The Zombie Action News Team was hard at work this past week playing and exploring the latest  in Zombie relating gaming.  Highlights include hard to get Left 4 Dead achievements, Zombie Apocalypse play time, and more on Resident Evil 5:

Crash-proof
Survive the Crash Course Campaign.

Gamerscore = 15 Acquired 29/9/2009

Crash Course in Achievements: So as I reported last time I picked up the Left 4 Dead expansion, Crash Course, and completed it straight away and unfortunately on my own as most of my friends have either rid themselves of the game or did not bother to buy.  Now I can’t blame them entirely as L4D2 is just around the corner, but on the same token L4D is here now and sporting some new content.  So since I picked up Crash Course I have played through it five times already.  Weighing in at about a 30 minute playthrough at normal skill level is is just quick and dirty fun!  Since Crash Course is a unique campaign it has afforded me an opportunity to secure some of those ‘Hard to get’ L4D achievements.  Here are a list of what I have earned thus far excluding the one already featured at the top of the story:

• Quick Power - Restart the generator within 30 seconds of it shutting off in the Crash Course campaign. – 30 GS
• Red Mist - Kill 1000 Infected with a mounted machine gun. – 20 GS
• Tank Stumble - Stun a Tank with an explosion in the Crash Course campaign. – 20 GS
• Cr0wnd - Kill a Witch with a single headshot. – 30 GS
• Witch Hunter - Kill a Witch without any Survivor taking damage from her. – 20 GS
• Do Not Disturb - Sneak past all Witches in a campaign without disturbing one. – 20 GS
• Stomach Upset - All Survivors complete a campaign without being vomited on. – 20 GS

Not bad for a couple of hours work.  I have been enjoying my solo L4D experience, but would welcome some company as well.  I think I am going to attempt to secure the The Littlest Genocide achievement (Kill 5,359 Infected in the Crash Course campaign) before I am through.

A Week To Live
Complete 7 days in any game mode without dying

Gamerscore = 25 Acquired 10/10/2009

The Zombie Apocalypse: I decided this past week to pick up this game.  I was slowed by some bad information provided by one of my friends (and if you are reading this than you know who you are).  Anyway in short the game is a zombie-themed twin-stick shooter that borrows heavily from L4D.  Now borrowing from L4D is certainly not a bad thing, perhaps just not the most imaginative thing.  While I enjoyed this game I did not find it to be the greatest twin-stick shooter available.  In fact I would recommend this game only to people who have to have every twin-stick shooter, or for those who are looking for a quick-fix zombie shooter on the Arcade.  In fact, for quick shooting, you are probably better served by Crash Course.  Regardless, I will put some more time into it, hoping to perhaps hook up with a friend and play online.

That is all from the ZAN team for this week.  Next time I hope to blow up the next great Zombie game, Left 4 Dead 2.  Until next time, keep one eye open for those nasty undead!

-SG

Everybody loves Zombies, that is just a fact.  And if you are an Xbox 360 owner (and you likely are if you are reading this) you have so much to love, especially as of late.  In my first episode of Zombie Action News (ZAN) I will highlight all the recent goings on in regards to Zombies and their infection of the Xbox landscape.  Now for our top story:

Crash Corse Lands on Left 4 Dead: I know the sequel is due out in several weeks, but don’t trade in your copy of Left 4 Dead just yet.  Today Valve released an all new campaign, Crash Course, for the Xbox 360 and PC.  Crash Course acts as a bridge between two of the existing story chapters, No Mercy and Death Toll.  New dialogue, multiplayer tweaks, and additional achievements highlight the latest content package.  While PC users will get the content for free, console users will have to pay a premium in order to see the new chapter.  Personally I am excited for the excuse to pop L4D back into my 360.

Also in Zombie Action News this week:

Zombie Apocalypse Arrives on XBLA:  Want the thrill of killing scads of Zombies with 3 other friends but not pay for a premium experience like Left 4 Dead?  Zombie Apocalypse may be the answer.  ZA allows you and up to three other friends (local co-op only though, sorry) to kill wave after wave of Zombies in the style of a twin-sticks shooter.  So if you loved games like Smash TV or Robotron in the past you will feel immediately comfortable in the Zombie Apocalypse.  As I mentioned prior it is local co-op only, I consider that to be a pretty big knock on the game, perhaps they could patch in multiplayer in the future?  I did download the demo and actually found the game to be quite enjoyable, I may perhaps buy this game in the future.  By following this LINK you can download it for yourself and see what the Zombie Apocalypse is all about.

I MAED A GAM3 W1TH ZOMBIES 1N IT!!!1:  Budget conscious Zombie hunters need look no further than Jamezila’s (of Dishwasher on XBLA fame) I MAED A GAM3 W1TH Z0MB1ES!!!1.  This quick little Zombie hunting twin-stick shooter only costs 80 MS points and can be found on the Xbox LIVE’s Marketplace under the Indie Games banner and is worth it just to hear the games title theme alone.  While you start off killing Zombies you will eventually spin off to shooting other odd objects.  While this game may not provide all the thrills and chills of other Zombie games, it does have Zombies it it and is actually a lot of fun!  The game also supports 4 player local co-op.so bring some friends.

Terror is Reality: Dead Rising is one of the all-time classic Zombie games, and with the sequel they show know signs of slowing down.  This past week at the Tokyo Game Show Capcom unveiled there take on multiplayer with a game-show style take on Gears’ Horde and ODST’s Firefight modes entitled Terror is Reality.  TIR bits up to 4 gamers in a WWE pay-per-view style arena fighting for their lives against waves of brain-hungry Zombies!  The host reminds me a lot of Zach from Tecmo’s D.O.A. series of games.  Personally I can’t wait to see how this mode will play out.  I have a feeling it will be a real winner!

Left 4 Dead 2:  All that and we still have Left 4 Dead 2 arriving on November 17th.  No real news to report on it, just that it is coming out real soon.

So certainly no shortage of Zombie action for gamers now and for the conceivable future.  I may need to watch the Dawn of the Dead remake to get my Zombie mood on.  Halloween comes early!

Left 4 Dead - Crash Course

-SG