Imagine, we’re in the 1950’s and the evil beat of “Rock ‘N’ Roll” has brought the dead back to life. Back to life they’ve come with an unsatiable hunger for the living. We’re not doomed yet, three unlikely heroes arise. A burly construction worker that excels at impenetrable blockades, Jack Foster. Mike Bacon, a chubby boy scout that attacks with a frying pan, hamburgers and….poo. Last but not least, is Foxy Jones a meter maid , armed with a baton, gun, bombs and incinerating technology. These three must stop the undead anarchy before all hope is lost!
As you begin each level, you are tasked with one of two ways to end the level. One, is to collect three pieces of equipement in order to connect a guitar to an amp. After doing so, you are pointed in the direction of the guitar. As you arrive you are initiated into a rythme mini game, Guitar Hero style. Apparently Rock’N’Roll awoke the Undead and it can also put them back to sleep where they belong. The other, is to kill enough zombies that the “secret weapon” becomes available for activation. Activate. Zombies dead. Next level.
The difficulty really increases from level to level and each level takes place in an abandoned building. With one or more of our heroes taking refuge while completing the task at hand. Each hero has a total of 4 blockades that can be placed on doors or windows. A default for all three is bulding a blockade of wood planks to prevent entry. The other 3 blockades or “traps” are unique to all three. For example, Jack can create a “Freeze Trap” that freezes each zombie as they pass through, making one melee attack good enough to shatter their icy bodies. While Mike, creates a trap with a toilet hanging above. As the zombies pass through, excrement spills on them causing disease. The disease acts as a “damage over time” (dot) that can be spread to other zombies.
Each character’s AI tells them to do seperate actions while not under control of the player. Jack will destroy furniture for wood and to uncover hidden items and build blockades over windows and doors to keep approching zombies out. Mike will search objects for nuts and bolts in order for the player to build unique blockades and patch up windows and doors. Foxy will attack incoming zombies as well as search objects. You may call the two characters you’re not using in to the room you occupy. When they arrive they’ll immediately get started with they’re “auto actions”.
Each character is more efficient then the others at something. Jack can break furniture the fastest. Mike searches the fastest, Foxy dispatches zombies the quickest. Here’s where it can become tedious. You’ll go through dozens of pieces of furniture and search dozens of objects in each level. It can become at times, mundane, smashing the “B” button over and over to destroy furniture. Same thing goes for the mini games that come along with searching objects in each level.
Multiplayer can be played with three others thru 4-way split screen. There are eight levels for co-op use. The same rules apply here. It’s a great time but, it’s local only. Ouch. Online compatibility would’ve made this game great. You’ll still get a kick out of playing locally, but what a missed opportunity.
With the game’s 1950’s feel, part zombie horror parody, part serious zompacaplyse and going from laughing to squirming as you become over-whelmed by the Undead can be fun. But the lack of online multiplayer and the tedious tasks to complete each level become tiring.
[easyreview title=”Dead Block Overall Score 6.5” cat1title=”Fameplay 7/10” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”7/10″ cat2title=”Controls 6/10” cat2detail=”” cat2rating=”6/10″ cat3title=”Presentation 6/10” cat3detail=”” cat3rating=”6/10″ summary=”ignore“]
