An Upgrade of Visuals
ZombiU isn’t the best way to showcase what the Wii U can do but it certainly is an example on how far the visuals from the Wii have gone. The environments look detailed enough to make it look high definition, but it will not be the best you will ever see. Zombies within the game can look monotonous but I commend the overall design of the game as it successfully conveys a true survival horror feel to it.
NOT
Cricket Bat is Annoying
What ZombiU lacks is the variety of weapons that you can use for melee. While there are pistols, and assault rifles available in the game, you will be relying on the Cricket Bat more often since ammunition is scarce. The way the cricket bat does the damage to the zombies is inconsistent, sometimes it may feel powerful but sometimes it will take several hits. It will be a lot better if there are some sort of other weapons that you can use. A good example of a good melee combat in survival horror games are the ones found in Condemned.
Melee Execution is Weak
One of the problems that I found within ZombiU that hurts the game is the way the melee combat is executed. Since what you will be doing is mostly killing zombies with the cricket bat, you will notice how lame the movements your character makes. For the most part, it looks very stiff and very robotic whenever you do a melee attack. Also, the way the character strikes the bat to the enemy feels very repetitive too.
Story is not polished
If you are after a good story in ZombiU, don’t expect a very clear and concise plot. When you play the game for the very first time, you are introduced to this one character where it will have a background and objective. Since death is something you should expect, as soon as the first character you’re using dies, another character will spawn on the safe house and from there you will have no idea who the character is. The main story plot of the game is for you to help whichever character you’re controlling to escape London. A help option via the intercom will guide your way, giving you hints on where to go and what to do to advance – that’s pretty much the entire plot. While the cause of the outbreak will be mentioned, don’t expect the game to fully explain it to give you a better understanding on what’s going on.
VERDICT
For anyone who purchased a Nintendo Wii U and seeking for a real survival horror game, ZombiU is the game that might give you the horror experience you are longing to play. If only Ubisoft fixed some of the game’s major problems like the weak melee execution and subpar storyline, ZombiU can very well be the game that will claim the throne as the best survival-horror game. For now, I must commend Ubisoft for trying and implementing a true survival horror game with a mix of Demon’s/Dark Souls challenge that gives players a very challenging journey ahead in London. Let’s hope with ZombiU 2, the minor problems found will be fixed.
[Editor’s Note: ZombiU was reviewed on the Nintendo Wii U platform. The game was provided to us by the publisher for review purposes.]
