Zombie Rider. Fun & Addictive Spin-off from Turbo Grannies!
by Paul Wilks
Aug 11, 2011 5:08 PM –
Install
Zombie Rider is a side scrolling racer where you zoom a Harley-riding zombie over a variety of stages. Fans of the 2D motor-cross titles such as MotoXtreme are sure to be familiar with the exhilarating gameplay. Created from the makers of the popular Turbo Grannies, Zombie Rider is an exciting game and a fine addition to the genre.
Price: ~$1.08
Tested on: HTC Desire HD
Content Rating: Medium Maturity
Pros & Cons:
Pros
- Fast side-scrolling 2D action.
- Incredibly accurate physics.
- Gorgeous environments.
- Challenging and compulsive gameplay.
- Brilliant music and sound.
- Plenty of levels to take on.
Cons
- Character sometimes drops off the bottom of the screen.
- Sometimes impossible to see where you are going to land.
Features:
The planet is, thankfully, yet to be taken over by a Zombie apocalypse, but that seemingly doesn’t apply to the Android Market. Pick most genres of games and you will probably find a ’Zombie’ equivalent. Subsequently there is a huge selection of titles based on the brain-thirsty undead. Typically the games available for Zombie fans can go from good to bad, and always hideously ugly! Thankfully, Zombie Rider is definitely one of the good and is a well developed and fun game with superb graphics, addictive gameplay and great use of your Android’s accelerometer.
You control your Zombie’s Harley Davidson chopper as he blazes his putrid and rotting corpse across Route 66. There are 3 different levels, each containing 8 stages of utter mayhem. The stages are timed, and your total time is also listed. The aim of the game is to reach the end of the stage as fast as you can. The landscapes are terrifying, with gorges, valleys and all kinds of challenging terrain to traverse. Get your route wrong and things go quite bad as your Zombie gets completely wiped out in spectacular fashion! Thankfully, as he’s a zombie, he can just get up again and get back on his bike to start again. There is additionally a time-trial mode where you can race any of the stages, perhaps for practice- or just to get the fastest time possible.
You control the game by tilting your phone to balance out the bike, pressing the right side of the screen to accelerate and the left side to brake and reverse. Obviously the acceleration is very important to get a good time, but sometimes hitting the gas isn’t the best way to overcome the stage and caution is required to get it right. With a bit of practice most levels can be completed, but it will take some skill, dexterity and patience to get a faster time. Subsequently, and especially for fans of these kind of games, it becomes very addictive as you complete the stages as fast as possible.
The graphics are really good, with stunning visual backdrops, well designed and beautiful terrains and one cool bike! Complimenting this, the sound is also impressive; thumping rock music in the background, guttural engine throbbing as you accelerate and sickening crash noises when things go badly wrong.
The only significant issues I found with Zombie Rider were related to the game view itself. There are some areas where you literally cannot see either your Zombie or the terrain below on the screen, the view instead focusing on the area high above. This causes a number of problems, most notably the fact you just cannot see where you are going to land. This means you literally have to guess how to tilt, accelerate or brake because you have no idea of the terrain below you. This is quite frustrating and really hinders accurate gameplay, but I see no reason why it cannot be rectified in an update.
This small problem aside the game is a hugely competent platforming racer with a funny Zombie twist. The inclusion of ongoing times and stages mean, almost like a rally, you have to complete the levels as fast as possible. This in turn creates an addictive and engrossing environment. Getting stages right- as fast and as smoothly as possible- is a massive rush and very rewarding. Gamers who are familiar with these kind of racing games, or even those new to the genre, should equally enjoy the experience. If you enjoyed Turbo Grannies, this should be a superb new challenge to get stuck into.
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Zombie Rider – In-game view 1
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Zombie Rider – In-game view 2
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Zombie Rider – In-game view 3
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Zombie Rider – In-game view 4
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Zombie Rider – In-game view 5
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Zombie Rider – In-game view 6
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Zombie Rider – Start of level
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Zombie Rider – This is what I mean when I say that sometimes the Zombie disappears off the bottom of the screen
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Zombie Rider – Nasty accident, but it’s ok, he’s already dead!
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Zombie Rider – You can sometimes get stuck!
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Zombie Rider – Wipeout!
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Zombie Rider – Stage Complete screen
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Zombie Rider – Stages screen
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Zombie Rider – Pause Menu
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Zombie Rider – Menu
Fun Factor:
This is one of those games which is great fun when you play, great fun when you win and complete a stage, as well as being great fun when your bike wipes out and is spectacularly dashed against the rocks. The clever use of accelerator and screen touches means skill is required to be good at the game, so its good that the game is so much fun to play as you get the hang of it.
Addictive:
Very addictive, especially for fans of the genre. The inclusion of stage times accompanied by the tough challenge of the game itself should keep gamers coming back for more in order to improve their scores.
Graphics:
The 2D graphics are smart, gorgeous and very well rendered. Full of little details the graphics are a real highlight. Even the menu visuals are good and excellently designed.
Accelerometer, Vibration & Sound:
The accelerometer is used to full effect here- tilting your Zombie forwards and backwards is an essential skill to master and it’s important you get it right if you are to progress. The sound, as mentioned is superb and brilliantly delivered.
Tags:
Android App,
Android Apps,
Android Game,
AndroidTapp.com App Review,
Music,
physics,
Platformer,
Racing,
Turbo Grannies,
Zombie,
Zombie Rider
Categorised in: Arcade & Action
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