Paper Zombie – such a good zombie slashing game, plagued with spammy ads
by Paul Wilks
Nov 9, 2012 10:44 AM –
Install
Paper Zombie is a fun and well designed zombie game where you get to slice and shoot the undead to stop them in their tracks. Set in a cardboard style world, it’s a mash up of fruit slicing games and those where you take pot shots at oncoming foes. I really like the concept behind this game but… sadly… it’s one of those games that’s wrecked by highly invasive advertising.
Price: Free, plus In-app Purchases
Tested on: HTC One X
Content Rating: Medium Maturity
Pros & Cons:
Pros
- Smooth graphics!
- Fun gameplay that’s easy to pick up!
- Good sound and effects!
Cons
- Far too monetized by ads, in app purchases and the like.
Features:
Games like this are so infuriating. They provide some excellent gameplay that’s fun, engaging and addictive. But, each and every moment they can, you are bombarded with adverts. Let me describe the gameplay first…
So you have this first person view where you face an eerie graveyard and cubist zombies flock towards you. Initially armed with a blade you have to cut their papery heads off to destroy them. There is a token old lady or two to protect and the game ends if she is attacked by the zombies. Later on you can get other weapons that can be used at distance, such as guns and there’s opportunity for in-app purchases to upgrade. Levels get progressively harder and you can tilt your perspective to view wider, which is a nice feature that opens up gameplay somewhat.
While gaming, in my opinion anyway, opens up a wealth of potential, all this is ruined by advertising. When you open the game up you’re greeted by an ad for something called ‘beintoo’ and the opportunity to log into Facebook (how do you just know that will be a bad idea?) Next, and this is before you are even started you are dragged off to log into Openfeint (remember you haven’t even played the game yet- how do you know you want it attached to your Openfeint account?) When you eventually get back to the menu page and press play you are taken to the start page where you are offered the chance to buy upgrades and links to the store front. It uses nice green tabs for the blade you already earn but sad red ones for the gun (essentially it wants you to tool up and make an in-app purchase- before you’ve even started!)
So you press on and play the first level. I think you kill 2 zombies before it ends and, guess what, another ad. Offers of some kind based on your completing that level and the opportunity to earn more ‘zcoins’ by downloading other games, completing offers, etc. What I’m saying is, this is a game built around monetization opportunities, rather than the other way around. The developers would appear to be primarily interested in your wallet, not your gaming experience. The whole game is rammed with these ads, after every level and every time you progress. Each time these ads are presented the game and sound freeze and then you’re treated to a full-page spread of opportunities to spend money. What could have been a cool game is just destroyed by overly intrusive advertising and ‘offers’.
With the inclusion of in-app purchases, the developer has perhaps gone for the ‘freemium’ method of making money from their app (rather than a limited Lite version and a ‘full’ paid for app). The problem, it is not a free ‘premium’ game if it’s riddled with ads- seriously- you’d think you’ve been hit by some serious adware just by downloading it. I don’t like saying this, especially for a game that has such potential, but avoid it like the plague. It’s packed with horrific adverts and make gaming very much irrelevant.
Watch on Mobile
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Paper Zombie – Gameplay (1)
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Paper Zombie – Gameplay (2)
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Paper Zombie – Shoot and slash your way to the end of the level
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Paper Zombie – End of level scores
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Paper Zombie – Stage intro
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Paper Zombie – Oh lucky me, I’ve earned an offer!
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Paper Zombie – No thanks
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Paper Zombie – More ads
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Paper Zombie – Download, spam, offers, free, spam etc
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Paper Zombie – Accidentally touch the screen with a big ad on it…
Fun Factor:
For the 30 seconds or so of gameplay you get sandwiched in between lashing and lashing advertising, it’s quite good. Sadly, said ‘offers’ and spammy ads ruin it completely.
Addictive:
As soon as you open up the game it fires ads at you. You’d have to be some kind of masochist to go through that and still enjoy the title. If all the spam was removed, it could really be a winner, but the goodness is drowning under the weight of ads.
Graphics:
The in-play graphics are pretty sharp. The zombies have this paper theme going on which looks stylized and boxy, but this is a good thing. They move smoothly and look great on screen, such a shame this only lasts for a few moments at a time before the ads come back.
Accelerometer, Vibration & Sound:
The accelerometer maneuvers your perspective from side to side and this is a nice touch and works well with gameplay. The sound is excellent; cute but eerie- perfect for the game.
Tags:
3D,
3D Games,
Android App,
Android Apps,
Android Game,
AndroidTapp.com App Review,
First Person Shooter Game,
Paper Zombie,
Slash,
Zombie,
Zombies
Categorised in: Arcade & Action
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