Android Game Review: Zombie Dash

3.2.12 The Reporter 0 Comments

Guess what was the #1 Game on the Android Market? No, it's not Angry Birds.

Surprised, shocked, catapulted into disbelief?

Same here. But last week's screenshots (and actual site results) don't lie:


Last week, and for a few weeks before that, Zombie Dash was at #1 of the Top Free Apps on Android Market. Today, however, it's just at #3. But still, being part of the Top 3 Free Game Downloads on the Android Market means something, right?


But my question is, does Zombie Dash actually live up to its hype?

Zombie Dash, as we mentioned in the review for Fruit Roll, is also a sidescrolling platform game. Meaning, you will find your character dashing through the stages, while you get your upgrades, coins, and in the case of Zombie Dash, kill zombies.

Character:

Zombie Dash allows you to choose between a girl or a guy character. Both serve the same purpose: run and kill zombies.

Gameplay:

You don't need to press anything to make the character run. It runs, nay, DASHes on its own. All you need to do is to jump to avoid the ground spikes and the floating/moving/turning sharp things that are hanging in midair. If you don't want to shoot your enemies, your jumps will allow you to dodge them, too.

There are coins to be collected, and upgrades to be scored. You'll have to jump to get them, as well.

In order to earn more points, it's better to shoot your enemies than to avoid them. It's also helpful to gather the coins, so that you can buy upgraded weapons in the store. The points you earn from shooting your enemies will also be added towards the total coins for upgrade purchases.

You have three lives for every "run." You will lose 1 life whenever you bump into an enemy or a lethal object. When you lose all three lives, it's game over for you. When you fall into a ditch/gap in between platforms, it's instant game over for you, whether you still have 1 life left or 3.

Basic Functions/Powers:

There are two buttons for the player: the Jump button on the left, and the Fire button on the right. Just as it says, the Jump button allows you to jump in order to dodge the lethal objects and enemies, while the Fire button allows you to shoot a gun in order to kill your enemies and gain points.

Weapons And Upgrades:

You start out with only one weapon, a shotgun, and depending on whatever weapon you'll be able to get from the boxes with question marks: [?], you'll have 40 seconds to use each upgrade, every time you manage to touch the [?]-marked box.

You may also buy upgrades with your total "cash" on hand from the store. Weapons start at 2000 coins, with an M-16A1 rifle, and topping off at 9000 coins with either an MS-07A GYAN or a Jetpack.

Tips:

Try to gather as many coins as you can, and kill as many zombies as you can. This way, you can earn enough coins for your store upgrades.

Review:

Initially, I hated the game as it was too fast-paced for my taste (I kept falling into the ditches, haha!), and pointless. I prefer games that will build up to ultimate enemies, you see, and I like games that have a certain degree of continuity in its storyline.

But playing Zombie Dash for this review today allowed me to realize that it's pretty relaxing to keep shooting at zombies. And when I saw that I could actually buy weapon upgrades, I found another fun element to it. I'm a power hog, and as soon as my game characters earn all the powers and super powers they can earn, I'm at my happiest. So, upgrades in any game, are completely welcome.

The game also serves the purpose of annoying everyone around you. So if you hate your roommate or your housemate, turn up your media volume to the maximum and it'll achieve exactly that.

Rating: 3.5/5