Lab of the Dead – part puzzle, part audio-book & all Zombie infested research
by Paul Wilks
Sep 4, 2012 8:23 AM –
Install
Lab of the Dead is a zombie game with a that’s different that the norm. Instead of the main aim of blasting the undead until every last one of their corpses stops moving, here you’re trying to find out what makes them tick. You’re a scientist hidden in a secret base far under the infected streets. You’ve discovered loads of captive zombies and evidence of experimentation. It’s your job to find out what was going on and understand these zombies better.
Price: ~$0.99
Tested on: HTC One X
Content Rating: High Maturity
Pros & Cons:
Pros
- Cool, stylised graphics and animations!
- Lots of different zombies to experiment on!
- Loads of weapons and objects to use on the zombies!
- Gradual, immersive gameplay!
Cons
- Not the action slug-fest we’re used to with zombie titles, it’s not going to suit everyone.
Features:
Lab of the Dead is a (and I’ll coin this phrase before the genre becomes more popular) “research-em-up”. You are Allen C. Tyler, a scientist who must carry out a series of experiments on various zombies to learn more about their kind and how they came to be and perhaps find a cure? Zombies are kept in nearby cages and when you finish (or accidentally kill) one, you can choose another. There are 12 different types to pick from, so the game often feels refreshed each time you switch.
You can experiment on the zombies in different ways; feed them different foods, give them objects and toys to play with and even try weapons out on them. You collate RP (research points) which can then be used to unlock more items and also uncover the research carried out by the scientists who used the lab before. Zombies react to new stimuli, and discovering these reactions is part of gameplay. There are 250 or more reactions to create so there’s good longevity too.
Lab of the Dead is a very different experience to what you might expect, with it being a zombie title. While you can test weapons out on the zombies, this only helps research so much, sometimes feeding them is a better idea- they’re always chained up so there’s no need to worry about being attacked! To use items on the zombie, simply select them and see how the zombie reacts. If you’re using a weapon, you can select where you’d like to use it; arms, legs, chest or head. There is also an objectives sheet to monitor to ensure you complete all the tasks for that day.
Gameplay is steady and progressive, but a million miles away from Dead Trigger. It lacks the action we’ve come to anticipate from zombie games and instead develops a completely different gaming concept. It’s more like a puzzle game where you have to work out differing combinations and discover new reactions. Gradually the story unfolds in a series of daily monologues spoken by Allen C. Tyler, so the story develops at a nice pace.
I think I must have played most types of zombie games in the Google Play Store. From the atmospheric and gory Dead Trigger to the challenging and slightly cute Stupid Zombies, and I genuinely feel Lab of the Dead is offering something new. I think the lack of action might put people off, but they’ll be missing out on an engrossing and captivating plot which uncovers the startling truth about the zombie outbreak. Part puzzle, part audio-book and all zombie infested research-Sim, the game is hugely original and gloriously innovative.
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Lab of the Dead – Specimen 1#
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Lab of the Dead – Specimen 2#
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Lab of the Dead – Specimen 3#
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Lab of the Dead – Specimen 4#
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Lab of the Dead – Specimen 5#
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Lab of the Dead – Specimen 6#
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Lab of the Dead – Shooting
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Lab of the Dead – Researching elements
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Lab of the Dead – New reaction
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Lab of the Dead – Locked up test specimen
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Lab of the Dead – Food options
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Lab of the Dead – Eating a kebab
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Lab of the Dead – Narratives
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Lab of the Dead – Day 3 summary
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Lab of the Dead – Menu
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Lab of the Dead – Basic research
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Lab of the Dead – Options
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Lab of the Dead – Credits
Fun Factor:
Lab of the Dead is lots of fun. Slowly working out the zombie reactions and moving towards uncovering more research is quite a laid back pursuit that’s more enjoyable than you might expect. Getting a new object (like a rubber duck) and then seeing how the zombie will react to it is pretty cool. You are constantly taking small steps to finding out more, so the game keeps you engaged all the time.
Addictive:
Hugely! It’s very much like a book you struggle to put down. With new discoveries and reactions all the time, RP to earn, new research to uncover and new objects to unlock, it never really becomes repetitive, despite the limits on gameplay.
Graphics:
You can tell the zombies themselves have been lovingly designed by a talented artist and these look great when they come to life. The rest of the game too is well crafted and, while it perhaps won’t blind you with eye-candy, it’s superbly done. Again, there’s nothing quite like it in the Google Play Store, unless you also check out one of the developers other titles: Range of the Dead, which for more traditional zombie-game fans, is a bit more ‘shooty’!
Accelerometer, Vibration & Sound:
The sound is just excellent. You get all kinds fo zombie sounds which are different depending on the reaction, object being used and zombie you’re trying it out on. Plus you have the rich narrated dialogue as Allen C. Tylee gradually works out what’s going on. It’s incredibly atmospheric and perfect for the game.
Tags:
Android App,
Android Apps,
Android Game,
AndroidTapp.com App Review,
DEAD TRIGGER,
Lab of the Dead,
Range of the Dead,
Research,
Shoot,
Stupid Zombies,
Zombie
Categorised in: Casual
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