Video Game Zombies: Different yet Exactly the Same

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Editor's note: I'll admit that I find something alluring about zombies -- that creeping death now only a shell of its former self intrigues my imagination. I'm not alone, either, since so many developers work the walking undead into their games on a regular basis. Jordan demonstrates just how diverse their characterization can be. -Rob

The quickest way to receive a collective groan from the gaming community is to announce that a new title will feature zombies. Like World War 2 shooters, zombie games can be incredibly fun, but the concept quickly goes stale when we're flooded with undead mayhem.

With so many developers trying to squeeze zombies into their games, it is surprising how remarkably different the brain-hungry creepers can be. Who knew the idea of absent-minded, rotting hominids could be so diversely interpreted?

Read on for a list of games that show completely different takes on this classic monster.

Ate My Neighbors

Zombies Ate My Neighbors (Gensis, SNES)

Like a classic B-grade horror film, these ghoulish -- but surprisingly well-dressed -- creatures are your typical “terrorize the town” zombies. They blindly follow the player and their dim-witted neighbors in hopes of gnawing on their femurs.

resident evil 4

Resident Evil (DS, GameCube, PC, PlayStation, PSN, Saturn, Wii)

It would suck to live in the Resident Evil universe. The series provides multiple methods to create entire zombie armies, so if one fails, a different ne’er-do-well will (try to) finish the job.

They have a Progenitor Virus, T-Virus, G-Virus, and parasites to control their victims’ minds and (if they’re lucky) gruesomely transform them into gigantic, tentacle-flailing monsters.

Stubbs

Stubbs the Zombie (Mac, PC, XBLA, Xbox)

What!? I’m the zombie? That’s preposterous…brains.

Playing as the enemy can totally change a gamer’s perspective. Zombies are simply misunderstood.

For instance, Stubbs just wants revenge on his murderer, Otis (his girlfriend’s father), and creating an undead army is the most efficient method. Plus, he’s driven by Cupid’s arrow to spend the rest of his “life” with his soon-to-be-zombified love, Maggie. Aww....

Dead Rising

Dead Rising (Wii, X360)

Sometimes, slow, lumbering zombies are the best ones.

When mutated wasps turn a city’s population into a mindless horde and you’re stuck inside a kick-ass shopping mall or casino, you've only one thing to do: Satisfy your primitive, caveman-like urges by violently beating zombies with literally anything you can pick up.

Also, there’s a clown with chainsaws.

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Rob Savillo

July 28, 2010 07:42

Very diverse list! I like that you included Zombies Ate My Neighbors. I loved that game growing up. Right now, I'm hooked on a little roguelike called Rogue Survivor, which challenges the player with surviving the zombie apocalypse.

I also notice an interesting mix of fast and slow zombies. Where do you come down in that debate?

Jordan Snyder

July 28, 2010 09:44

Thanks! You know, as long as the developer properly balances the game, I don't have a preference between fast and slow zombies. If they're sprinting at you, the game should give you a generous amount of ammo or high-damage weapons. If the zombies are slow, you shouldn't feel overpowered. Resident Evil games usually have scarce ammunition, which helps build the intensity.

Mark V.

August 05, 2010 07:54

As for Plants vs. Zombies, according to TVTropes, the concept of the game can be said as some kind of extreme form of decomposition.