Aaron: Let's be very clear about this. Zombie Kill of the Week started as an Android game in 2013 (or 2010). That's not to say that Android games can't be fun or should somehow be frowned upon, but the gameplay doesn't lend itself to a PC game.
T: Early waves are pretty slow and are just to bring you up to speed – but by wave 10 you are starting to see some fast-movers and then things are just going to get more complicated from there as mini-bosses and large swarms make it downright tough. Each "level" is self-contained and has some unlockable areas once you've collected the necessary keys or sufficient money to open them up. The eternal question will be, do I spend my money on that weapon or open up that extra space and hope there's something even better in the next area?
A: Early on, when you're strapped with weapons that haven't been upgraded, the wave-after-wave onslaught of zombies -- and a bear for some reason -- can be tough but after some minor upgrades and accessing up to three (brainless) bots it can actually be hard to die. What started as a five minute arcade break can turn into a 45 minute slog. Why not just exit out? Well, none of the collected Skill Points or Tokens, used to upgrade skills and purchase weapons, clothing, and single-use items, won't carry over. You have to die to accumulate Tokens and Skill Points. The best way to do that is to find a corner in which to shuffle off the mortal coil, otherwise your bot comrades will keep reviving you.
T: The maps can be challenged solo, with bots, or preferably with friends online. While playing solo does have its charms, you'll find yourself struggling to survive mini-bosses and larger hordes solo. The bots… well… they certainly help draw the attention of the enemy away from you a bit and help out with supporting fire, but are significantly less intelligent than what we're used to seeing from AI players. Multiplayer is definitely where you should focus your time on the assumption you either have friends to play with because trying to find open games online is nigh-impossible.
A: I think you're going way too easy on the game. The multiplayer is atrocious! For a game presumably popular enough since 2010 or 2013 to spawn a PC version -- and there's supposed to be some kind of cross-platform play -- the only online game I ever managed to connect to was with you (aside from one that I took part in when I went back to get screenshots)! And even that wasn't enough to put up a fight against encroaching boredom. Endless zombies is fine for about 15 minutes but because it all takes place in a very closed environment it's easy to find choke points and the best back and forth routes to maximize ammo or turret placement in each of the four -- yeah, that's right, four! -- 2D levels. So, the action quickly becomes rote and the levels uninteresting. Even Gauntlet (1985) managed to keep its rote 4-player gameplay somewhat interesting by changing up the levels to create a sense of forward momentum or sense of accomplishment!
T: The game does have a bit of a RPG/Customization feature. You collect Tokens as you play which can be used to purchase perks and customizable features for your generic character. There's a ton here to choose, assuming of course that you have enough patience to keep playing the game indefinitely to earn them. Just earning enough Points to unlock the next map can and will likely take hours of grinding. The method of earning these Tokens and Points obviously is pay-to-win feature that was implemented and scaled back or removed altogether. As such in order to progress any further, the time investment will be horrific.
All in all, ZKWR was charming for a short period time, more so when playing with friends but after the initial wave passes it reveals itself as more chore than game.
A: Yep, that's about right. Even mucking around with the Level Editor isn't additive to the experience.
- Tazman and Aaron Simmer
Follow @ArmchairEmpire
The Good:
- Decent multiplayer experience (when you can find someone to play with)
The Bad:
- Exhibit A on why you don't bring Pay-to-win titles to Steam
- Atrocious controller support
