GENRE
	Racing/Shooter
	DEVELOPER
	1988 Games
	PUBLISHER
	n/a
	WI-FI ENHANCED
	No
	WII EXCLUSIVE
	Yes
	EXPECTED RELEASE DATE
	TBA
	BUY NOW AT

More and more large developers are beginning to see the potential financial windfall of Wii development and are increasingly bringing more resources to bear on the console. Unfortunately, Wii owners have been deluged with more mediocre ports and shoddy cash-ins than they would like to remember.

Beneath the profit-driven mentality of some of the larger houses, however, lies a movement of independent developers who are also beginning to explore what Nintendo’s new console can do...and bringing some truly unique ideas to the table in the process. One such developer is 1988 Games, which recently sat down with Nintendojo to share some information on their upcoming Wii project, Zombie Massacre. This offbeat action game takes its cues from the action movies of the 80s as well as some of the arcade scene’s most compelling genres, promising Wii owners something altogether different off the retail shelf.

media

None available yet.

impressions

Zombie Massacre is still in the early stages of development, and as a result, we were not yet able to see any screenshots or gameplay footage. However, the developer was able to share several important pieces of information with us. According to 1988 Games, Zombie Massacre is meant to be a fusion of the timed arcade racer (such as Crazy Taxi) and the on-rails co-op shooter (such as House of the Dead or Virtua Cop). The premise is straightforward: zombies have sprung up in a city and its up to four heroes to put an end to the madness. How? By driving a ticking nuclear bomb into the heart of downtown and then getting out before the whole town turns to toast. This is no Sunday drive, as endless hordes of zombies lie in the wait to stop the heroes. In addition, an even more formidable challenge lies in the game’s timer: the players only have a limited amount of time to drop the bomb off downtown and get out before they are themselves obliterated.

The game allows for 1-4 players, but uses four characters at all times. This means that possible playing combinations range from one player and three CPU-controlled allies to four human players. One player drives the vehicle -- a vintage 1950s convertible -- while the other three are responsible for mowing down any undead standing in their way. (The driver, incidentally, can also use weapons while driving, but has the additional responsibility of the steering wheel.) Players can switch positions on the fly, allowing different players to take on different roles over the course of the game. The game’s life bar consists of bottles of anti-mutagen, which are lost whenever a player is attacked by a zombie.

Upon starting the game, players choose a perimeter starting point. Each starting point commands a different level of difficulty (like the old Star Fox games) and features different game scenarios. In addition, players will be able to choose from branching pathways to the city during their suicide run, offering a variety of experiences that the developer hopes will give the game a lot of replay value.

The primary objective is to deliver the nuclear payload, but along the way the players will run into innocents that they can save, who will serve an important role in the game. One, they provide extra bottles of anti-mutagen for the players. Two, they serve as a "human shield," sacrificing their lives to save the players in the event that a zombie gets into the car. Three, some innocents have unique professions that unlock special weapons; rescuing a firefighter, for example, gives a player access to the firefighter’s axe.

Along those lines, we all know that a zombie game wouldn’t be complete without lots and lots of weapons, and Zombie Massacre promises to deliver an arsenal of them. Some weapons will be dropped by dead enemies during the course of the game, while others can only be acquired by rescuing specific civilians. Standard weapons in the game require ammo (which can be picked up during the run) but pack a lot of ranged punch, whether they be machine guns or shotguns. Special weapons are designed to wipe out large numbers of zombies at once and include such favorites as the flamethrower and the shoulder-fired rocket launcher. When ammo runs low, however, Zombie Massacre allows players to fend off their mutated foes with a wide range of melee weapons, including bats and lead pipes. Finally, Zombie Massacre also allows players to pick up up some truly bizarre weapons, such as holy water, a lawn mower, and -- no, we’re not kidding -- even a kitchen sink.

Controls are no small part of any Wii game, and Zombie Massacre mixes in some Wii conventions with a few unique twists. All weapon controls are mapped to the Wii Remote, while all steering is mapped to the Nunchuck -- this enables the driver to both shoot and steer at the same time, should he or she so desire. Shooting is handled with the Wii remote’s IR functionality, with players shooting or swiping at everything in sight. Weapon cycling is handled with the D-pad, while shooting is handled with the B-button. The A-button is reserved for the air strike -- a limited-use, mass damage attack on all the enemies onscreen. Steering is effected by holding the nunchuck sideways and tilting it in an arc pattern. Acceleration and braking are tied to pushing the control stick left (or up, accounting for the 90 degree turn) or right, respectively. The Z button allows the player to jump the car over obstacles, while the C-button engages a limited-use Nitro boost.

There are a couple of other game features worth noting. One, 1988 Games is promising compatibility with both the Wii Zapper (via a special gunner only mode) and the Wii Wheel (via a special driver only mode). Two, although the game will likely not support online gampeplay, the developer is looking into cultivating an online community through online best time rankings via the Wii Internet Browser and through sponsoring Wii parties.

word on the street

With the game still early in development -- and with no publisher as of yet -- this is a game that remains largely below the radar. Expect to hear more from 1988 Games as the project continues to move forward.

press release notes

Welcome to the world of Zombie Massacre…

In a city of over 5 million people, complete anarchy takes siege when a train carrying several tons of toxic, biohazardous waste derails near downtown. Now, three ravenous street punks turned heroes and one cop will bear the burden of finishing a job that no one else was man enough to take on. Their mission: to get a fully armed warhead that’s stashed in their trunk downtown by any means necessary. The catch? It’s already ticking! With the barrels of their guns and the strength of their bumpers, these men will accomplish their mission or die trying. There may be an endless wave of undead maniacs standing in their way, but as the old saying goes, the road to hell is paved with...a Zombie Massacre!

overall

1988 Games is promising a great deal with Zombie Massacre, including four player co-op gameplay, fast-paced arcade racing, multiple game scenarios, cool weapons, and loads of zombie-shooting mayhem. While we’ll have to wait to see the idea in motion before formulating more concrete judgments, this is certainly a project we’ll be keeping a close eye on. Stay tuned.