan of games where you can kill zombies with a number of different weapons?   Do you love frantic action? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then I have a new game for you.  Zombie Driver HD is a newly released game from Exor Studios that puts you in the role of driver during the zombie apocalypse.  The army is quickly being overrun and the zombie hoards are starting to take over the streets. It is up to you to utilize the various vehicles and weapons at your disposal to decimate the zombie menace as best as you can.

 

To say that the zombies in Zombie Driver HD are plentiful is an understatement at best. From the minute you leave the safety of the military base you will encounter hundreds of the shambling dead.  They will come at you fast and hard and come in a number of different varieties.  You can choose to stay on the roads or you can drive through many fences, yard and abandoned parks.  

Along the way you will find a number of weapons to help up the ante from the machine gun, to flame throwers and even a decimating rail gun.  There are so many ways that you can dispatch the dead and so many vehicles to use.  You will find taxis, tanks, and even limousines along the way that will help you in your mission, and more vehicles are unlocked through side missions and the various modes.

 

The game looks great and everything seems very crisp. A minor complaint is that the text in many of the menus seems a little small, even on my HD television, but this doesn't detract from the in game action.  I will say that starting out I was a little taken back by the controls.  There was a bit of getting used to the driving and maneuvering, but after about a half hour I got the hang of the controls.  The vehicles control very tight and each handles differently, so you do have a variety to complement your driving styles.  Like the speed of the vehicles, the game moves very quickly.

The good news is that there are numerous other modes besides the main story mode that will keep you busy for a while.  Every mission has side objectives that range from clearing out a certain area to beating a level with a certain amount of time or percentage of health left.  Exor studios has put a lot of work into this game and it shows throughout.

If you would like to try your hand at Zombie Driver HD, you can find it today on Xbox Live Arcade for 800 points, on PC for $9.99, on Android OS for $6.99 and coming soon to Playstation Network.  Drive on out and pick up this game today, and stay tuned for details concerning a special Zombie Driver HD giveaway later this week.

Dead Island Gets a GOTY Edition June 26

David Brown



Last year the world took a trip to Dead Island. While many reviews were mixed, including those of our writers, nobody can deny that it was a great concept. Many of you have probably had the chance to play through the game and experience the things it had to offer.

For those of you that did not, there is hope.  According to our friends over at Joystiq, Deep Silver will be releasing a Game of the Year Edition on June 26.  The edition will include the Dead Island game as well as all 3 DLC packs whcih include "The Ryder White Episode" "Bloodbath Arena" and "The Ripper Weapon". 

So far over three million copies of the game have sold worldwide and it doesn't look to end there.  You can pick up the GOTY Edition for $29.99 on PC, Playstation 3 and Xbox 360.

Zombie Apocalypse 2 Announced

David Brown




With E3 in full swing there has been an influx of news on zombie games that will be releasing soon. The latest announcement comes from Konami in the news of Zombie Apocalypse 2. Zombie Apocalypse 2 is the sequel to 2009's Zombie Apocalypse, a game that many grew fond of for its fast paced zombie killing action. It is looking to be released on PlayStation Network and Xbox Live.

The story includes four new heroes must attempt to survive a zombie uprising.The quartet is stranded on a remote island which is under siege from an army of the dead. Using whatever weapons come to hand, the player must scour the island looking for survivors and eliminating the flesh-eaters in order to create safe zones.

As in the first game the player will use both sticks to turn and shoot in all directions. New to Zombie Apocalypse 2 is a new class-based system allows users to switch weapons between each other, and also distribute powers and energy to those that need it. Even though details are still sketchy we do know that it is looking to be released in Quarter 4 of this year. Continue to follow us on the site as we bring you more information on this game as we get it.

“They’re coming to get you, Isaac…” Dead Space 2 Review

Chad Hunter

The undead have haunted us in Pennsylvanian farmhouses; Midwest cities under corporate control and with EA’s Dead Space, the shambling reanimated had found their way into space. Now, with the latest installment in the Dead Space universe, we found ourselves pitted against the resurrected clawing at airlocks and craving our flesh. With Visceral Games and EA’s newest survival horror entry available everywhere today, the question is posed: is Dead Space 2 (DS2) worth the wait or a greater loss than the crew of the Ishimura?


Set your worries for the growing hordes of Necromorphs coming for you. There is no need to ponder the wonder that is Dead Space 2. It is a worthy successor to the Dead Space universe. You will once again find yourself in the role of Isaac Clarke, engineer and unfortunate hero battling the insane, the corrupt, the zealot and the Necromorphs: a race of twisted and savage horrors born from hijacked human flesh and enigmatic alien influence. Dead Space 2 begins with Isaac defenseless and only able to run. Blood pressure will rise. Tensions will grow. DS2 starts off with a pounding pulse and never lets go.

The graphics of Dead Space 2 are beautiful. When you’re not running and gunning for your life, take the time to look around. The scenery of the Sprawl, the colony where the terror begins, is marvelous. While it may be hard to witness the work that goes into the threats attacking Clarke, the detail in the Necromorphs is masterful. Dead Space 2 has to be one of the most visually acclaimed games in a very young 2011.

Dead Space 2’s sounds match its sights. When the plasma cutter fires or the Puker launches a storm of acidic vomit at Clarke, it sounds like it. Every shock of laser or splat of blood and intestine is resounding and clear. The only issue with the sounds in Dead Space 2 is a subjective one. Isaac, who was previously silent in the first game, now speaks. While there is nothing wrong with the voice acting, there was something unique and personifying to the silent protagonist. Beyond that gripe, hearing DS2 is almost as good as seeing it.

The plot is driven by the action and vice versa. You are notified through the game by various personnel of the Sprawl. Fans of the series will be familiar with the theme of Unitology, the mysterious Necromorphs and the ominous Marker. While it is still at times unclear why all Hell breaks loose, it is enough to know and hear the directions and objectives for Clarke. A very nice touch is that the game literally starts right at the end of the downloadable Dead Space: Ignition.


Dead Space 2 controls like a charm. It is well-oiled and moves smoothly and the challenge is never about how to move or guide your character. The single player mission is worth playing repeatedly and the multiplayer does offer unique perspectives. Players can either be human’s moving about various maps or Necromorphs themselves, out to thwart their human counterparts.



Zombie factor?

Dead Space 2 is a great game but how high is its zombie factor? High. Dead Space 2’s application of corpses being brought back for alien purposes in mass hordes gives players the feel of fear. You are put in situations where running is the only sane choice and you can’t. The appeal of the zombie is its mindless, unending pursuit of horrific goals and the nightmare that it was once like us. The necrotic walking abattoirs remind us of just that: we are all potential monsters. Several times in the game, other characters come apart as they realize the nightmare of killing those that were once family and friends. These monsters do not rise from cemeteries or morgues but they crawl from space suits and ships, nonetheless terrifying.


In the end, Dead Space 2 is a gratifying run and a necessary addition to any gaming library. The Xbox 360 and PS3 versions are beautiful and the PS3 Limited Edition offers a download of Dead Space: Extraction for the PS3 Move. The game is fun, frightening and does everything it is supposed to do. Dive into the universe of the Marker, hold on to your sanity and remember that aiming for the head is pointless; dismember, hope and pray.

Support Zombies & Toys with your Amazon.com purchase of Dead Space 2!


Developer: Visceral Games
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Platform: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Window
Release date: January 25, 2011

Some George Romero Contests

Just a heads-up to you, the dear readers, of Zombies & Toys. There are a few contests going on right now where you can win some George Romero swag.

Monstersandcritics.com is giving away a Survival of the Dead poster autographed by George A. Romero and a copy of “The Walking Dead” autographed by Romero and illustrator Charlie Adler. The contest is open to US residents only and concludes on June 24.

I do find it odd that they had Romero autograph a copy of a comic created by Robert Kirkman. Not that I wouldn't want an issue of The Walking Dead autographed by Romero.

The other contest is being offered by DreadCentral.com and is for a slim Playstation 3 autographed by George Romero. Again, I'd like Romero's autograph. And I'd like a slim Playstation 3. I don't, however, think I'd want them mixed together. But did I enter anyway? Heck yeah!

Zombie Tycoon For Playstation Network

The battle for console-zombie-supremecy rages on...

Want to control your own horde of zombies and take over the human race? Of course you do. Previously only available for the PSP, Zombie Tycoon takes the gameplay elements of titles such as Rollercoaster Tycoon and Railroad Tycoon and replaces that junk with zombies! Available on the 29th!