You saw the movie, now play the game. Jurassic Park. Aladdin. Cliffhanger. Home Alone, even. Impressive titles, most of them, but of all the Hollywood-Meets-Silicon video game spinouts to hit the shelves, none is as literally eye-popping as Konami's Zombies Ate My Neighbors for Nintendo and Sega machines.
Featuring every B horror flick tormentor and cliche to ever hit the screen, Zombies serves up 55 bleedin' levels of maniacal, thumb-busting monster bashing. The object of the game is to save the neighborhood from death and destruction. Each level starts with ten neighbors to save, but that number dwindles with each neighbor lost to the freaks. The neighbors are a silly lot: There are annoyingly cheery cheerleaders, a fat man lounging in his pool, a pair of unsuspecting camera-wielding tourists, even a guy roasting weenies on the barbecue. All of whom seem oblivious to the monsters moving in for the kill: Undead Zombies, Massacring Chainsaw Maniacs, Mummies, Evil Dolls, Lizard Men, Blobs, Vampires, Giant Ants, Werewolves, Crazy Axe Kids, Plant Creatures, and Pod Persons that look just like your character!
Wiping out the monsters after the first few levels requires super- quick reflexes and quick weapon changes. You start out with a water gun and build your arsenal with new weapons you find along the way, including exploding soda six-packs, rotten tomatoes, and decoy inflatable clowns. Graphics in the Sega Genesis version are pretty good, and really good in the Super Nintendo version (but not excellent). Sound is tops in both: Neighbors let rip blood curdling screams when attacked, chainsaws buzz menacingly, and zombies on your tail stroll around mumbling incoherent mumbo jumbo.
Control of movement is good and tight, but cycling through weapons takes a little getting used to - and a lot of skill to master. (Genesis players should definitely ditch their three button controllers for Sega's new six-button model, which Zombies makes good use of.) Zombies is definitely tough to beat, but, thankfully, passwords are given at every fourth level, which makes for less frustrating advancement. (I deplore games without passwords.) Two-player mode pairs you with a buddy for double trouble-shooting action.
Like the countless B films that inspired it, Zombies Ate My Neighbors is, despite its grim premise, a killer of a good time. Yark!
- Joe Hutsko
Zombies Ate My Neighbors, Super Nintendo: US$65. Genesis: US$55. Konami: +1 (708) 215 5100.
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