ZOMBIES

Ever since George Romero's "Night of the Living Dead", the field of zombies has exploded in popularity.  Movies, novels, and even a TV show have followed, so it makes sense that video games would follow.  Resident Evil and Left for Dead are among the more popular zombie games, but the one that will be discussed is the Zombies addition in the Call of Duty games.

Then

The first time that I played Nazi Zombies was in the theater house in my hometown.  After the dress rehearsal for MASH (I played the Korean Ho-Jon), a couple of the guys set up a projector system and linked the X-Box to the sound system of the theater.  The guys closed the black curtain, turned off the lights for effect, and created the largest video gaming "screen" that I have ever seen.  Because I had never played the game before, I watched.  The game had a profound effect on me, even as an observer.  The sounds of the zombies screaming and the sight of their charging deadness scared me in a way that no video game ever has.  Once I actually began to play, I found myself literally fighting back fear.  None of the people playing were very good, which made the game seem even more like a fight for our lives.  I have never had a more intense experience with video games, and I will not be surprised if I never do.

Back to the shadows from where you came!

Now

Since then, I have played Nazi Zombies on screens ranging from 25" to 82" (no joke, the TV was a HD monster).  The intensity has died down slightly since the original playing, but the entertainment value has improved.  Last year, my two suitemates and I played the various Nazi Zombie maps at least 3 nights a week.  Our ability to fend off the horde of zombies improved as we developed new techniques to handle them.  The best example is one called the "Zombie Train".  The character within the game is a little faster than the attacking zombies; therefore, if the player is able to navigate the character well enough, the character can run around in an open area in circles in order to cluster the zombies.  Then, the zombies can be dispatched more easily and with less bullets; however, the ability to generate a "Zombie Train" requires a lot of dexterity and, of course, practice.  In case my description is not enough to visualize the train, here is a video demonstrating the basics (WARNING: foul language by the commentator): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPls8d8f98Q

I enjoy this game because it offers a seriousness, intensity, and even a sense of humor that is unique to Nazi Zombies.  In a way, it almost feels like I'm performing a public service by ridding the world of Nazi Zombies.  At any rate, I appreciate Nazi Zombies for adding some strong variety to my gaming.