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[VGEsoterica]

Games always come and go...it's just the nature of them. Some of them become hits and are fondly remembered for a few years. Some become breakout hits and we still play them decades later. Others...well they somehow go almost entirely missed upon released and are quickly forgotten about.

In the third category is 100% ZombiU. I am really not sure if it was the fact it was a launch title for a console that failed, or if the zombie market was oversaturated back then (I mean isn't it always oversaturated?) but somehow ZombiU released, was reviewed "ok" and quickly faded into obscurity. Of all the sites that reviewed it only Eurogamer gave it the score I'd say it deserves...being a 9/10 game.

I remember waiting in line the day the Wii U launched and picking it up with a copy of ZombiU and NSMB U. Two awesome games but I definitely quickly forgot about one of the titles...the Mario one!

ZombiU was not only an amazing game that combined classic survival horror elements with some solid resource management and "you are weaker than the zombies" gameplay...it also really worked in the permadeath consequences that made the game feel like less of a cakewalk than other first person games on the market at the time. Additionally it still has some of the best usage of the Wii U "second screen" mechanic on the console. It really drove home what Nintendo was intending with the whole Wii U concept in the first place.

I am just surprised Zombi U isn't more fondly remembered and we never got a sequel. Also the weird fact it started life as a game about alien clowns from space.

But I am curious...who else really loved ZombiU? or what is your criminally underrated game of choice?

 

[VGEsoterica]

If you've never seen Zombi U :

has some stuff about "Killer Freaks from Outer Space"...which is what the game was first announced as. Seemed like an interesting concept in its own right

ZombiU was a very different game when it was called Killer Freaks from Outer Space

Killer Freaks from Outer Space was "very fast-paced and action-based" Nicolas Robin, Ubisoft

www.polygon.com

 

[RyanReedyMusicMultimedia]

I have been in love with this game for years and year since its release. The atmosphere, immersion, lighting, environments, gameplay, permadeath concepts are absolutely amazing. It is one of the most "next gen" games of the past decade. My friend and I have been talking about this game as one of our most memorable games of all time. The Buckingham Palace // School scenes are among the best in horror games.

 

[namekuseijin]

never got no VR, so no BUY

Nintendo fans hyped this one as much as The Conduit for Wii

 

[Oddvintagechap]

Huh. I guess theres opinions for everything.

 

[VGEsoterica]

I have been in love with this game for years and year since its release. The atmosphere, immersion, lighting, environments, gameplay, permadeath concepts are absolutely amazing. It is one of the most "next gen" games of the past decade. My friend and I have been talking about this game as one of our most memorable games of all time. The Buckingham Palace // School scenes are among the best in horror games.

I did appreciate the entire setting felt fresh and new

 

[UnNamed]

ZombiU had the best use of the gamepad features, even better than Wonderfu101 and the entire Nintendo lineup.
It also had a great lore and a great story. The only thing I didn't like was the paranormal element at some point, despite some bosses made a good use of it.
Last but not least, one of the best God save the Queen cover ever made.
I also played it on PS4 but without the gamepad it wasn't the same. I would love to see a remaster for Switch.

At some point, after reading all the

Spoiler

John Dee's prophecies, the bells at the end of the game when you run for your life gave me the shivers

 

[cireza]

Game is awesome on Wii U.

 

[RyanReedyMusicMultimedia]

What is most incredible is the development time was a year since changing it from Attack of the Clowns From Outer Space to this masterpiece. With a few tweaks in the combat aka "Condemned" style would have only enhanced this game. There is no other game that uses the second controller in such tense situations. Your controller felt like your backpack and it added to the intensity. The only reason that the WiiU failed was not because of the lack of innovation, but because of its name. Simple as that. The Switch is basically a WiiU with detachable, portable systems.

 

[Allforce]

I'd like to add that despite this game being more known as a WiiU title, everyone who's had PS+ for awhile likely owns this game on PS4/PS5.

 

[SCB3]

It's big issue was launching on Wii U and wasn't too far away from Dead Rising and Left for Dead. It also had the misfortune of coming out in 2013, just as Last of Us was breaking new ground for Zombie horror, it just couldn't compete with those at the time. At least it got a bit of a resurgence when it was released again as Zombi and was on Games with Gold

Still a really good game with some good ideas that I feel could be a bigger hit with some refinement if it was released now, maybe a sequel would fair better with some co op elements a bit like Phasmophbia.

 

[HE1NZ]

ZombiU is a good time on PC. I wouldn't recommend the Wii U version, the input lag is pretty bad and gamepad use is mostly pain in the ass.

 

[VGEsoterica]

It's big issue was launching on Wii U and wasn't too far away from Dead Rising and Left for Dead. It also had the misfortune of coming out in 2013, just as Last of Us was breaking new ground for Zombie horror, it just couldn't compete with those at the time. At least it got a bit of a resurgence when it was released again as Zombi and was on Games with Gold

Still a really good game with some good ideas that I feel could be a bigger hit with some refinement if it was released now, maybe a sequel would fair better with some co op elements a bit like Phasmophbia.

That is true. The market was especially saturated with zombie games around them.

 

[Neff]

I really enjoyed it. Unsurpassable sense of tension and dread. Truly the Dark Souls of horror games.

The only letdown was the fact that the cricket bat is the only melee weapon.

ZombiU had the best use of the gamepad

Easily

 

[Soodanim]

I have it on Wii U, and I had a really good time with it. Definitely want to give it another shot.

I was excited about the PC port, but then I read it was a buggy mess and stayed away. It faded into obscurity after that and I forgot to see if it goes any patches.

I never actually finished it. The last time I played I died about a minute from the end because I didn’t know where to go and I did not fancy going through it all again.

 

[kunonabi]

Loved Zombi U. Still the only horror game that properly uses the first person perspective and is really designed around it from the ground up. There are some issues with it but they're mostly minor aside from them nerfing the difficulty which I'm still pissed about.

Multiplayer was also extremely fun.

 

[SkeletonQuays]

I LOVED ZombiU, I actually completed my second run with the one survivor challenge on hard mode and I can honestly say that completing this was one of my most fondly remembered gaming achievements. The adrenaline rush was unreal.

 

[InterMusketeer]

It was just okay. Didn't feel like the gamepad added all that much to the game. I feel that part was overstated. Most of the gameplay (combat and such) was pretty simplistic. It didn't really stand out to me, and I don't see it as one of the must-have titles on the Wii U. Don't know what the non-U ports are like, as I'm not interested in revisting the game.

 

[HollowKnight]

I liked it alot, game was oozing atmosphere. The nursery part, still sticks to memory and the escape aswell.
The trailer was also hype af

 

[SirKicksalot]

It kept spawning me in a room filled with zombies so I uninstalled and never looked back.

 

[GrayFoxPL]

I need to finally finish this on ps4. Played it years ago. I remember that after escape from the castle I stopped playing.

 

[VGEsoterica]

Loved Zombi U. Still the only horror game that properly uses the first person perspective and is really designed around it from the ground up. There are some issues with it but they're mostly minor aside from them nerfing the difficulty which I'm still pissed about.

Multiplayer was also extremely fun.

The multiplayer was legit

 

[BusierDonkey]

No game in history has made me sink in my seat more than ZombiU. It wasn't jump scare central like most survival horror games, it was genuine fear of losing progress and it did a great job of keeping you on edge all the time.

The game is designed to make you weak. Even your cricket bat needed to be set up before you could swing it, so in a panic you'd completely miss enemies. There were real stakes to getting killed as you'd lose all your stuff and either have to risk going back for it as a new survivor, or restart the whole game depending on how you're playing.

I couldn't do it, it was nerve-wracking to play. My brother worked his way to the end and the game's ending was something else. Super underrated game.

 

[VGEsoterica]

No game in history has made me sink in my seat more than ZombiU. It wasn't jump scare central like most survival horror games, it was genuine fear of losing progress and it did a great job of keeping you on edge all the time.

The game is designed to make you weak. Even your cricket bat needed to be set up before you could swing it, so in a panic you'd completely miss enemies. There were real stakes to getting killed as you'd lose all your stuff and either have to risk going back for it as a new survivor, or restart the whole game depending on how you're playing.

I couldn't do it, it was nerve-wracking to play. My brother worked his way to the end and the game's ending was something else. Super underrated game.

The "stakes" in the game were huge. Two deaths and you lost EVERYTHING. The "life" you had between death one and death two was super stressful because you knew you had ONE SHOT to get all your supplies back.

It's like the survival version of a shmup...die and poof...powerups gone and you are suddenly at a huge disadvantage

 

[Redneckerz]

VGEsoterica funny that you started this - Just watched your video today. Actually, it was your M2 coverage that lead me to your Youtubers page, impressive showing.

Having said that, ZombiU was and is a visual interesting title, making a lot out of what 160 Latte based stream processors could give you. The Lyn Engine had a benefit when it came to PS4/XBO and PC: The latter version is incredibly light on the hardware, to the point where a modest GPU like a 77xx could reach well over 60 FPS.

Art design works in tandem with subtle shaders to provide a visually consistent look that is partially timeless and partially of its time.

 

[dan76]

I enjoyed it on the PS4. I had played it on the WiiU but I never really liked the game pad. Still, it's a good game, but there is a glitch near the end where you can't progress. My last playthrough ended at that point.

My personal underrated game of choice is Tron 2.0. It's just like the movie man.

 

[Elder Legend]

Have a 100% trophies in this game, the game is shit. Hated every second of it and only did it for the trophies. Trash that looks like it runs on the PS2.

 

[VGEsoterica]

VGEsoterica funny that you started this - Just watched your video today. Actually, it was your M2 coverage that lead me to your Youtubers page, impressive showing.

Having said that, ZombiU was and is a visual interesting title, making a lot out of what 160 Latte based stream processors could give you. The Lyn Engine had a benefit when it came to PS4/XBO and PC: The latter version is incredibly light on the hardware, to the point where a modest GPU like a 77xx could reach well over 60 FPS.

Art design works in tandem with subtle shaders to provide a visually consistent look that is partially timeless and partially of its time.

Lol big leap from 3DO M2 to Wii U but glad you made it.

It is impressive how much the hardware of the Wii U could handle. Considering it was just iterative hardware from foundational silicon from GameCube they really did a lit with it.

The art design with the graphics always impressed me. Take something like Zombi U and it holds up extremely well even today.

 

[assurdum]

I played it on ps4. Honestly I don't get all the love some people has about it. I played Dying Light early and it was miles ahead in terms of concept.

 

[Croatoan]

No game in history has made me sink in my seat more than ZombiU. It wasn't jump scare central like most survival horror games, it was genuine fear of losing progress and it did a great job of keeping you on edge all the time.

The game is designed to make you weak. Even your cricket bat needed to be set up before you could swing it, so in a panic you'd completely miss enemies. There were real stakes to getting killed as you'd lose all your stuff and either have to risk going back for it as a new survivor, or restart the whole game depending on how you're playing.

I couldn't do it, it was nerve-wracking to play. My brother worked his way to the end and the game's ending was something else. Super underrated game.

Never play Escape From Tarkov. lol

 

[Redneckerz]

Lol big leap from 3DO M2 to Wii U but glad you made it.

It is impressive how much the hardware of the Wii U could handle. Considering it was just iterative hardware from foundational silicon from GameCube they really did a lit with it.

Its incredibly efficiënt, but techwise it punches above its weight. The Espresso is the bottleneck tho.

The art design with the graphics always impressed me. Take something like Zombi U and it holds up extremely well even today.

And it runs at 200+ fps, too.

 

[lame gag1990]

Agreed. Played on both WiiU and PS4. The PS4 version removed the multiplayer aspect removing a big part of the game's design. Because of that, the WiiU version was better and one of the best uses of the gamepad. Really enjoyed it.

 

[Tesseract]

it's good on wiiu, takes a few hours to get past the tutorial phases

 

[VGEsoterica]

Agreed. Played on both WiiU and PS4. The PS4 version removed the multiplayer aspect removing a big part of the game's design. Because of that, the WiiU version was better and one of the best uses of the gamepad. Really enjoyed it.

The lack of multiplayer on other versions severely hurts the game for sure

 

[Alan Wake]

I liked it and I've finished it several times (played it first on Xbox One, though). It's ugly, has dull combat and could certainly had benefited from more variation overall, but perma death and the amazing atmosphere saved it. Gosh, climbing down in the sewer with those exploding zombies around the corner was intense. Great soundtrack and sound overall too.

Huaarrrr!

 

[CaptainConlock]

I played it and didn't think much of it. I'm glad it found a community though.

 

[Fart Knight]

400 bucks

 

[HaveButOneLife]

never got no VR, so no BUY

Nintendo fans hyped this one as much as The Conduit for Wii

The Conduit is also highly underrated

 

[Luipadre]

I loved this game on Wii U. It was awesome and intense AF

 

[ProgenitorCastle]

Wholeheartedly agree! ZombiU, as a whole package is amazing! Single player modes, and dat asymmetric local multiplayer, are to die for. First person survival horror at its finest

 

[eastcoastkody]

the only games to activate my flight or fight response was ZombiU and alien isolation.

The graphics were muddy, but this game was better than anyone would give it credit for.

 

[chorizosausage#3774]

I played it on ps4. Honestly I don't get all the love some people has about it. I played Dying Light early and it was miles ahead in terms of concept.

Not even sure how you equate the two.

 

[kunonabi]

I enjoyed it on the PS4. I had played it on the WiiU but I never really liked the game pad. Still, it's a good game, but there is a glitch near the end where you can't progress. My last playthrough ended at that point.

My personal underrated game of choice is Tron 2.0. It's just like the movie man.

Might not have been a glitch. There is a door that just arbitrarily stops opening forcing you take a ridiculously long and unintuitive way around. It's especially a problem if you're trying to advance from the safe house.

 

[Spukc]

400 bucks

lol even the damn zombie on the wii u box screams NO

 

[EverythingsOverrated]

I love this game. It's right up there with RE7 as my favorite horror game from the last decade or so. I understand that it's definitely not for everyone but I've played through this game 4-5 times (a few times on WiiU and a couple on PC) and have a great time every playthrough.

Not many games build tension as well as ZombiU without resorting to a bunch of scripted sequences and jump scares. Like other mentioned, the stakes of losing all your stuff adds to how scary things can get. It takes elements from Dark Souls while adding its own spin to it.

It's a damn shame the game wasn't a big success, a sequel could've been incredible. Add some more interactivity to the environments (instead of just moving things in front of doors and nailing boards), improve the melee combat and expand on the story and conmcepts of the first game and you would've had an incredible game.

 

[martino]

400 bucks

i paid for that.

 

[Sidney Prescott]

I'm pretty sure I got this free with PS Plus and I remember not enjoying it very much. It was really janky and had mediocre voice acting. It was okay for a 'free' game, but I wouldn't have paid for it.

 

[ProgenitorCastle]

i paid for that.

Me too, first console bought on my own, not a single regret

 

[martino]

Me too, first console bought on my own, not a single regret

funny same here. first console i could bought easily day 1

 

[ArtemisClydeFrog]

ZombiU and the Wii U in general slapped, don't @ me