I, Zombie Review

​So Simple, A Zombie Could Do It
By Edwin Velez
​Reviewed on Nintendo Switch
​Released on March 8th, 2018 on Nintendo Switch (Also Available on Xbox One, PS4, PC)
Developer: ​Awesome Games
​Publisher: ​Awesome Games Studio

No longer are zombies the oppressed, no longer are zombies the shooting gallery! It’s time that zeds took over, once and for all. And to do that, we are going to need a walker with some serious brains. I, Zombie lets players take control of the undead, which goes quite against the grain when it comes to the genre. Usually, zombie games are about fighting and surviving against the living dead as opposed to being them. I, Zombie carries this uniqueness into its gameplay as well, being an interactive puzzler of sorts. For only $5, players get test their skills across 30 unique levels. While the experience is short lived, you will certainly get your monies worth, and a bit of fun along the way too.

While I, Zombie may seem like a mobile app port, it isn’t, and it is a good fit on the Switch gameplay wise. You take control of a sole Zombie, who can in turn lead other undead dearly departed persons after converting them with a few well-placed bites. After the humans turn, they are at your beck and call. Each level will feature a set amount of humans that you have to convert. Some levels have you take out a lone scientist in a more stealth like scenario, which changes up the pace a little. Using your newly made allies to your advantage is how you will best complete levels, as some of these humans are armed and ready to put up a fight. If you are alone, most soldiers will be able to step you dead (well, permanently this time) before you get a chance to nibble on them. But, if you take your time to gather a few minions, working as a pack makes you a lot less vulnerable.
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Players have the ability to send all of their horde to attack, to simply follow your moves, or to hold in place. Some levels leave your lead zombie trapped, giving you an already converted allies on the opposite side of the map. Using these commands in strategic ways will allow you to clear a path for your main zed to come out of the shadows and continue his goal of world nom-nom-domination. In the winter themed levels there are snowmen which you and the pack could take cover in, which made for the most dynamic levels yet as they were both stealth and “action” oriented. These 30 levels were easy enough, taking only an hour and a half to two hours total to complete at the most. These levels feature a star ranking system that allows you to try and max your potential with each attempt.  Outside of that there is also a level editor where you can create and play other players levels if you feel inclined to do so. I fooled around with the level editor which offers a solid amount of props to play with, but did not spend much time with it. Regardless, it adds a significant amount of value to the title for such a low entry fee, especially if you like getting creative (and showing it off).

At the budget friendly price, the audio and visuals are about what you would expect. Similar to a mobile game, the looks and sounds are solid, but nothing remarkable really stands out. It gets the job done though, with simple animations keeping things looking lively. I, Zombie is a decent little title, and while fit for any age group, I think it has the potential to be a big hit with a younger audience. Zombies are still all the rage, and the challenges presented here are just right for a younger mindset, making for a scenario that could be just the right amount of difficulty. For me, it was mostly a breeze, but that did not make me opposed to liking it. Like I said, it’s solid, and definitely gets the job done. While not the most intriguing or difficult games, it is a unique and budget friendly option that switches up the standards when it comes to the zombie genre.

*Note: A copy of the game was provided for the purposes of the review.​

Final Score: 7/10

+Budget Friendly Value
+Good Fit for Younger Auidences
+Level Editor

-Underwhelming Audio/Visuals
-Could Use A More Challenging Mapset