2009 looks to be a great year for zombie video games with several titles already on their way. And since we know most zombie video game fans think of the year in quarters, like an accountant, it's time for the 2009's 1st quarter video round up!
February:
House of the Dead: Overkill [Wii]
Release date: February 10, 2009
When you play a House of the Dead game, you know pretty much what you're going to get: a rail shooter game where you'll need to aim and remember to reload (the hardest part). Visually, House of the Dead: Overkill promises a "grindhouse" feel to the game, which may elevate the title above an otherwise usually predictable series.
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Gameplay:
Onechanbara: Bikini Samurai Squad [XBOX 360] Onechanbara: Bikini Zombie Slayers [Wii]
Release date: February 10, 2009
Japan has enjoyed Onechanbara for years, with several titles available on Playstation. The popularity of the game is so huge it prompted a feature film. Now, for the first time, North America can enjoy playing asbikini=clad women fighting zombies on their Play...er, no, ah, XBOX 360 and Wii. Okay. While both games are supposedly different, so anyone with both consoles can try to figure out the difference (besides the titles). For a bunch of trailers for both games, go here, or watch different ones below.
Wii Trailer:
XBOX Trailer (for the Japanese version of the same game:
Co-op Gameplay:
Dead Rising: Chop 'Til You Drop [Wii]
Release date: February 24, 2009
Kudos, Nintendo. Dead Rising: Chop 'Til You Drop marks the third zombie game released for the console in one month. For those that have played the game before on the XBOX, Chop 'Til You Drop will look similar with two small exceptions: less zombies and no photography. Wii has dropped the photography altogether, which is odd for a game about a photographer trying to document a zombie outbreal. If the Resident Evil 4 engine doesn't have it, why build it, eh Nintendo? Zing! Relax, you're still our hero for releasing three titles.
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March:
Resident Evil 5 [PS3 and XBOX 360]
Release date: March 13, 2009
XBOX and PS3 users have already had a chance to play the demo, to mixed reaction. Read our demo review here. Despite what issues players may find with the game, Resident Evil 5 is one of the most anticipated games of the year.
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Upcoming:
With an eye to the future, here are some of the zombie games of the future!
DEAD ISLAND [XBOX 360, PC]
Release date: N/A
Originally slated to release at the end of 2008, news about Dead Island has been, well, dead. Techland is producing the game, and has a website for it with no information on it whatsoever. Still, the game intrigues: a non-linear FPS which allows you to take anything from the environment and use it to kill the zombies that live on the island where you''ve just crash-landed. It's like taking the best part of Dead Rising (killing zombies with whatever is laying around) and pushing that to the forefront. No multiplayer, so far, is planned for Dead Island, but then again, who knows what's been planned since there has been no news on this game for months.
Burn, Zombie, Burn [Playstation Download]
Release date: N/A
Coming soon for download from the Playstation Network is the old-school arcade homage Burn, Zombie, Burn. ""It’s more an arena based shooter/brawler, with a heavy emphasis on arcade score chasing," senior designer Ollie Barder told Wired. The game definitely looks like one that you could have played in an arcade back when there were arcades. It reminscent of playing Gauntlet, only that damn Wizard will not constantly require food.
Zombie Massacre [Wii]
Release Date: N/A
This Wii exclusive is Nintendo's answer to Left 4 Dead. A blend of Crazy Taxi and House of the Dead, Zombie Massacre will allow up to 4 players to drive and shoot zombies as they try to beat the clock and deliver a nuclear warhead to the center of the city. The game will use both the Nunchuk and Wii-mote, with one controlling driving and the other controlling the variety of weapons one may use to destroy the sombie hordes. It will also support the Wii-wheel and Wii Zapper Accessories.
The release date for Zombie Massacre is still not finalized, but that hasn't stopped interest in the game to start growing. Uwe Boll is already prepping a film adaptation. Sorry, we're serious. Production starts this year.
To learn more, check out this interview.
