Zero Punctuation: ZombiU

[jecht35]

I don't know how anyone can think the Wii U gamepad is so heavy its actually very light and comfortable, oh Yahtzee you and your nintendo shenanigans.

Anyways back on topic hmmm it seems that Yahtzee liked this game so maybe I'll give it a try, or maybe I'll just let my brother buy it and lend it to me

 

[TheSchaef]

Oh, look, Yahtzee has a new Nintendo console and he doesn't like it. I'm soooo surprised to hear this. Maybe what would be good would be to spend 30% of the review whinging about the console, say it's time to talk about the game, and then spend 30% of that remaining time using the game to whinge about the console some more.

Yeah, I too am disappointed in that design decision to have people look down to view the contents of a box they opened, unlike the much more realistic simulation of previous games, because the normal practice for a cardboard box is that you hold it up parallel to the floor and the contents magically stay rooted in place while the box itself becomes semi-transparent so that you can see through it at the same time as you are seeing into it.

 

[soh45400]

That's the problem with a "serious" zombie game like this, after you introduce them you can't really add anything new exept for more intense encounters. You can't introduce, say, fly-men once you've established this is a "conventional" zombie outbreak. This is probibly why Resident Evil made it aobut bio-weapons, to add giant snakes and lizard-men giving the game some variaty.

Exactly what I was going to say.

This game seems to be as realistic as a zombie game can get, and because there's no bio weaponry involved or say genetic mutations ... the zombies are left to be as they appeared from the start. Once you're set with weapons along with experience- you're going to tear through the game. I'm also a bit sad that the game is so short .. I figured it'd be at least 10 hours or 12, since it was to be the Wii U's spotlight game.

But Capcom's other zombie game did it without other mutants by using crazy humans. Then there is the Walking Dead game.

 

[TheOrb]

Three hours IS a long time to play non-stop.

The first time I did that, I couldn't walk straight for twenty minutes.

 

[Kuomon]

I was hoping someone had pointed this out in the comments but I guess this isn't as well known as I think it is. ZombiU is not a new IP, it is a Remake of sorts of an old computer game by the name of Zombi. As for YC's comments on the game, it seems he enjoyed it for the most part, but was disappointed with the late game.

 

[Something Amyss]

As a reformed PC gamer who couldn't give a fuck about the console wars, I really am starting to wonder if there is ANYTHING Nintendo can do to satisfy Yahtzee.

Make good hardware. Make good games. Drop pointless gimmicks (which would be part of the first two, anyway). Make the next DS have tits and be on fire.

 

[Bindal]

ZombiU WANTS you to not look on the TV for the purpose of getting in the way of your Line of Vision to increase tension.

You know how they also could have achieved the "loose sight of surrounding"-thing? BY HAVING A FREAKING GUI ON THE SCREEN BLOCKING SAID VIEW!

Yes, we as gamers want more ****/stuff on the screen. So if I get this straight. You want alot of clutter on the main screen? I'm glad for the second screen so the clutter doesn't block my field of view. And yes I have played so many games like GoW, Bayonetta, DMC, CoD where the clutter on the screen hid enemy movement and got me killed a few times. I, at the time, accepted it as the limits of a console. Now that we got a console with a second screen on the controller to free up the screen more...you complain? A clutter-free screen video game is hard to come by, and the Wii-U is helping to fix that and I couldn't be happier.

Ever heard "Inventory Screen"? Something that every game ever used? And nobody complained about it "blocking the screen"? In fact, it is 100% possible to keep the screen clear in normal gameplay and still have a GUI for your oh-so-wanted 'immersion by blocking Line of Vision'. Dead Space did that already! Absolutely no GUI whatsoever during gameplay UNTIL you open your inventory. Similar to a lot of other games (some had some few GUI, some had none - BUT ALL WORKED)

 

[Something Amyss]

Yeah, I too am disappointed in that design decision to have people look down to view the contents of a box they opened, unlike the much more realistic simulation of previous games, because the normal practice for a cardboard box is that you hold it up parallel to the floor and the contents magically stay rooted in place while the box itself becomes semi-transparent so that you can see through it at the same time as you are seeing into it.

Who said anything about realism? No, seriously?

I thought we were talking about functionality.

 

[LordMonty]

They are selling slower than psvita where i work... and that is bad to be clear <.<

Price is a bit mental on the old wiiu and tbh i also hate motion touch screen meh that it is but meh who cares to much to moan about today enjoy it or hate it i'll stick to my pc, ps3 and yes pokemon dsi adiction(i hate the irony i never palyed this as a kid and now my ocd loves it).

 

[DrunkOnEstus]

I've said my piece on this game before, but for some reason I decided to look through the manual for it after watching this. Get this: "Dont Cheat...on your favorite gun! Guns are like condoms, see - everyone gets the biggest one they can and before you know it they've discharged all over the floor. Find one that fits and stick with it."

Um...wanting to make it clear that this is a "mature" Nintendo game, Ubisoft?

 

[Sewer Rat]

At 40 seconds in I couldn't help but wonder "what the hell is Mr. Wonderful doing in this review?"
Still, great review as ever.

 

[Sheo_Dagana]

I don't think Yahtzee dislikes the Wii U as much as he hates gimmicks, and having to use the gamepad as your sniper scope is about as gimmicky as it gets. That's why he's always honing in on Nintendo - Nintendo loooooves their gimmicks. He's made fun of the Kinect and the Move as well, but since those are optional things, he's not having to constantly deal with them. Regardless, he's spot on about the tablet; holding that thing with one hand gets kind of irksome after a while. I know it's the size that it has to be, but it's still pretty uncomfortable to game with it.

Doesn't seem like he disliked this game, which is more than ZombiU can say where other critics are concerned. The game has been universally panned, so the fact that Yahtzee had a lot of positive things to say about it is interesting. I'm gonna give it a rent if I get the chance.

 

[Something Amyss]

Am surprised he gave even mild credit to the game because Yahtzee's general opinion on anything with Nintendo's label on it is "lol Nintendo sux".

I get a feeling people who say this haven't spent much time actually paying attention to what he said.

Uh, the game developers?

Unless Yahtzee was one of the game developers, that doesn't really matter.

Was Yahtzee one of the game developers?

No? So when the poster was going after Yahtzee based on those claims as though presented by Yahtzee, referencing points that Yahtzee specifically made, and claimed realism, it was pointless?

Awesome. Your technicality still validates my statement.

 

[FallenMessiah88]

Awesome review. I had a feeling that Yahtzee wouldn't really hate the game itself as much as he would hate all the gimmicky touch screen mechanics. I will say thought that using the touch screen as the inventory screen kinda makes sense. On the other hand, the scope mechanic seems quite stupid.

 

[Something Amyss]

I don't think Yahtzee dislikes the Wii U as much as he hates gimmicks, and having to use the gamepad as your sniper scope is about as gimmicky as it gets. That's why he's always honing in on Nintendo - Nintendo loooooves their gimmicks. He's made fun of the Kinect and the Move as well, but since those are optional things, he's not having to constantly deal with them. Regardless, he's spot on about the tablet; holding that thing with one hand gets kind of irksome after a while. I know it's the size that it has to be, but it's still pretty uncomfortable to game with it.

Doesn't seem like he disliked this game, which is more than ZombiU can say where other critics are concerned. The game has been universally panned, so the fact that Yahtzee had a lot of positive things to say about it is interesting. I'm gonna give it a rent if I get the chance.

Also, Nintendo fans are more likely to get hostile and/or defensive about their system, so there's a certain level of confirmation bias in the process of seeing all this "hate."

If XBox or Playstation gamers were as militant in defending their consoles, the apparent bias would go away pretty quick.

And yeah, Yahtzee came off as fairly positive about the game. Considering he's supposed to hate Nintendo, you'd think he'd be more hostile. I mean, the game has a metascore of 77 on both Metacritic and Gamerankings, and as we all know, on the four point scale, that's pretty crappy.

>.>

 

[Hutzpah Chicken]

The cricket bat makes it sound like a silly little fun game. The 3 hours that the controller holds a charge is more than enough time to play ANOTHER zombie game.

 

[medv4380]

Got this console for myself for xmas.

Seems like he didn't really like the console itself but he didn't seem to have anything against the game.

The controller thingy is loaded with a charger I hope. Otherwise the cost for batteries is going to be pretty damn high.

It has an AC adapter so if you're going for a long 3+ hr session it's best to keep it plugged in, but if you're playing Mario and want to move to the kitchen for some reason and let someone else use the TV you'll only get 3hrs in the other room. However, ZombiU can't use that feature since it requires both a TV and Control. Works fine though walls too. Not so much though my Chimney though. Probably won't work though walls with a lot of wiring or plumbing ether.

It's too bad he didn't review the multiplayer mode. I kinda like one player playing a Zombie Strategy with the pad and the other playing a shooter with the Pro Control or Wiimote+nunchuck. That part could have used online multiplayer, but it is one of those quickly put-together launch titles that's not a port so they must have skipped it.

The online messaging also makes little to no sense, and you'll end up, inadvertently, marking things as "don't trust" because of it.

 

[DuelLadyS]

Actually, I rarely play for more than 2-3 hours in a sitting. However, I'm well aware that I'm in a minority on that one. Plus, the break in between play sessions is usually only an hour or so, so unless that gamepad recharges like crazy, it's still not gonna work.

As far as the Wii U itself- at this point, control gimmicks don't really phase me much. I just want good games. I'll play the Wii U like I do any other system- 3 exclusives I'm dying to own before I commit. Honestly, things are looking good for the Wii U- I want Rayman Origins and the Wonderful 101, so they only need 1 more to get me looking for deals on it. Still gotta wait for the tax return next year though- and a composite cable. I've decided not to upgrade my TV until me and the fiance work out the whole wedding/house thing (that way I can keep it on hand for the old school systems.)

 

[deadish]

I see the Nintendo Defences Force is out in full force.

A lot of people on Twitter that I follow seem to like the Wii U quite a bit. It's nice to heard some "counter-arguments".

Most of Yahtzee complains, which I agree with, are pretty much what I expected. Nintendo is still riding the gimmick train. I suppose after the "success" of the gimmicky Wii and DS. Why wouldn't they do it again? The 3DS's gimmick didn't turn out too well though, I'm quite sure it's only selling because of it's brand - and the lack of brand of it's competitor.

 

[daxterx2005]

Wait, you mean sniffing hair doesnt count? D: