Enter Dead Nation, the latest in the seemingly endless trend of zombies, zombies, and more zombies currently available on the PSN. While I may have expressed my disdain for the obligatory zombie DLC in most games on the podcast, I really enjoy Housemarque’s effort to be as unique as possible within the cluttered zombie sub-genre. If Diablo, Baldur’s Gate, and Night of The Living Dead made a baby, it would be called Dead Nation. Yes, it really is that awesome.
Remember Zombie Apocalypse? Unfortunately, Konami’s XBLA and PSN twin stick shooter is forgettable, but fun nonetheless. Think of Dead Nation as a much more fleshed out version of Zombie Apocalypse. Same top-down shooter view with tighter controls, expansive environments, local and online co-op, and cool gruff characters.
Dead Nation goes the traditional “infected zombies” route with their zombies. In this particular situation, story really means nothing. All we really want to do is kill zombies. We’ve read or seen every post-apocalyptic plot line in existence, but Housemarque has given us something else to talk about. Imagine a zombie shoot-em-up with RPG tendencies. You kill zombies, you earn gold, and you upgrade weapons and armor. I just heard a resounding hell yea. Well that’s just what we have here, a zombie version of Diablo. The game gives you all the looting, waves of enemies, and carnage you could desire.
What a concept, let’s take all the things that people loved about the traditional western RPG and put zombies in the mix. You just effortlessly earned $15.00 from me (well 11.99 because I’m a PlayStation Plus member…ZING!). Dead Nation is so much fun. After a three level binge with Chad, he came out of his room and exclaimed “this game is so fun”. The game does offer a solo campaign, but who the hell plays alone these days? It’s all about playing with friends, or more importantly your countrymen.
Allow me to elaborate. Housemarque incorporated a brilliant online system which pits country against country to see who is doing the best at purging the worldwide infection. I can proudly say the good ol’ US of A is holding the top position as we’ve wiped out over 50% of the infected. Canada was overtaken by Finland for the second position by a very small margin last time I checked. Both countries have made a hefty contribution with over 40% of the infected being purged. What a simple yet genius idea. Get the entire world involved as if we actually have been invaded by the undead. All of the stats are streamed live, and I’m a sucker for crap like that.
I could spend this entire paragraph spouting hyperbole, but why bother? You like zombies? Buy it. You like online co-op with friends or strangers? Buy it. You like the idea of zombies with Diablo-like elements? Buy it. The cynic would say this is unoriginal and blah, blah, blah, . The lack of voice chat is a stupid thing not to have at launch, but will be available with an update. That is hardly enough reason not to buy the game. Perhaps some have been spoiled by Microsoft’s sexy party chat, but it really doesn’t hinder the game. Time to save the world from doom. Will you join the fight?
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