The great thing about indie games is that they provide us with reminders that graphics, physics engines, and all that other stuff isn't what makes a game. They tend to have solid game mechanics for the simple reason that they absolutely have to. It's like when a band turns down the volume and has to show that they actually know how to play their instruments. The other great thing about them is that the remind us of this for far less money than a bad major release.
I MAED A GAM3 W1TH Z0MB1ES!!!1 is a great example of how less can be more. The art and animation is simple like an early Adult Swim cartoon and exudes the same sense of fun. The soundtrack is appropriately kitschy and the first song is splendidly descriptive. "Welcome to my game. I put zombies in it for your pain. They come shambling out from the sides. You better shoot them or your gonna die..." Usually if a soundtrack is doing it's job it'll be seamlessly integrated and unnoticable but in this case I don't think there's a better way to sum up the fun vibe of this game.
Of course, it's not all just songs that sound like your friends goofing around in your basement; the game mechanics are all there. "Horde mode," "survival mode," whatever you call it, it's everywhere right now and it isn't really being done well all that often. Z0MB1ES!!!1 however, has managed to create a great pace with enough variation to keep it interesting. The waves spawn juuust right, the resources disappear at intervals that feel natural and the weapons themselves all feel distinct and have their own strengths and weaknesses. The biggest problem I have with this mode is that it tends to drag, it might be a convenient excuse but I'd say most of my deaths occur due to boredom and exhaustion. Z0MB1ES manages to mix up environments enough to keep it interesting though and introduces other enemies like amoebas and wisp-esque balls of light. Their disco breakdowns are one case where I don't mind the seizure inducing light flashes, as it's actually intended to be an obstacle and not merely misguided art direction.
At 80 Microsoft Points for the full version you could skip the trial but go ahead and download it anyway. I bet you'll feel the compulsive need to buy the full version after the first time the trial over screen butts into your hot streak.
Comments
suchhh a great game, haha.
Wow this game caught me totally off guard!!! Its totally worth the 80 points, such a low price for such a fun game.
yeah ino im gettin the high score @_@ mememememememememememememememememememememem soooook on that u duck fukin tube :) kiddin on good game thou init add me XxKAMAKAZIExX1
Best indie game out there right now!
This is an awesome game. After playing the demo so much, i had to own it!! 2 thumbs up!
played for an hour last night and got my high score to 800,000! more fun than some of the big titles
i enjoiiid dis g4m3
i love the song lmfao its awesomeeee
where can i download this song? just the song... JUST THE SONG =p xxx
http://www2.mp3raid.com/search/download-mp3/10189464/i_made_a_game_with_...
You can download the song at James Silva's own site (search google for "download maed s0ng w1th z0mb1es" - it is currently the first result) . Just don't forget to pay a dollar for it at the Xbox Live Indie Games ;)
Seriously, best dollar i ever spent, EVER!!! To hell with a whopper jr.
Awesome game and I find myself singing the song at work....totally worth 80 xb points
Looks remarkably like Crimsonland.
one of the best games ever to be made
the song is so retarded its halarious
one of the stupidest most ridiculous games ever made, with the added addiction that keeps you coming back for more, god bless this game
I want this game if for no other reason than the song is fricking AWESOME!
the balls of light are asteroids...centipede is in there too
Great game, THE BEST SONG EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Seriously? You want good music? Checkout the game Battle Tanks or Adrenaline.
funnest game evar.
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