New Year = New Walking Dead Details

Dave Brown



It is a new year and with it with find ourselves inching ever closer to one of the big zombie games of this year, Activision's The Walking Dead video game.  Last time we talked about it, it was revealed that Darryl and Merle would be faithfully recreated in the game. Since this news, there has been little on the news front concerning the game as Activision has been deathly quiet.  That was the case until last week when a leaked video surfaced showing the gameplay.


The footage shows the player as Daryl Dixon taking out zombies in an undisclosed small town. According to sources at Activision, the game is supposed to take place before the TV series and before Daryl and Merle meet up with Rick and the rest of the survivors.
While this video doesn't show a lot, it does give us a lot of hope that this is going to be the next great zombie video game we are all looking for. Stay tuned to Zombies & Toys as we will be delivering the latest news on this game as it comes to us.

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.

XBOX LIVE ARCADE Black Friday Deals

Todd Jepperson

Listen, maybe some of you enjoy waiting in the freezing cold for hours, days, maybe even weeks for screamin' deals the day after Thanksgiving. Maybe, but, that crap's not for me. However, sitting in my underwear, on the couch in front of my flat screen, browsing Black Friday deals on XBOX LIVE ARCADE... now we're talking! What's even better, the deals start today!

Some of the more zombie friendly offerings this year include Dead Island and Left4Dead2 (1600 MS points/$20 USD; or £14.99/£11.99, respectively) and a whole horde of DLC, including Darksiders II, for as much as half off.

 

For a more complete list of everything up for grabs, check out the XBOX LIVE ARCADE Marketplace, or to just take a peek at the list, head over to the Examiner.

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. 

Serious Sam 3 Review

David Brown

 

 

I love zombies, if I didn't I would be writing for this great site.  I have come to expect a lot of games nowadays that do justice to zombies and nothing else.  I do however like to coast into the world of shooters from time to time as I love the action that they bring, and what better game to do that then one that has enemies that are as mindless and unforgiving as zombies.

 

As the picture above shows, that game is Serious Sam 3:BFE for the Xbox 360 and Playstation Network.  Action fans, FPS fans and PC gamers have known of the Serious Sam franchise for a while and this iteration does the series justice. The synopsis for the game is simple:

 

Serious Sam 3: BFE is a glorious throwback to the golden age of first-person shooters where men were men, cover was for amateurs, and pulling the trigger made things go boom. Brutally fast-paced action, massive shootouts, and thrilling cooperative play make for the most explosive Serious Sam game ever! Contains the full single-player and cooperative campaign modes.

 

This is a game that will keep you on your toes and hone your senses for the upcoming zombie apocalypse.  Many of your actions will trigger hoardes of enemies to descend on you.  I use hoard lightly as you will be encountering minitaurs, headless gunners and even kamikaze enemies with bombs for hands.  The action is fast paced and you will have to stay focused if you want to survive.

 

 

The controls in Serious Sam 3:BFE are very tight and I never found lag at all.  I was able to switch weapons quickly and easily in battle and only died because of my slow reflexes and not from terrible controls. 

 

The sound is pretty good with enough explosions and wails to have you on edge for a majority of the game.  The weapons in this game are varied and each handles differently so you can always have something that works for your particular situation.

 

My only complaint about the game is that it takes a while to load. In a game where you will die often it is not fun to have to wait 10-15 seconds to reload.  This minor complaint aside this is a fun game.

 

There may not be zombies, but there are plenty of ghouls and demons to keep you busy for hours. If you don't want to think of this as a game, simply think of it as a zombie reflex training program.  I really like this game and recommend it to anyone who wants a fast paced game with lots of blood and explosions.  Pick up your copy today.



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.

Dead Island Super Review

David Brown

If you are an avid reader of the site, you will no doubt remember all of the fun coverage that we have had in regards to a little game by the name of Dead Island. We have brought you story points, videos, character info and even preorder bonus information. Now that the game is out none of that really matters. The one big question on everyone’s mind is whether or not the game is fun and worth the price of admission?

Before I get too far into this review let me make a few points. First, I played this game on the Xbox360 so there will be some differences in the quality from the PC or PS3 versions. I am also playing a version that has been updated with all of the latest patches, so a lot of the initial issues being reported have been fixed for the most part. I am also for the sake of this review going to be bypassing the online portion of the game in order to give you a more streamlined review.

Dead Island is ultimately what you make of it. Before you start to play it don’t think that this is going to be another Dead Rising or Left 4 Dead clone. Dead Island is ultimately a mix between action and RPG elements but more on this later. When you begin the game you are greeted by a cut-scene where you see the night when all hell breaks loose on the island, to the song “Who Do You Voodoo”. This scene does a good job of showing you all of the characters that you will soon be able to play as. The graphics in this scene do a good job of setting you up for what you will see throughout the game.

After the cut-scene you are taken to the character selection scene where you are able to choose between four different characters. You choice on this screen will help determine the way you will play and the weapons that you will best be able to utilize. Upon selecting your character you are placed in the resort hotel and the gameplay begins. You are introduced to the basic controls and then out of nowhere the infected attack and you are forced to flee. You are unprotected the whole time, so it is definitely a great moment when you first get to pick up a weapon and help fight off the infected.

The first question you are probably asking is how does the game control? There are two control methods to choose from: digital or analog. With the digital controls you utilize the right trigger to swing your weapon, whereas with the analog controls your swings coincide with your movements on the right analog stick. Most of my playtime was spent with the digital controls and I had no complaints. Controls seemed very responsive and I was able to hit all body parts that I was targeting when using either control option.

If there is one thing that this game excels at it is creating an atmosphere coherent with that of a great horror movie. There are many moments where you will be scared when an infected islander latches on to you and you must fight to free yourself from their grasp. The moment when you are going into a building or down a path and hear the moan of the infected is truly a nerve racking one indeed. Speaking of the infected, they come in both slow and fast varieties as well as a few special ones strewn about that truly make for some nerve racking situations.

Dead Island airs on the side of realism by utilizing a stamina system that many will find annoying at first (that is until you realize that kicking doesn’t use stamina). The weapons you pick up also have to be constantly repaired or they will break and you will be left to use your bare hands to take down the infected. These are a few minor annoyances that will serve to aggravate you until you can learn the intricacies of the game. One annoyance for many will be the respawn system. When you die you do not have to reload a checkpoint, you just lose money and are respawned near the point of your death with full health. The issue begins when you realize that you are left with weapons that have been used and may be unhelpful.

Another nice touch to the game is its leveling system. You gain experience as you kill the infected and complete quests so there is always something to do to ever push you forward. As you gain a level you not only get more life and stamina but you also get to select special skills from one of three categories to level up. There is a certain degree of grinding if you want to reach level 50, but there is always enough to keep you busy and entertained whether it be slicing through the infected with a customized machete or running through them with a reinforced vehicle.

The cut-scenes in the game are quite good, but there are minor graphical glitches from time to time. You will sometimes see a zombie stuck in a wall or clipping through a door. You will also notice that with your characters the kicking animations seem a bit off. Draw distances are sometimes off too resulting in graphics not fully rendering right away or having mountains pop-up out of nowhere. These are minor issues, but is one that needed to be touched upon There is also a bit of an issue where you will be playing by yourself one minute and then joined mysteriously by the other three characters during in game cut-scenes.

Overall this is a great game. Many of the glitches that occurred during the initial release have been patched to the point where they are no longer issues. To get the most out of this game you must go into it looking at it as an adventure game. You will be going through the game having to plan your kills and sometimes run from fights. Dead Island is a game where the simple run and gun will no longer work. You will find 20+ hours of fun killing the infected, crafting weapons, helping survivors and trying to survive your stay on the island. If you enjoy a good adventure game and the feeling of needing to survive at all costs then run out and pick up this game. Dead Island will make a great addition to the library of anyone with a PS3, XBOX360 or PC.

Dead Island Comic Gives Character Backstories

David Brown

The final countdown has begun! In six days Dead Island will be unleashed upon the masses and we here at Zombies & Toys are excited for the release as much as all of you are. In the spirit of the release, Marvel has released a digital comic. Originally available as an exclusive at Comic Con it is now here for everyone to view. The comic is available here and helps shed a lot of light on the backstories of the four main characters that you can choose between. Stay tuned to our site as we will continue to give you as much information as we can get leading up to the release.

Call of Duty Rezurrects on XBox August 23rd

Matt Boiselle

If you are a Call of Duty: Black Ops junkie, then get ready to start feeling the shakes !! Breaking loose on XBox Live August 23rd, this newest version subtitled Rezurrection will offer downloadable content at an affordable tag price of 1200 MS points or $ 15 bucks. Here is what you get (talk about bang for the buck !) - 3 all new re-mastered levels of zombie gore including Nacht der Untoten, Verrukt, Shi No Numa and Der Riese, the zombie factory that started it all, and an all new " Moon" level. Also sporting an enhanced zombie soundtrack and a new zombies moon theme, this content will be available to you if you already own the Hardened or Prestige releases, if not then it will cost you the aforementioned price. Sounds like a small price to pay to start wasting zombies on the moon!!

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.

Call Of Duty: Black Ops

Andy Ross

New Zombies Map “Call Of The Dead”

Anyone who has played the latest iteration of the Call Of Duty series knows that one of the best features is the Zombies mode. On May 3rd a new map will be available as a part of the Escalation Downloadable Content (DLC) for Xbox 360 as a timed exclusive (PS3 and PC to come later). A special flavor added to the map is that it features some pretty well known faces. Robert Englund, Danny Trejo, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Michael Rooker and George Romero are featured in this zombie-filled bullet fest.

Below is the slick trailer introducing what will probably be the best part of the DLC map pack. Five maps comprise the pack (4 regular and 1 zombies) and it will cost 1200 Microsoft Points ($15). Hope to see you on the battlefield!

“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

Dead Space 2 Demo Review

David Brown



How many of you have played Dead Space? If you haven’t, first, I would like to say go out and play this game!  Especially if you consider yourself a fan of survival horror. That being said, next month will mark the release of Dead Space 2. With excitement, I logged on to my XBOX 360 last week and found the demo for Dead Space 2. I must say, if this demo is anywhere near the levels that the finished product will be then consider me sold already. There are many marked improvements that can already be seen from the first game. Namely, weapon management seems to have been tightened so it is now easier than ever to change your weapons and sever limbs from the infected.

If you not familiar with Dead Space, I can tell you that you are fighting the infected crew of a spaceship who have turned into monsters.  These monsters can only be killed by extreme dismemberment (think 2 or more limbs, and head shots don’t put them down for good). Also, from what I could see, the environment has been expanded to a whole space station and not a mere spaceship. The world is bigger but the hallways and corridors that you traverse still evoke a sense of fear that many other games can not. There were multiple times during the demo when I admittedly jumped, which is something that a lot of other games have not made me do. The other big change from this game to the last is that we finally hear our protagonist and see his face for the first time, and the voice acting here is top notch.


I wish there was more that I could say about this game, but the demo we are given is unfortunately very short and leaves you on a cliffhanger. If you want to experience the joys of the demo, you may do so now by going to the xbox live marketplace or the playstation store and downloading it for yourself. Look back near the end of next month for a full review of the game when it is released.

Dead Rising 2 DLC Gets Release Date

David Brown

If you are a fan of the game Dead Rising 2 and own an XBOX 360, then tomorrow will be a very exciting day for you. As reported by g4tv as well as ign.com, Dead Rising 2: Case West will be releasing tomorrow, December 27th, exclusively on XBOX 360. It will be available for the price of 800 Microsoft Points, and will bring back the main character of the original Dead Rising, Frank West. The downloadable content will focus on Frank and the protagonist of Dead Rising 2, Chuck Greene, as they infiltrate the Phenotrans Facility in order to find the origins of the zombie plague and clear Chuck’s name. The best thing about this downloadable content is that it will allow for two player co-op. There will also be the fun ability to combine weapons as seen in Dead Rising 2. All of these details make this a game to watch for. I will be providing a review when the DLC launches.

Left 4 Dead Online Comic

A few months back, Valve released "The Passing" for Left 4 Dead 2.  This new downloadable content was the first time we were treated to the crossing of paths of survivors from both Left 4 Dead games.  The follow-up to this DLC will be released on October 5th.  "The Sacrifice" will be will tell the tale from the point of view of our first group of survivors.  This new content is somewhat of a prequel and shows us the events that lead up to The Passing.

In preparation of this new story, Valve is releasing a digital comic book.  There will be a 40 page release each Tuesday leading up the launch of The Sacrifice.  Already released, The Sacrifice Part One can be seen... HERE.

Plants vs Zombies Unknown Facts

Plants vs Zombies is now available for Xbox Live in all of its hi-definition glory.  I was uncertain if I would enjoy it as much considering I played the heck out of it on my computer.  Two hours later, I realized it was even more fun on the big screen.  There is a bunch of new play modes and the mouseless gameplay translated better than I anticipated.  I even caved and bought the premium Plants vs Zombies theme package.

So now that PvZ is back in the news, I thought I'd share an article posted at OC Weekly that tells us about some little-known PvZ facts.

*  The game was originally planned to be called "Lawn of the Dead".  This was obviously a pun of the 1978 George Romero zombie film Dawn of the Dead. Due to legal reasons, the title had to be changed to the current Plants vs. Zombies.

*  Senior game designer, George Fan, had three game influences when desigining Plants vs Zombies:  Warcraft III, Insaniquarium, and Tapper.

*  Another inspiration for the gameplay mechanics of Plants vs Zombies comes from the movie Swiss Family Robinson.

*  The song "Loonboon" is inspired by composer Laura Shigihara's cat named Metroid.  The stages that use the song are chaotic, so she drew inspiration for the writing the song by watching her cat running around the house, jumping off walls, and playing with his toy mouse.

*  The development team wanted to use aliens as enemies of the game.  This was later changed to zombies because players are able to react more easily to the slow movement of zombies.

*  One of the enemies that had to be cut from the final version of the game is the zombie dog. 

*  The zombies' movement is based off of the The Finnish Disco:

Plants vs Zombies To Kill Zombie

Those of you smart enough to play Plants vs Zombies or lucky enough to win one of the many copies we have given away right here know all about a certain dancing zombie. The zombie in question just so happens to be wearing a glittery glove, red with black trim leather suit, and dances around in his black shoes with white socks. Sure, there's a certain similarity but it's all in good fun.

Well, the estate of one Michael Jackson seems to think that PopCap Games has gone too far. They have asked PopCap to remove the dancing zombie from future installments of the game including the upcoming Xbox Live version. PopCap has confirmed the actions of Jackson's estate by releasing the following statement:

"After receiving this objection, PopCap made a business decision to retire the original 'dancing zombie' and replace it with a different 'dancing zombie' character for future builds of Plants vs. Zombies on all platforms."

Bummer... maybe the new version will feature a dancing zombie blogger. Perhaps one who also likes toys? I'm a busy guy, PopCap, but I can make myself available if needed.