Zombo Buster Advance

About

"Zombo Buster Advance" is a tower defense game where players lead a team of anti-zombie shooters through 50 stages, fighting against 30+ types of zombies and epic bosses. Players can craft power-ups, use supportive gadgets, and utilize tactics to counter in-game obstacles. The game also includes a game journal and various upgrades, with the goal of completing missions and examining units, enemies, and gadgets.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

79%

Audience ScoreBased on 174 reviews

gameplay10 positive mentions

grinding42 negative mentions

The game offers a good variety of units and enemies, providing engaging gameplay with unique mechanics like the elevator system for unit placement.
It's a fun and nostalgic experience reminiscent of classic tower defense games, particularly for fans of the genre.
The graphics are colorful and appealing, and the game is considered a solid value for its price, offering many hours of gameplay.

The game suffers from slow pacing and can feel repetitive, with some players finding the grinding for achievements excessively tedious.
Many characters become obsolete as better versions are unlocked, and the badge system for upgrades is seen as cumbersome and not rewarding enough.
There is a lack of endgame content, such as an endless mode, and some players feel the game is not well-balanced, making it too easy or frustratingly difficult at times.

gameplay
48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
71%
8%
The gameplay is a mixed bag, featuring unique mechanics like elevators and a variety of units, but suffers from uninteresting level design and a slow pace that may require grinding. While it offers a fun tower defense experience reminiscent of "Plants vs. Zombies," some mechanics feel poorly implemented and the overall execution lacks depth. Despite its flaws, it remains an enjoyable option for fans of the genre looking for something new.
- “Basically a Plants vs. Zombies type tower defense game with an interesting tower movement (elevators) mechanic.”
- “I highly recommend this game to people who want a new tower defense game with unique mechanics.”
- “It's also very intuitive, with absorbing gameplay and a good mix of enemies.”
- “A long time ago, I remember playing the flash games of this series. To be direct, they were never the best tower defense games one could play on the internet, but they were fine enough. Especially the last one (I think) was kind of getting somewhere, though it ended quite before it really got 'there'. So I thought, a 'full paid game' (albeit one I purchased heavily discounted) would surely expand on it and improve it, more or less the same way each entry before did. Instead, it seems to have been altered to fit the parameters of a cheap mobile game, downgrading pretty much everything from its previous entries. The level design is quite uninteresting from beginning to end. Even if there are some flaws in tower defense games that tend to make their level design rather mediocre, this game really stands out in how boring its level design is and how poorly it fits with its mechanics. It also changes its mechanics from the previous entry in such a way that one could only think the developers never understood what were the good aspects of the previous entries. If one is more cynical, all changes are what they are to fit a smartphone game model, to the detriment of its quality.”
- “The gameplay is too slow, and you either have to grind a bunch to beat the boss levels or use the power-ups.”
- “I don't mind the simple mechanics, but there are more 'towers' (units) here than there are hours of gameplay... and that's just silly.”
grinding
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
7%
91%
The reviews indicate that grinding is a significant aspect of the game, particularly for achieving perfect scores and unlocking achievements, which many players find tedious and overly time-consuming. While some users report being able to complete the game with minimal grinding, others express frustration with the balance of the progression system and the grind required for character upgrades and achievements. Overall, the grinding element is seen as a drawback, though the game remains enjoyable for its price.
- “Not grindy (I don't understand the comments) - I was able to complete it with almost no level repeats other than the times I died.”
- “That is just straight up way too grindy and I've seen other people share the same sentiment.”
- “Some parts of the game don't feel properly balanced and achievements are unnecessarily grindy, but the game is still fun and a good option for the price range.”
- “Mediocre progression system for characters and skills with a tedious grind for runes.”
story
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
50%
30%
The story aspect of the game is characterized by a variety of missions and enemy types, providing a fun and engaging experience. However, players note that the narrative lacks depth and replayability, with post-game content limited to an endless mode after completing the main story. Overall, while the gameplay is enjoyable, the story may not offer significant long-term engagement.
- “I really had a ton of fun and there are a lot of enemy types, a lot of units, and a lot of missions.”
- “There are 94 achievements, and some of them take a ton of repetitive replaying of levels.”
- “Low replayability and post-game content such as endless mode after beating the story.”
- “The story lacks depth and fails to engage the player, making it feel like a chore to progress.”
- “The narrative is predictable and uninspired, leaving little motivation to continue playing.”
replayability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
20%
40%
Overall, the game is criticized for its low replayability, with many reviewers noting its short length and lack of engaging post-game content. While some found it enjoyable for a brief experience, the absence of meaningful replay options and challenges left many feeling it was not worth the price. A potential sequel is hinted at, suggesting that there may be room for improvement in future iterations.
- “Short, no 'end game' replayability but for 12 hours of fun play for $5, it was worth it.”
- “This is far from a complete failure and is a fun experience, though it could have interesting sequel potential.”
- “Too easy and too short, and with no replay value, it should have been 2 or 3 dollars.”
- “Except for the bad translations, numerous mistakes, and total lack of replay value, you could easily mistake it for an Ironhide game.”
- “Low replayability and post-game content such as endless mode after beating the story.”
graphics
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
The graphics are generally well-received, described as good and cute, though some users note that the interface and design elements closely resemble those of Ironhide Games' titles like Kingdom Rush and Iron Marines.
- “The game graphics are very cute.”
- “Oh, and the interface, graphics, and strategy designs are all a complete tribute to Ironhide Games (Kingdom Rush, Iron Marines).”
- “Oh, and the interface, graphics, and strategy designs are all a complete ripoff of/tribute to Ironhide Games (Kingdom Rush, Iron Marines).”
- “The graphics feel outdated and lack the polish expected from modern games.”
- “The character models are poorly designed and lack detail, making the game visually unappealing.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's soundtrack is highly praised, with players finding it amazing and enjoyable, often complementing their gameplay experience by listening to it while observing their characters in action.
- “An amazing soundtrack.”
- “I enjoyed my time with the game - I'd often put on music and just watch my soldiers go to work.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development in the game has received criticism for its portrayal of certain units, particularly the bouncer unit, which some players find to be racially insensitive. This has overshadowed the enjoyment of the gameplay for some users, highlighting concerns about representation and design choices.
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The optimization aspect of the game is focused on allowing players to collect up to 16 units while progressing through 50 levels across 8 worlds, with additional achievements based on performance in each level. This structure encourages strategic gameplay and rewards efficiency.
- “Collect up to 16 units as you progress through 50 levels and 8 worlds, or earn achievements based on your performance in each level.”