Splatter: Zombiecalypse Now

87%
Game Brain Score Based on 808 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

87%
Audience ScoreBased on 808 reviews
story107 positive mentions
stability11 negative mentions
  • Engaging gameplay with a variety of weapons and enemies, providing a fun shooting experience.
  • The noir-inspired story and voice acting add a unique charm, making it entertaining despite its cheesiness.
  • Great value for the price, especially when on sale, offering hours of enjoyable gameplay.
  • The game is relatively short, with a campaign that can be completed in about 4-6 hours.
  • Some technical issues, including crashes and bugs, can detract from the overall experience.
  • Voice acting and dialogue can be cheesy and poorly executed, which may not appeal to all players.
  • story322 mentions

    The story in this top-down zombie shooter is generally described as cheesy and predictable, often drawing comparisons to classic B-movie narratives and noir aesthetics reminiscent of Max Payne. While some players appreciate the engaging yet simple plot and voice acting, others find it lacking depth and originality, with many noting that the gameplay is the main draw rather than the storyline itself. Overall, the story serves its purpose in providing context for the action, but it is not a standout feature of the game.

    • “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.”
    • “The story is basic but still enough to keep you engaged, and the film-noir take on the zombie apocalypse is pretty interesting.”
    • “Splatter is a brilliantly crafted top-down shooter that mixes the best of the genre's game mechanics with a solid story straight out of a (purposefully) b-grade zombie movie.”
    • “Kinda dull gameplay, and the story is meh.”
    • “The story is nothing to write home about.”
    • “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.”
  • gameplay132 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by a nostalgic top-down shooter experience, blending simple mechanics with frenetic twin-stick action against hordes of zombies. While it offers enjoyable moments and a variety of weapons, many players noted issues with repetitiveness, bugs, and a lack of depth in both gameplay and storytelling. Overall, it provides a fun, albeit flawed, experience that appeals to fans of the genre, especially when considering its retro aesthetic and engaging mechanics.

    • “The gameplay consists of some light adventuring and almost arcade-like zombie twin-stick shooting from a simplistic top-down perspective.”
    • “The gameplay is fun enough...only for when it is on sale.”
    • “Coupled with the solid gameplay, graphics, and level design, Splatter proved to be an unexpected gem.”
    • “The gameplay is simplistic and shooting things isn't very satisfying.”
    • “Gameplay is very repetitive and boring, and buggy!”
    • “Crashes instantly within the first 30 seconds of gameplay - this, added to a clear lack of development and design.”
  • graphics124 mentions

    The graphics in the game are generally described as decent, with a mix of simple yet appealing visuals that effectively convey the game's atmosphere. While some players appreciate the art style and dynamic lighting effects, others find the graphics dated or lacking in detail, particularly in cutscenes. Overall, the visuals are considered serviceable for a top-down shooter, contributing to the game's charm despite some criticisms.

    • “Cute graphics and visual effects, clever use of light/darkness mechanics.”
    • “The graphics are dark and dreary with good lighting, and the game has really cool effects, especially when you kill something and it splatters, hence the game's name.”
    • “Great graphics, and the controls feel really tight.”
    • “But what truly sucks is the visuals.”
    • “The graphics are dated and lacking, and the music and sound effects are mediocre-to-poor.”
    • “Sure, the visuals are rather bad; think of the first Postal (not in the HD version).”
  • music35 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it enjoyable and fitting for the atmosphere, while others criticize it for being mediocre or overshadowing important dialogue. Many appreciate the variety in the soundtrack, noting its rock and electronic influences, but some feel it lacks depth and can become repetitive. Overall, while the music serves its purpose, it does not significantly enhance the gameplay experience for all players.

    • “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.”
    • “The music does the job, but I find even more enjoyable the sound design, like the rain or the environmental sounds, which make you feel really immersed!”
    • “Nice variance of ambient rock with some electronic music and also some strings and piano.”
    • “Audio is awful, your weapons sound like they have a silencer, you can't hear the voice of your character over the music and sound effects.”
    • “The graphics are dated and lacking, and the music and sound effects are mediocre-to-poor.”
    • “The music is limited to like two tracks.”
  • atmosphere26 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its effective blend of film noir elements and a dark, post-apocalyptic setting, creating a tense and immersive experience. Players appreciate the combination of fitting graphics, soundtracks, and atmospheric design, which enhances the overall gameplay, making it feel reminiscent of classic horror titles like Resident Evil. Despite some narrative gaps, the atmospheric presentation, including dynamic lighting and engaging cutscenes, significantly elevates the game's appeal.

    • “Liked the film noir atmosphere in combination with the post-apocalyptic zombie setting.”
    • “This game is filled to the brim with atmosphere and charm.”
    • “Beautiful graphics and amazing sound do a good job of setting the atmosphere.”
    • “Sadly, I have to say no, for the reasons that while the game does have a strong atmosphere, the story, however, has many gaps in it.”
    • “The atmosphere definitely elevates an otherwise adequate, but lackluster narrative; and together they generate a solid presentation.”
    • “It is not a jumpscare game, of course, but you can feel the thriller atmosphere.”
  • humor25 mentions

    The humor in the game is a standout feature, characterized by cheesy dialogue, snarky character interactions, and a blend of dark and absurd comedy that resonates well with players. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to deliver laughs through its over-the-top scenarios and witty lines, making it an enjoyable experience, especially given its low price point. Overall, the humor adds a significant layer of charm to the gameplay, enhancing the fun factor despite a simplistic plot.

    • “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.”
    • “It's like an indie version of the first Max Payne, and it's alternately appalling and hilarious, or sometimes both at once.”
  • replayability14 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, features like achievements and leaderboards enhance the incentive to revisit the game. However, some players feel 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.”
    • “Some replayability in survival mode.”
  • stability12 mentions

    The stability of the game is a significant concern among users, with many reporting frequent crashes and glitches that disrupt gameplay. While some players noted that the game runs well at times and is not entirely unplayable, the prevalence of bugs—such as getting stuck on edges and visual artifacts—detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the game's stability issues are a major drawback, leading to frustration and a lack of confidence in its reliability.

    • “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 shit, 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. 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'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 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.”
    • “Still buggy, the game crashes every time I kill the bug boss, can't complete it.”
  • optimization7 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization receives mixed feedback. While some players report excellent performance and no significant bugs, others experience framerate drops even on high-end systems, suggesting that optimization may not be consistent across all setups. Despite these issues, many still find the gameplay enjoyable.

    • “Not one performance or bug issue.”
    • “This game has a full-fledged single-player campaign and is very well-optimized.”
    • “This game gets excellent performance and the atmosphere is wonderful.”
    • “Not the best game ever, of course, and it also suffers from problems like poor optimization (the game resources are not even packed in any way, so, you can modify them with just Photoshop and Soundforge, while on a system that can run Witcher 3 on max settings I still got some framerate drops), but... it's fun.”
  • grinding4 mentions

    Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and annoying, often feeling that it detracts from the overall experience. While it may keep some players engaged, many express frustration with the repetitive nature of boss fights and the grinding mechanics, leading to a negative perception of the game's enjoyment.

    • “A bit tedious, and a bit annoying.”
    • “Boss fights are more tedious than challenging and/or fun.”
    • “My experience was painful and tedious, and so is my opinion of this game: bad and tedious.”
  • character development3 mentions

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

    • “The characters are very well voiced, and their development, even in the limited time you spend with them, adds depth to the experience.”
    • “The slight character development of the NPCs enhances the overall narrative, making each interaction feel meaningful.”
    • “The main character's development is engaging, and the voice acting truly brings their journey to life.”
    • “There is no character development.”
    • “The game suffers from a lack of dynamic character development.”
    • “Character development is severely lacking.”
  • 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, it lacks relevant information regarding the emotional aspect.

  • 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 detract from the overall gaming experience, making it feel more like a cash grab than a fun game.”
    • “It's disappointing to see such aggressive monetization tactics; it feels like the developers prioritize profit over player enjoyment.”
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 9 analyzed playthroughs

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