Zombie Army 4 Does What It Says On The Tin, And That’s Fine – Preview
Time to kill Hitler… again.
Starting life as DLC to the Sniper Elite series, Zombie Army has morphed into a standalone series in its own right. Just like killing Nazis, killing zombies never really goes out of style, even if we think we’re sick of it, and Rebellion knows that. Zombie Army 4 quite simply and unpretentiously iterates on that formula of killing Nazi zombies.
Zombie Army 4 nevertheless seems to take a leaf from Sniper Elite, with players taking on the role of Karl Fairburne, alongside three other playable characters, as they once again try to foil Hitler’s diabolical plans to raise an army of undead. It also happens to be set in Italy, the same setting as Sniper Elite 4, opening with a moonlit mission through Milan.
Once you’re kitted up at the safehouse, it’s straightforward zombie-killing action as you steadily progress through paced encounters. Everything leads through dark, narrow streets as you mow down Nazi zombies to unblock mysterious cursed seals obstructing your path.
These moments are described as sieges, and, according to lead level designer Jordan Woodward, they are one of the main focuses of the game. “Sieges become quite varied, and they will challenge you to use a variety of weapons,” he says. “You’ll really think about how you’re going to encounter each siege differently, and how to work with your co-op partners.”
Just like Left 4 Dead or Call of Duty’s Zombies mode, co-op is a key part of gameplay, though it’s also possible to play through the whole campaign by yourself (and you truly are by yourself as there are no AI companions). Woodward adds that you can even play a four-player game by yourself for the extra challenge, “so you can tailor the difficulty however you like,” he explains.
While the single-player offerings are abundant, co-op definitely feels the optimal condition, even with just one other player by your side. Even though these are mostly your bog-standard shuffling zombies (well, apart from the one running towards me with explosives strapped to it – can we get that enemy type in the bin already), the horde does actually get pretty overwhelming, and there’s only so much your own weapons can do when they’re approaching from different sides. That said, you can also place traps like mines or make use of your environment, like employing mounted turrets for extra backup.
That partner does come in especially handy to revive you if you’re downed, though in this status you’re still able to keep fighting to your last breath. Players who do perish actually rise up as a zombie until they’re able to respawn if their teammate(s) reach the next checkpoint. It’s a novel touch showing some of the studio’s humour, though it would be even better if you could control your zombie form.
Zombie Army 4 takes some ideas from Sniper Elite 4, which took that series to more open environments. While the horde of zombies is still best experienced in tight spaces, there’s added traversal, like being able to climb around and get to different vantage points. Meanwhile, that game’s trademark x-ray kill cam also turns up here, though since you’re not just using a sniper rifle, there’s a bit more than just shooting zombie Nazi testicles.
Speaking of weaponry, you’ll start the game with quite an arsenal: two shotguns, two machine guns, three rifles, and three pistols. The depth comes from being able to upgrade and customise each weapon as you play, allowing players to specialise their experience without class systems.
Zombie Army 4 also adds some new features, such as specials. There are melee abilities like being able to punch zombies with an electric fist, but the takedown is probably the juiciest addition – get up close to a zombie and, depending on what weapon you have, you’ll execute a spectacularly gory takedown like stabbing a zombie in the head or a shotgun to the face, which also restores your health in a Doom-like spin. For this, you’ll need to charge up a gauge so you can’t just spam it whenever you want. Think of it as an ultimate for when you’re in a tight spot.
Taken as it is, there’s nothing particularly special about Zombie Army 4. It’s both no-nonsense and nonsensical, doing exactly what it says on the tin. But when it plays well, while iterating on the features that fans want, there’s not really much more that needs to be said. If you’re playing with mates, you’ll be in for a schlocky time.