Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse
- March 16, 2021
- Aspyr
- 10h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on Xbox Games StoreIn "Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse," play as a zombie named Stubbs on a mission to take down the city of Punchbowl, PA in 1959. Consume brains to regain health and use unique zombie abilities like sputum and gut grenades. Build your army of undead allies and wreak havoc on the city, showing them that progress and ideal living are no match for a determined zombie.
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Xbox One
Xbox Series X|S
Xbox
Reviews
- Stubbs the Zombie is a unique and fun game that allows players to experience the zombie apocalypse from the perspective of the zombie, creating a horde and causing chaos.
- The humor and quirky dialogue throughout the game are entertaining, making it a memorable experience for players.
- The game has been updated to run smoothly on modern systems, with improved performance and controller support.
- The game can be quite short, typically taking only 4-6 hours to complete, which may leave some players wanting more.
- There are frequent crashes and bugs reported, particularly during autosaves, which can disrupt gameplay.
- The removal of the original soundtrack and some audio elements has disappointed many fans, affecting the overall atmosphere of the game.
- humor238 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in "Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse" is a mix of dark, crude, and absurd comedy that resonates well with fans of offbeat humor, often drawing comparisons to classic titles like "Destroy All Humans." While many players find the game's tongue-in-cheek jokes and quirky scenarios genuinely hilarious, some criticize the reliance on juvenile toilet humor, which can feel dated. Overall, the humor is described as hit-or-miss, appealing to those with a taste for the bizarre and irreverent, making it a memorable experience for fans of the genre.
“It's funny, pointless, and absolutely awesome!”
“Stubbs is like the Deadpool of the zombie world, with quips and one-liners that will have you laughing out loud.”
“The quirky humor, humorous ways to kill your enemies, and comical amounts of gore maintain this as one of the most fun games I've ever played.”
- music188 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing disappointment over the significant removal of the original soundtrack, which featured popular covers of 1950s songs by well-known bands. While some praise the remaining music as enjoyable, others note that the lack of music during gameplay creates a lifeless atmosphere, detracting from the overall experience. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a highlight, but its underutilization and the absence of beloved tracks from the original version have left many fans feeling let down.
“An extremely underrated gem with one of the best soundtracks in gaming history in my opinion.”
“Stubbs has one of the best soundtracks in any video game ever made, and I own and still listen to the physical CD from back when the game came out on Xbox to this day.”
“The soundtrack is so amazing it should be listened to on its own whether you are a fan of this game or not, so go check it out!”
“Not for $20, no. I thought my game was just buggy because there was no music at all, but apparently that's intentional in the remake, and it's really bad, completely game ruining, honestly.”
“By removing much of the music during gameplay, the whole thing just feels stale and lifeless.”
“It's a contextless mess of a repetitive dull action game that inexplicably has no music for 90% of its runtime, making its soundscape feel very empty.”
- gameplay170 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse" is characterized by its unique mechanics and humor, offering a fun experience through brain-eating and zombie-leading actions. While many players appreciate the creativity and charm, some criticize the dated mechanics and level design, noting that the gameplay can become repetitive and tedious after a while. Overall, it provides an entertaining, albeit flawed, experience that is best enjoyed in short bursts or with friends, especially if approached with lowered expectations regarding its age and complexity.
“The gameplay is very fun, like biting into the heads of victims or ripping their arms off which was very satisfying and gruesome, and the different powers you can play with are fun as well, probably my favorite power was the one where you can basically mind control an enemy to attack for you.”
“Stubbs is one of the most unique zombie games through its setting and its gameplay.”
“Both the storyline and world are as absurd and ridiculous as possible, making for a very funny and memorable gameplay experience.”
“Add to that a confusing level layout and gameplay that gets tedious rather quickly.”
“First time a game actually annoyed me with its level design, enemy encounters, and lack of logic in game mechanics.”
“Sure the gameplay is monotonous as all hell because eating brains is like the only thing you do in this game, but hey, you're a zombie; eating brains is pretty much the only purpose left in your sad and miserable life.”
- story164 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story of "Stubbs the Zombie" is characterized by its humorous and absurd take on a zombie's quest for love and revenge, set against a backdrop of 1950s American life. While some players find the narrative to be disjointed and lacking depth, many appreciate its comedic elements and the lighthearted approach to gameplay, which prioritizes fun over a complex storyline. Overall, the game offers a quirky and entertaining experience, though it may not satisfy those seeking a profound or intricate plot.
“The story, characters, and most special moments will not be spoiled here, but the story is extremely memorable, silly, and non-stop fun with its caricature of 1950s American life.”
“The story is truly what makes this game great; it's funny, well-paced, and most importantly, doesn't take itself too seriously.”
“Amazing story, amazing jokes, amazing gameplay.”
“The storyline is all over the place, like why did the zombie outbreak happen?”
“There's barely a story outside you just waking up, talking to a robot and eating people, and it's just a fun, chill game to play for the most part up until you get to the few last stages.”
“You're not missing a deep and riveting story.”
- graphics92 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 76 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally considered dated, reflecting its original 2005 release, with many reviewers noting that they haven't significantly improved in this re-release. While some appreciate the nostalgic charm and stylized art, others feel that the visuals could benefit from a remaster or update to meet modern standards. Overall, the graphics are seen as adequate for their time but may not satisfy players accustomed to contemporary gaming visuals.
“The graphics are still good considering the age of the game and how far games have come.”
“Visuals are fine; a lot of classic Xbox games have aged well visually due to very crisp textures and finely detailed art styles that make it visually pleasing to the eye despite its age.”
“The graphic/art style is also very good; it's nice and colorful and has this nice cartoon appeal to it which helps with giving the game more charm.”
“Sure, the graphics need remastering.”
“As far as my complaint about the graphics, the price not on sale should mean that it was at least remastered or rendered somewhat better than the original.”
“Now the graphics are old, they haven't updated them since the original release; this is not an HD remake whatsoever.”
- stability42 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 90 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, with frequent crashes and freezes reported by users, particularly during key moments like saving and in the tutorial. While some players find the nostalgia and gameplay enjoyable, the persistent bugs and glitches detract from the overall experience, making it frustrating at times. Despite its charm, many reviewers suggest that the game's stability problems make it hard to recommend at its current price point.
“It runs great on my modern system.”
“Holy crap, this is good nostalgia! It still holds up, runs great, and has no issues if you just want to be a zombie and enjoy your time.”
“Extremely buggy, hard crashes constantly.”
“Good game, very fun, sad to see it not working, constant freezes and crashes.”
“Game regularly freezes/crashes.”
- grinding18 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews highlight that the grinding aspect of the game becomes tedious and frustrating, particularly towards the end, with players noting a confusing level layout and slow character movement that exacerbate the experience. Some users experienced bugs that halted progress, requiring additional grinding to reset counters, leading to a loss of enjoyment and engagement. Overall, the grinding is seen as a significant drawback, detracting from the game's fun factor.
“Ultimately, I gave it a negative review for one simple reason: I didn't finish it because towards the end it stopped being fun and started just being tedious.”
“Normally it's just a couple of hours of grinding, but a bug will simply stop counting these at random.”
“Also, your character is super slow and going back and forth feels tedious.”
- optimization12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews; while some players report smooth performance and no issues, others have experienced low FPS and stuttering, particularly with the original PC port, which was criticized for its numerous bugs. However, recent updates have reportedly improved performance for many users. Overall, the game's optimization appears to have improved over time, but experiences can vary significantly among players.
“Performance wise, I have not had any issues with it and it has been running great.”
“They did however improve the game performance wise and that’s a great thing.”
“It was pretty fun and challenging, and I also didn't have any performance issues or crashing at all.”
“Skip to a few years later and I got a copy on Steam originally on an older account, but unfortunately the original PC port was bogged down with issues of optimization and a ton of bugs.”
“Low fps/stuttering.”
“Low fps/stuttering.”
- replayability12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game is generally considered short, with completion times ranging from under two hours to around six hours, which limits its replayability. However, players find value in replaying for achievements, alternative playstyles, and the entertaining story and gameplay, leading to a mixed perception of its overall replay value. While some reviews rate replayability around 6.5/10, the fun factor and couch co-op experience contribute positively to its appeal.
“Stubbs is a very short game, and can be beaten in just over an hour during a speed run attempt, but has endless replay value for its entertaining story, world, and unique gameplay.”
“Not a long game, fun couch co-op, and highly replayable just for the gameplay alone.”
“It's a short game (seemingly under 2 hours long according to an achievement) with not much replayability.”
“I finished the game in nearly 6 hours so it is short but it is easily replayable whether that be for achievements or to try and complete a level a different way.”
“[h1]Replayability: 6.5 / 10[/h1]”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game delivers a deeply emotional experience, with a narrative that has been compared to the impactful storytelling of Red Dead Redemption 2, promising players an intense emotional roller coaster throughout.
“Be ready for an emotional roller coaster; its story is one that rivals Red Dead 2!”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is significantly impacted by the original songs, which enhanced the overall experience; however, their removal due to licensing issues has detracted from this immersive quality.
“The original songs added to the atmosphere of the work as a whole.”
“I imagine that these songs have been removed due to licensing issues, but the original songs added to the atmosphere of the work as a whole.”
