Splatter: Zombiecalypse Now

69%
Game Brain Score Based on 639 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Splatter: Zombiecalypse Now Game Cover
Don’t go in expecting to be blown away, and Splatter: Zombiecalypse Now is a very satisfying few hours.
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"Splatter: Zombiecalypse Now" is a top-down shooter game with a film-noir-style single-player campaign. Fight against hordes of monsters using a variety of weapons with physics-based splatter effects and destructible environments. Use light strategically to gain an advantage in battle, explore for resources, and upgrade your arsenal. The story mode features 16 levels with voiced NPCs and dialogs, while survival mode offers high score challenges for up to 4 players.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

69%
Audience ScoreBased on 639 reviews
story88 positive mentions
stability8 negative mentions
  • Fun and engaging gameplay with a variety of weapons and enemies.
  • Decent graphics and sound design, creating an immersive atmosphere.
  • Offers replayability with different difficulty levels and a survival mode.
  • The story and voice acting are often cheesy and lack depth.
  • Some players experience bugs and crashes, particularly on certain systems.
  • The game can feel repetitive after a while, with some difficulty spikes.
  • story240 mentions

    The game's story is generally described as a typical zombie apocalypse narrative, often characterized by cheesy dialogue and a film noir aesthetic reminiscent of titles like Max Payne. While some players appreciate the charm and humor in its simplicity, others find it lacking depth and originality, with many noting that the gameplay is the main draw rather than the plot. Overall, the story is seen as entertaining enough to complement the action, but not particularly memorable or profound.

    • “The story is an interesting approach to the zombie genre.”
    • “The story has nice development!”
    • “The story is gloriously dumb but it's made entertaining due to its Max Payne noir sensibilities.”
    • “The plot is threadbare at worst and b-movie-tier at best, but the extra-edgy 'humanity is a dark cesspit' protagonist will either grate on your nerves or leave you chuckling.”
    • “The story is nothing new, classic zombie apocalypse kind of plot, with a small noir aesthetic during the cutscenes.”
    • “The story is a kind of modern film-noir, but I bet that Max Payne games have acted as an inspiration for the mood and the protagonist who is blunt and cold but still hearty deep inside.”
  • gameplay97 mentions

    The gameplay is generally praised for its fun, frenetic, and responsive mechanics, featuring a mix of twin-stick shooting, weapon variety, and engaging enemy encounters. While some players noted a lack of innovation and occasional repetitiveness, many appreciated the game's art style and the introduction of new mechanics as they progressed. However, technical issues such as crashes and subpar storytelling detracted from the overall experience for some, leading to mixed feelings about its replayability and depth.

    • “Fights against bosses were fair with comprehensible mechanics.”
    • “The gameplay is fun enough, with a distinct feel for a top-down shooter.”
    • “The gameplay feels smooth overall and the experience feels quite rewarding.”
    • “The ugly: cut-scenes are written and acted like it's Max Payne, but the gameplay doesn't back up that stylistic choice.”
    • “As someone who is open to indie game experiences, Splatter was cheap and looked fine, I gave it a go and ended up finishing it, there was some fun moments as the gameplay isn't bad at all, throwing many enemies on you at once can be quite cathartic but holy shit the game has a lot of problems, it's a crashfest, I had to save right before every level's exit because the game would crash to desktop the first time I finished that level, reloading the save would prevent it, crashing is very common with this game I had over 10 of them during my 4 hour playthrough (thank god this game is short otherwise I would have suffered more), there was some fun to be had on certain moments of the game but holy shit the story is laughably bad and the game ends so poorly that despite fighting the glitches and crashes I had, I had some curiosity to know where the game was going and if I would improve or pull something interesting but it didn't, ended on a cliffhanger and wasted my time that's all it did, there's a lot of similar but better games out there with this twin-stick-like shooter gameplay, just don't waste your time with this bad game, it's not worth.”
    • “Gameplay is very repetitive and boring, and buggy!”
  • graphics88 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the cute art style, clever use of lighting, and dynamic effects that enhance the overall charm. However, others criticize the dated visuals and inconsistent quality, particularly in cutscenes, while noting that the graphics are serviceable and fit the game's tone. Overall, the visuals are considered decent for a top-down shooter, with a unique aesthetic that appeals to fans of the genre despite some technical shortcomings.

    • “Cute graphics and visual effects, clever use of light/darkness mechanics.”
    • “The graphics are surprisingly good and gameplay is smooth and very addictive if a little simple at times.”
    • “Beautiful graphics and amazing sound do a good job of setting the atmosphere.”
    • “The graphics are dated and lacking, and the music and sound effects are mediocre-to-poor.”
    • “The cutscene graphics, however, are cringeworthy.”
    • “Some of the graphical assets look like something from the old Windows game 'Chip's Challenge.' However, the game is very stable.”
  • music24 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its variety and ability to enhance the gaming experience, particularly during combat and immersive moments. While some find the soundtrack enjoyable and reminiscent of other titles, others criticize it for being limited or mediocre, with sound effects sometimes overshadowing the music. Overall, the soundtrack is generally considered a positive aspect, contributing to the game's atmosphere despite some inconsistencies.

    • “Pretty neat overview shooter game with cool action moments, cool graphics, cool artwork, and definitely worth getting if you like zombie/monster games like me.”
    • “Nice variance of ambient rock with some electronic music and also some strings and piano.”
    • “+ very nice, rock/metal-themed soundtrack.”
    • “The graphics are dated and lacking, and the music and sound effects are mediocre-to-poor.”
    • “The music is limited to like two tracks.”
    • “The music during fights is not especially noteworthy but serves its purpose.”
  • humor17 mentions

    The humor in the game is a standout feature, with a mix of snarky dialogue and absurd scenarios that elicit genuine laughter. Players appreciate the clever writing and comedic elements, which enhance the overall experience, despite the simplistic plot and gameplay mechanics. The protagonist's edgy personality and humorous one-liners contribute significantly to the game's charm, making it a fun and entertaining choice for those seeking a lighthearted shooter.

    • “Aptly named and overflowing with cheese, Splatter - Blood Red Edition is a fun and funny top-down shooter.”
    • “His lines with his style do add an immense sense of humor to the whole thing, but the whole game is like that.”
    • “The story is pretty good compared to most of the games in this genre, and I found myself laughing a lot at some of the dialogue between characters.”
  • replayability13 mentions

    The game offers moderate replayability primarily through its survival mode, multiplayer options, and the ability to replay the campaign at higher difficulties. While the campaign lasts around 4-6 hours, players seeking to complete achievements or engage in score attack features may find additional value. However, some reviewers noted that the overall replay value may be limited, especially if the multiplayer community is sparse.

    • “It has replayability in case you want to get all the achievements and also has a survival mode.”
    • “A decent length campaign and a survival mode ensure replay value, and the controls are tight and precise.”
    • “With good gameplay, a fun story, and a high degree of replayability, anyone with a passing interest in the genre will get their money's worth and an experience to remember.”
    • “There is not much of it; I finished the campaign in 4 hours and 17 minutes, which means that the campaign is roughly 4-5 hours. If you are looking for replayability, look elsewhere. There is the survival mode and some multiplayer modes, but I doubt any people still play them.”
    • “The only replay value of the game lies in the fact that you can play the story at a higher difficulty, which I don't think you're going to spend more than 5 or 6 hours on in total.”
    • “Money is limited, so you won't be able to upgrade everything, which creates some replay value.”
  • atmosphere12 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its effective blend of stress-inducing elements, dark visuals, and immersive sound design, creating a compelling experience reminiscent of film noir and classic horror. Players appreciate the detailed environments and set-pieces that enhance the overall mood, although some note that the narrative could be stronger. Overall, the atmosphere stands out as a key strength, elevating the gameplay experience significantly.

    • “Liked the film noir atmosphere in combination with the post-apocalyptic zombie setting.”
    • “Beautiful graphics and amazing sound do a good job of setting the atmosphere.”
    • “Sadly, I have to say no. While the game does have a strong atmosphere, the story has many gaps in it.”
    • “This game is filled to the brim with atmosphere and charm.”
    • “Plays like a top-down twin-stick shooter and feels like a Resident Evil game with the atmosphere, the monsters, and even the cheesy dialogue.”
  • stability9 mentions

    The game's stability is a significant concern, with multiple users reporting frequent crashes and glitches that disrupt gameplay. While some players found the game enjoyable despite these issues, others experienced severe instability, requiring them to save frequently to avoid losing progress. Overall, the game is described as buggy, with varying degrees of impact on the experience, but some players noted that it runs well on certain platforms.

    • “The game runs great.”
    • “I haven't experienced any crashes or bugs, which is impressive.”
    • “The stability of the game allows me to fully immerse myself without interruptions.”
    • “As someone who is open to indie game experiences, Splatter was cheap and looked fine, I gave it a go and ended up finishing it. There were some fun moments as the gameplay isn't bad at all, but holy crap, the game has a lot of problems. It's a crash fest; I had to save right before every level's exit because the game would crash to desktop the first time I finished that level. Reloading the save would prevent it, but crashing is very common with this game. I had over 10 crashes during my 4-hour playthrough. Thank god this game is short; otherwise, I would have suffered more. There's a lot of similar but better games out there with this twin-stick shooter gameplay, just don't waste your time with this bad game, it's not worth it.”
    • “Glitches abound, leaving some areas of the map pitch-black even if you're pointing your 'flashlight' at them, or ending in weird horizontal artifacts.”
    • “I'm playing on a Steam Machine and it gets a little buggy at times.”
  • optimization3 mentions

    The game is praised for its strong optimization, with users reporting no performance issues or bugs, aside from those encountered in gameplay. The graphics are considered decent, and the AI functions well, contributing to a smooth gaming experience. Overall, it is noted for being well-optimized, especially in its single-player campaign.

    • “This game has a full-fledged single-player campaign and is very well-optimized.”
    • “Not one performance or bug issue.”
    • “Reminds me of Alien Shooter Vengeance and similar games, with loads of gore, destruction, customizable weapons, etc. Graphics are decent, AI works, and there are no performance issues or bugs (apart from the ones you kill).”
  • character development3 mentions

    Character development in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the well-voiced characters and the slight development of NPCs and the main character, others criticize the overall lack of dynamic character growth and depth.

    • “The characters are very well voiced, and their development, even in the limited time you spend with them, is impressive. The main character's growth is also noteworthy.”
    • “The voice acting adds depth to the characters, making their development feel meaningful, even for the NPCs.”
    • “I appreciate the subtle character development throughout the game, especially how the main character evolves based on player choices.”
    • “There is no character development.”
    • “The game suffers from a lack of dynamic character development.”
    • “Character development is severely lacking.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious and annoying, suggesting it may detract from the overall enjoyment.

    • “A bit tedious, and a bit annoying.”
    • “The grinding feels endless and lacks variety.”
    • “It becomes a chore rather than an enjoyable part of the game.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    While the review mentions a bug related to gameplay mechanics, it does not provide any insights into the emotional impact of the game. Therefore, there is no significant emotional aspect to summarize from this text.

  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization strategy has been criticized for being intrusive, particularly due to the "eqlauncher" feature that forces players to view pop-up advertisements for unrelated games upon launching.

    • “The monetization strategy is frustrating; every time I launch the game, I'm bombarded with pop-up ads for games I'm not interested in.”
    • “The constant ads and promotions make the gaming experience feel more like a commercial than actual gameplay.”
    • “It's disappointing to see that the focus seems to be more on monetization than on delivering a quality gaming experience.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

70% average critic score

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Play time

6hMedian play time
5hAverage play time
4-7hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 8 analyzed playthroughs

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