Top 5 Zombie Video Games of All Time
For me, video games fill in in that little gap between imagination and the real world. When done right, it’s a wonderful means of escapement that is more engaging than a movie and can impart a whole set of emotions that other forms of entertainment cannot.
With that in mind, I present to you our list of the Top 5 Zombie Video Games of All Time!
5. House of the Dead
House of the Dead is almost the definition of a quarter eater. I’ve pumped many quarters into into it but still haven’t beaten it. House the Dead (and it’s sequels) is a large stand up arcade with a big screen. Players use light guns to shoot at the zombies in a scary old mansion. It’s fairly simple, but the difficulty and frantic action more than make up for it. There are many branching paths that allow the game to progress in different ways. Unfortunately there aren’t too many arcades around these days, but it’s worth seeking one out to play House of the Dead.
4. Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse
Stubbs the Zombie is the only game (to my knowledge) that features a zombie as the playable character. Your job, as Stubbs, is to eat as many brains as possible, turning your victims into followers. To accomplish this you are given several methods of attack, including noxious fart attacks, severed arm clubs, and a detachable hand you can use like Thing from the Addam’s family to crawl around and take control of humans. And the whole thing takes place in the 1950s. Sound bizzare? You bet!
3. Zombies Ate My Neighbors
Zombies Ate My Neighbors was one of the most overlooked games released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. At a time when platforming games like Mario and Sonic were king, Zombies Ate My Neighbors took a different direction. You played a kid whose block was being overrun with hordes of the undead (not to mention werewolves, blobs, vampires, and Jason Voorhees look-a-likes). The goal isn’t outright elimination of the monsters - you need carefully lead your neighbors one by one through each level and keep them from getting in harm’s way. You start out ten neighbors, and if one gets nibbled on, you have one less to start with on the next level. There are a wide variety of weapons and goodies to find along and plenty of exploration to do. It’s over the top, tongue in cheek fun just like the horror movies it was based on.
If you missed Zombies Ate My Neighbors the first time around, rumor has it that it will soon be available for download on the Nintendo Wii’s Virtual Console.
2. Dead Rising
This XBox 360 exclusive is the newest game in our list, and it really utilized the power of the lastest iteration of gaming consoles to deliver lots of realistic gore to gamers. Dead Rising focuses on the survival of journalist Frank West during a zombie outbreak. Your goal is to survive 3 days in a mall (time runs faster in-game - 1 day equals about 2 hours) and follow news stories and scoops. Of course, Frank is usually making more news than reporting it as you explore the mall and find new ways to kill zombies. Grab a broom and swing at them. If the broom snaps, stab at them with the wooden handle. It’s this type of sandbox play that makes the game so enjoyable. There is way too much to see in one play-through. Lucky for us, the game was a hit and there will surely be a sequel coming.
1. Resident Evil 4
Ok, ok, I know I’m going to get a lot of flack for this one. Unlike the rest of the Resident Evil Series, technically the enemies in Resident Evil 4 aren’t zombies. They’re just slow moving cult members possessed by large parasitic insect creatures who would love take a chunk out of your flesh. If the zombies in 28 Days Later were just humans infected with the rage virus and technically weren’t undead, I’m comfortable calling these things zombies too.
Resident Evil 4 is one of the most amazing video games (period) you will ever play. The first 20 minutes of this game set the stage for an adrenline soaked rush to the finish that rarely lets up. You start in a rural, Eastern-Eurpoean town investigating the kidnapping of the president’s daughter. Out of nowhere, hundreds of zombies attack, and you seek refuge in one of the nearby houses. They beat down doors and crash through windows as you try and brace them with pieces of furniture. You hear the chainsaw before you see the hooded man wielding it and it’s a pants-wetting moment as your gunshots to him barely slow him down. And this is all in the first 20 minutes folks!
The controls are so fluid it becomes second nature. The game allows you to target individual body parts which has many advantages - you can shoot a pitchfork out of an enemy’s hands, or take out his kneecaps so he can’t pursue you. Press the action button once to open a door, or quickly tap it twice to kick it in. It just all works so smoothly and cinematically.
Nuby Tech released a special chainsaw controller for use with the game. It doesn’t add any new functionality, but it sure does look cool. Speaking of new functionality, Capcom is developing a Nintendo Wii port of the game which will take advantage of the motion-sensing capabilities of the Wii.
How about you?
What’s your favorite zombie video game? Tell us! Comment and let us know!
[…] Top 5 Zombie Video Games of All Time by Erik Zempel […]
I just cant wait for the Wii version of Resident Evil!!
[…] Top 5 Zombie Video Games of All Time by Erik Zempel […]
As a gamer, I really agree that Resident Evil 4 is one of the greated zombie video games of all time. The intense action and the wonderful storyline really does give the “evil” in Resident Evil a new image. ^_^
Dead Rising is also one great game. Those horde of zombies really does get the adrenaline pumping.
Although I am quite curious why you chose Top 5 Zombie Video Games. Hehehe… Still, a nice read! ^_^
Off with their heads! Arr!
If you have time, why don’t you drop by my post:
http://mobileko.blogspot.com/2007/05/snatch-top-5-tips-on-how-to-be.html
It’s also an entry for the problogger top 5- group writing project. ^^ Goodluck to us all!
[…] Top 5 Zombie Video Games of All Time by Erik Zempel […]
Honestly, I have never seen I site like this one, or post either. Good breakdown of the video games.
[…] Top 5 Zombie Video Games of All Time by Erik Zempel […]
[…] Top 5 Zombie Video Games of All Time by Erik Zempel […]
[…] Top 5 Zombie Video Games of All Time by Erik Zempel […]
[…] Top 5 Zombie Video Games of All Time by Erik Zempel […]
[…] - Top 5 Zombie Video Games of All Time […]
Love it! Best played zombie games are always played in the dark!
[…] Top 5 Zombie Video Games of All Time by Erik Zempel […]
[…] Top 5 Zombie Video Games of All Time by Erik Zempel […]
[…] Top 5 Zombie Video Games of All Time by Erik Zempel […]
Dead Rising is the best zombie game out there. My kids love it and it’s a lot of fun playing in infinity mode.
[…] Top 5 Zombie Video Games of All Time by Erik Zempel […]
[…] Top 5 Zombie Video Games of All Time by Erik Zempel […]
[…] Top 5 Zombie Video Games of All Time by Erik Zempel […]
[…] Top 5 Zombie Video Games of All Time by Erik Zempel […]
[…] Top 5 Zombie Video Games of All Time by Erik Zempel […]
[…] Top 5 Zombie Video Games of All Time by Erik Zempel […]
[…] Top 5 Zombie Video Games of All Time by Erik Zempel […]
[…] Top 5 Zombie Video Games of All Time by Erik Zempel […]
[…] Top 5 Zombie Video Games of All Time by Erik Zempel […]
[…] Top 5 Zombie Video Games of All Time by Erik Zempel […]
[…] Top 5 Zombie Video Games of All Time by Erik Zempel […]
[…] Top 5 Zombie Video Games of All Time by Erik Zempel […]
[…] Top 5 Zombie Video Games of All Time by Erik Zempel […]
[…] Top 5 Zombie Video Games of All Time by Erik Zempel […]
[…] Top 5 Zombie Video Games of All Time by Erik Zempel […]
[…] Top 5 Zombie Video Games of All Time by Erik Zempel […]
[…] it didn’t make our list of Top 5 Zombie Video Games, Typing of the Dead for the Sega Dreamcast was one of the more unusual video games ever released. […]
Top Five - at Pro Blogger (Part 1 of 3)…
Darren Rowse recently drew in Top 5 - Group Writing Project - Full Submission List from 893 participants in the ‘Top 5′ Group Writing Project. Our final entry list below showed the kind of expertise (and also a bit of……
[…] Top 5 Zombie Video Games of All Time by Erik Zempel […]
[…] Top 5 Zombie Video Games of All Time by Erik Zempel […]
I can’t get enough zombie games, luckily there are 100+ at Kill The Zombies!
[…] Top 5 Zombie Video Games of All Time by Erik Zempel […]
[…] Top 5 Zombie Video Games of All Time by Erik Zempel […]