- Excellent co-op experience offers great value.
- Offers robust content and deep customization.
- Charming, chaotic twin-stick shooter gameplay.
- Inconsistent difficulty and balancing issues.
- Content limitations lead to repetition over time.
- Low player count and online connectivity issues.
Emotions
Players are highly satisfied with the game's value, replayability, and improved features, especially when played with friends or in co-op. The addictive gameplay loop, variety of weapons, and smooth performance on platforms like Steam Deck contribute to this positive experience, often seen as a worthy expansion or sequel to a beloved classic. Nostalgia for the original game also enhances the overall enjoyment, making it a great purchase.
Joy stems primarily from the game's fun and addictive gameplay, particularly when experienced with friends in co-op. The variety of weapons, characters, maps, and overall chaotic nature of the game provide significant entertainment and replayability. Players also express joy from reliving past experiences and the game's enduring quality.
Nostalgia is strongly driven by reliving childhood memories and past experiences of playing the game on the Xbox 360. Many players recall the game as an iconic favorite couch co-op title from the '360 days'. The availability of the game on PC allows them to revisit these cherished memories and experiences.
Excitement is generated by the game's frantic action and chaotic gameplay, the addition of new content like weapons, enemies, and maps, and its long-awaited release on Steam. Players are also excited by the potential for new features, community growth, and the prospect of a third installment in the franchise. The game's addictive loop and high replay value keep players eagerly engaged.
Disappointment arises from the game's erratic difficulty, perceived repetition during longer sessions, and limited content. A low player count makes finding online matches difficult, leading to a diminished multiplayer experience. Some players also find solo play 'meh' and note issues like specific character/weapon bugs or a lack of distinguishing features compared to its predecessor.
Verdict
Mostly positive
Summary
Positive 96% · Negative 4%. Score: 4 / 100
Positives:
- Players consistently praise the game as an incredibly fun, addictive, and replayable experience, especially when played with friends in co-op (local or online). Many highlight its enduring quality, comparing it favorably to its Xbox 360 origins and noting its exceptional value for its low price.
- Players appreciate the extensive variety offered, including a large roster of unique characters with different abilities, an impressive arsenal of over a hundred weapons, and stat-boosting hats. This wealth of choices allows for diverse playstyles and significant replay value.
- The game's straightforward mechanics (move, shoot, survive, upgrade) make it easy to pick up and play, appealing to casual players. This simplicity, combined with chaotic action and a 'just one more wave' appeal, results in an highly addictive gameplay loop and high replayability.
- The game is celebrated as an energetic, chaotic twin-stick zombie shooter that embraces an old-school arcade spirit. Its charming, blocky retro look, vibrant environments, exaggerated characters, and goofy humor help it stand out from other grim zombie games.
- The game's soundtrack is highlighted as killer and cool, with different, good background music for various maps. It significantly enhances the overall gameplay experience.
Negatives:
- Players report erratic difficulty, especially solo mode feeling punishing and unbalanced without allies. There are also specific complaints about weapon balance, with some being overpowered or useless, and others having incorrect pricing relative to their effectiveness. Waves can occasionally overwhelm players, leading to frustration.
- The game suffers from a lack of diverse maps, objectives, and zombie types, causing gameplay to become monotonous and repetitive after extended sessions or once core content is completed. This limited variety impacts long-term engagement and replayability.
- A significant problem is the low online player population, making it difficult for players to find public matches. Additionally, when playing online co-op, players experience bugs and noticeable lag, detracting from the overall multiplayer experience. This limitation forces many to play solo or only with friends.
- Players using higher resolutions (1440p and up, or 4K TVs) struggle with the readability of the HUD, icons, and text, which appear too small. The game needs a UI scaling mode to improve visibility and accessibility on larger displays.
- Players report various problems with collision detection, including enemies damaging them without direct contact and difficulty hitting targets near walls with melee weapons. Environmental issues like obfuscated doorways or accidentally entering no-exit rooms also detract from navigation.
Gameplay:
- While initial playthroughs might take a few hours, the game's longevity stems from players chasing high scores, discovering new enemies and untried weapons, and the inherent replayability encouraged by unlocking achievements and content. Veteran players often aim for extremely high waves (e.g., 150+), indicating a player-driven replay loop.
- Players earn money and points by clearing stages, which are used to purchase new characters, hats, armor, weapons, and ammo. These purchases are crucial for improving action skills and progressing through increasingly difficult waves.
- The game presents a certain level of difficulty, implying that it requires skill and strategic thinking to truly master its mechanics and progress effectively, rather than being a casual or easily conquerable experience.
- A specific suggestion was made to enhance the end-of-round experience, either by clearing all zombies from the scene before the purchase phase or by implementing a time-based round system for better flow.
- Players offered targeted advice on weapon effectiveness, recommending the 'trishot' weapon as a must-buy while suggesting to avoid 'uzior' and shotguns due to perceived weaker performance or utility.
Performance:
- Players consistently report that the game runs very smoothly on PC, indicating strong optimization and accessibility across a range of hardware configurations. The game is not considered graphically demanding, which contributes to its broad compatibility.
- One player experienced issues with the in-game lobby browser not working, though they speculated their internet connection might be the cause. This suggests a potential network-related bug or a need for clearer error messaging for connectivity problems.
Recommendations:
- Players overwhelmingly recommend this game, citing its fun gameplay, arcade style, and great value for its low price. Many reviewers give it high scores (8/10 to 11/10) and suggest it's a must-buy, especially for fans of arcade games or those seeking indie creativity.
- Many players highlight that the game is best enjoyed when played with a small group of friends, either online or offline. It is frequently recommended for those looking for a fun multiplayer arcade experience.
- A small cluster of feedback expressed negative sentiment, with one reviewer stating they could not recommend the game and another explicitly advising against purchasing it due to regret. This represents a very minor dissenting opinion amidst overwhelmingly positive reviews.
- One reviewer strongly recommends opening the game to Steam Workshop. This is proposed as a way to significantly enhance the game experience and extend its longevity through community content.
- One reviewer suggests exploring other Xbox 360 arcade games, such as CastleMiner Z, after playing this one. This positions the game as a good entry point within a broader genre.
Miscellaneous:
- Many players express a strong desire for the game franchise to continue, specifically requesting sequels, a third installment, and ports of older titles (like Zombie Estate 1) to modern platforms with online play. There is a general hope for the developer to return and continue the franchise, especially noting their previous engagement.
- Players consistently suggest adding more diverse content, including new weapon types, character options with unique abilities, and additional zombie variations. A significant portion of feedback also requests the ability for players to create and publish custom maps, guns, and characters.
- This feedback largely consists of historical information, such as the game's original Xbox 360 release date and its initial low price point as an indie title. Other comments are more personal or descriptive, like a note that graphics shouldn't deter players or a specific reviewer's appreciation for dance moves, offering little actionable development insight.
