Stupid Zombies

Stupid Zombies is an action-adventure game where players are fixed at the bottom of the screen with five bullets. Players must choose the right aiming angle and shoot at exploding oil tanks to kill as many zombies as possible, earning higher scores and rewards. The fewer bullets a player uses, the higher their score will be. The game features four stages and over 60 levels, challenging players' thinking and wit; repeated attempts are necessary to achieve victory.

Gameplay of Stupid Zombies:

The point of Stupid Zombies is to shoot a set number of immobile zombies placed around the screen with a maximum of five bullets. Think of it as Angry Birds crossed with Army of Darkness. Because you are stuck permanently in the bottom left-hand corner, you aim by dragging the crosshair with your finger and shoot by lifting said finger. You can also tap anywhere on the screen to release a bullet. Bullets ricochet for a few hits amongst the walls, ceiling, and whatever else is included on the level (wooden planks and crates, tanks of gas that can explode, metal-coated barrels, etc.). Hopefully, if you find just the right place to aim at the perfect angle, you can take down several given zombies (sometimes all of them) with one bullet. The fewer bullets you use, the more points you get. You are also rated on how well you do, per level. Use all the ammo in one go and you’ll be given the lowest rating of one star. Be economical with your bullets and master the physics around you and you’ll get three stars.

There are four stages total, each spanning 60 levels. This means there is plenty of zombie killing to be had—more so if you want to go back and retry the levels using the least amount of bullets possible. Also, you do not have to completely finish one level to move onto the next, although they each require a certain number of star-points to unlock. There isn’t much variation between the stages except for the different backgrounds. Each level can range from the clear-cut (as in zombies all lined up in a pretty row just waiting to be killed), to the brain-eating puzzling (as in it might take a few tries to figure out). More fun and frustration is to be had in the latter situation. If you do fail at killing all the zombies in level, all you do is try again.

Features of Stupid Zombies:

Static shootouts built around ricochet shots: You control a lone survivor with a clear nod to classic Evil Dead style horror heroes. Each level places him in a fixed position, shotgun in hand, facing a pack of zombies that also stay rooted to the spot. There is no running, dodging, or repositioning. Instead, the challenge comes from how you aim.Your weapon fires a single projectile at a time that can bounce off walls and obstacles. The goal is to use the environment cleverly so that one bullet hits several zombies in a row. Clear every zombie on the screen and the level is complete. Use up your limited stock of bullets without doing that and you fail the stage.This setup turns what might have been a frantic action game into a slow, methodical exercise in planning bank shots and learning how the bullet will travel.

Three-star scoring and a sharp difficulty spike: Every level ends with a familiar three-star rating. The fewer bullets you fire, the better your score. Efficient plays that chain together multiple kills with a single shot are rewarded, while wasteful attempts quickly drag your result down.Early stages are easy enough to teach the basics, but the challenge ramps up quickly. To keep progressing with good ratings, you have to judge very specific angles and sometimes rely on near-perfect bounces. That makes Stupid Zombies satisfying for players who like repeating a level to shave off one more bullet, but it can also feel unforgiving once the game expects almost pin-point accuracy.

Aiming that your thumb can block: The main control issue comes from how you line up your shots. You set a reticle with your finger, but your own thumb can obscure the exact point you are trying to target. When you need very fine adjustments to nail a multi-zombie bank shot, having your finger in the way can be genuinely frustrating.There is a partial workaround, since you can drag the reticle around to refine your aim. That helps, yet it never fully solves the basic problem of your hand covering the crucial part of the screen. The result is a control scheme that works on a basic level but can feel clumsy when the puzzles demand precision.

Highlights of Stupid Zombies:

The graphics of Stupid Zombies are designed in a simple yet effective style that complements the gameplay. The visuals are not overly complex, allowing players to focus on the action without unnecessary distractions. The straightforward design helps maintain clarity during gameplay, especially when navigating through numerous levels filled with zombies.

Sound effects play a role in enhancing the overall experience. Players can expect to hear realistic gunfire and the distinct sounds of zombies, which contribute to the immersive atmosphere of the game. These audio elements help to create a sense of urgency, urging players to act swiftly as they confront the relentless zombie horde.

Stupid Zombies also includes a scoring system, rewarding players for their performance in each level. Points are awarded based on the number of zombies eliminated and the efficiency of ammunition use. This scoring mechanism adds a competitive edge to the gameplay, encouraging players to improve their skills and achieve higher scores.

As players advance through the levels, they may encounter special challenges or objectives that provide additional layers of engagement. Completing these objectives can unlock new weapons or upgrades, further enhancing the gameplay experience. This progression system keeps players motivated to continue playing and exploring everything the game offers.

The game is designed to be accessible for a wide range of players. Its controls are intuitive, allowing newcomers to grasp the mechanics quickly while still providing enough depth for seasoned players to enjoy. This balance makes Stupid Zombies an appealing choice for anyone looking for a casual yet engaging gaming experience.

Player Comments of Stupid Zombies:

This game is a take on the popularity of Angry Birds and most of the game play flows the same way. From a stationary position on the left of the screen you use your finger to fire something at obstacles/objects in ever increasingly compile arrangements.

In this case we aren’t flinging birds but firing a sawed-off shotgun at zombies. Although it looks like  a shotgun it actually fires a rather large bullet that ricochets around the screen taking out zombies. It’s surprisingly easy to pull off even the most complex shots and you’ll get drawn in to the game pretty quickly. I just went through the first few levels but found that the complexity and level of difficulty was fun as you shoot objects like barrels and planks.

On one level shooting a glowing red button causes a gate to open so look for that sort of functionality in the upper levels. Oddly enough though the one level I found like that never had any other levels like it immediately afterwards as I would expect so I’m not sure why that particular challenge was placed where it was.

One complaint I might make is that although objects in the game crush up the zombies and bust their heads pretty well, zombies landing on zombies have no effect.

One more feature rather similar to Angry Birds is the ability to call in an air strike to take out zombies on levels you get too frustrated with. It’s got a great bang for the buck.

Actually there isn’t even a buck as I was using the free version. The pay version supports game center and turns off the adds.

If you liked Angry Birds and want a little zombie fun this might be the game for you. It’s fun and not too hard. It’s not all that original though and it didn’t keep my interest as many of the levels just feel the same. I’d give it two out of three stars because it is to Angry Birds what the Gobots were to the Transformers. Well, no it’s not that bad. OK!

Conclusion:

Stupid Zombies can be fun, but it's not worth your time. If want a physics based puzzle game, just play one of the many Angry Birds variants. If you want a zombie shooter, you're better off playing something like Age of Zombies.