Raising the dead

Rebellion has carved out a niche in video games for themselves based on a simple gimmick. Slow motion death cams seem to never get old, and the team behind Zombie Army 4 have honed their skill to perfection. Watching a bullet glide across the map and pierce an enemy zombie square in the face is as satisfying the thousandth time as it was the first. It feels like the team at Rebellion are on an off schedule as they also create the Sniper Elite series. The spin-off combines two of gaming’s most clichéd concepts in sniping and of course plenty of the undead. Zombie Army 4 adds more flavor and crafts an experience that is enjoyable from beginning to end.

The story behind the fourth game might be its most ludicrous to date. After ending Super-Hitler at the close of the last game one might think that the zombie apocalypse had ended. Instead, sending him to the underworld has only made him stronger. He has started opening portals and unleashing even more of the undead into the world.

MSRP: $49.99
Platforms: XB1 (reviewed), PS4, PC
Price I’d Pay: $39.99

The game offers up four characters to choose from. Karl and Boris make a return from the previous game, while newcomers Jun and Shola join to fight the hordes. With four characters and the developer history it is no surprise that ZA4 is best played with friends. Hopping into co-op games is simple with jump in/out mechanics that allow players to dig into each mission. The concept feels similar to past games as well as Left 4 Dead, where each level is themed and there are safe houses along the way that act as checkpoints.

One of the biggest improvements to this iteration is the level design. Each one is themed and instead of using pre-existing assets from Sniper Elite, feel tailored specifically for this game. There are massive zombie sharks and a boat ride just to name a few. The game doles out enemies along the way much like the team’s previous effort Strange Brigade. It feels more story-oriented than past games, and the themes of each level make each one feel like a zombie-filled carnival ride that is a blast with friends.

There is a lot under the hood in ZA4 as well. Progression plays a big role with upgrades for weapons as well as an XP system that allows for more perks to be unlocked. The variety of weapons also play a big role. Sure there are sniper rifles, but the other weapons also offer up special abilities that can be unlocked and executed. Think of them as sort of ultimate abilities that can unleash massive damage on a horde of enemies. The amount of enemies is also great. Sure mowing down grunts is fun, but when specialized zombies enter the mix tactics change and it is just as much fun.

Thankfully, the game can be played solo as well. The levels are designed in such a way that one person can certainly make the trek. The developers also added in the ability to tone the game difficulty-wise. This limits the amount of enemies spawned as well as normal things such as damage and health. It is a well-balanced game that is a blast to play solo, but pure joy when playing with friends.

If there is one thing that drags down the experience it would be the controls. While shooting feels fine, aiming and movement feels loose. I had a hard time managing hordes at times simply due to losing my footing. I found that tight spots would also cause issues due to the camera movement. It is not a deal breaker, it just takes a while to get a grip on the slippery controls.

Visually the game looks fantastic. Running on Xbox One X there are two options for framerate or resolution. For a game like this I always recommend framerate as it helps with the game play. It holds a pretty steady clip most of the game, which is impressive at times when the screen is full of enemies. As mentioned the level design is fantastic, and I found the themes to be icing on the cake. This is one good-looking game and the HDR implementation is great.

Zombie Army 4 is a fine end to the series. I feel like it could only go so far and while I was skeptical of one more entry, Rebellion has done a great job of making it stand out from its predecessors. It is a mindless shooting gallery that makes a fantastic chatroom game. Find some buddies and strap in to wipe out hordes of zombies. The slow motion kills are still satisfying and the themed levels make the slog more enjoyable. A fine game in a dumb fun series.

Review copy of game provided by publisher.

Good
  • Level design
  • Co-op is a blast
  • Slow-mo is still satisfying
Bad
  • Controls are slippery
  • Clipping issues
8
Great
Written by
Ken is the Editor-in-Chief of this hole in the wall and he loves to troll for the fun of it. He also enjoys long walks through Arkham Asylum and the cool air of Shadow Moses Island. His turn-ons include Mortal Kombat, Metal Gear Solid and StarCraft.