There are a number of mechanics and formulas that seem to make for a good video game. Some of the more recent ones on mobile are Zombies and racing. So, what happens if you put fast cars and Zombies together, throw in some gratuitous violence and high-octane action? Well, what you come up with is Zombie Derby but, does it make for a winning formula? Read on to find out.
Description: Zombie Derby is a game that puts you in the shoes of a survivor in yet another Zombie apocalypse, this time though you’ve got wheels and weapons to rely on. The aim of the game is get as far as you can across four vast levels, without running out of floor or crashing out. There are five vehicles to choose from and a whole range of customization for each one of those vehicles, ranging from weapons, to nitrous and fuel. With some great 3D graphics and addictive gameplay, Zombie Derby might be a game that you can’t put down. Take a look at the trailer below to see if you like what you see.
How it Works: To start taking out Zombies as you ride off into the sunset, you’ll first have to download the game from the Play Store, which you’ll be pleases to hear is free.
To get started just hit the big play button and then choose a level. If you’re unfamiliar with the game, then you ought to play through the tutorial:
The tutorial is relatively straight forward, and will give you hints and tips you’ll need to remember to get good at the game:
Once you’ve completed the tutorial, you can play the game for real. You’ll have to select a car to continue, when you first start out, there isn’t much in the way of customization available to you:
One of the most important things in the game is fuel, you’ll find yourself running out of fuel frequently. The key is to keep on playing through the level, and earning cash to buy more fuel and other enhancements:
After a few tries on the same level, you’ll find yourself with the ability to buy more upgrades, and soon you’ll have a machine not to be reckoned with:
The aim is to get to the end of the level and seek sanctuary.
Opinion: Zombie games have grown on me recently, and this is definitely one that stands out among all the other titles out there right now. While I don’t like the fact that there’s too much reliance on fuel, customizing your vehicle is a lot of fun. Doing so means that you can replay the level a number of times and have more fun each time round. The graphics are good and the game ran very smooth as well. The inclusion of tilt to make sure your landing is soft is a nice touch and brings in more than just touch controls.
Ratings
- Speed (4/5) – Zombie Derby is a perfectly speedy game and ran well on a number of devices.
- Features (4/5) – Being able to customize your vehicle is nice, and it allows you to play levels again differently.
- Theme (4/5) – Graphics here are good, the game runs smooth and the violence is quite pleasing.
- Overall (4/5) – This is a solid game for Zombie fans, everything is good but, the reliance on fuel can wear thin very quickly.
Pros
- Weaponry is used for more than just killing Zombies, it can clear your path.
- The addition of tilting your device to land adds another dynamic to the game.
- There’s a sense of desperation as you try to get as far as you can without running out of fuel.
- Killing Zombies is fun and satisfying, especially at high speeds.
Cons
- There’s too much of a reliance on fuel.
- Levels seem short once you have all the fuel you need.
Conclusion: Zombie Derby is a solid Zombie game for Android and if you’re a fan of fast cars and destruction then this is a game that’s just right for you. There’s nothing quite like crushing a zombie or two one after the other in a pick-up! Graphics are good and the sound effects are decent enough, one thing that did annoy me is that fuel seemed to be the only thing in the game you needed to succeed. Ads are here but, buying anything in-game will get rid of them, this is one of the better implementations of ads I’ve seen in a while and they’re really quite unobtrusive. For fans of shows like the Walking Dead and games like Dead Trigger, this is a no-brainer.