Zombie Infection HD Review

Even in HD, the game’s lack of originality shines through
3.5 /5 stars

There is much that separates Gameloft’s Zombie Infection HD from other zombie-themed mobile games. First of all, unusual for an iOS game, it has a fairly robust storyline, complete with tough-looking hero and scantily-clad heroine/journalist. There are also various ambiguously-evil characters and, of course, plenty of zombies ready to devour your brain (and other assorted body parts).

Consider this game the cheap carnival prize knockoff of Resident Evil 5.

From a graphical perspective, the game’s 3-D world pushes the iPad’s rendering abilities to the edge without ever going overboard, resulting in a smooth, rich visual environment in which playing is a pleasure. The zombie animation, in particular, is full of exquisitely nasty detail and provides endless opportunities for dismemberment and target practice (hint: headshots are worth more points). If you suffer from a weak stomach, you should probably be aware of the fact that Zombie Infection doesn’t shy away from gore—thereby making it unsuitable for the youngest children (the game is rated 12+ at the App Store).

The third-person shooter controls are easy to understand and master, although there are some pathfinding issues and strange level design choices—characters can jump down a ten foot ditch with no hesitation, but, for some reason, they often can’t seem to go down a ten-inch step, forcing you to go all the way around. The game has a fairly small selection of weapons with depressingly low power; the only exception to this rule is the occasional machine gun, whose scarcity throughout the game makes its use against a horde of enemies that literally fall apart before your eyes that much more fun.