Zombie Army Trilogy (Nintendo Switch)
Official GBAtemp Review
Product Information:
- Release Date (NA): March 31, 2020
- Release Date (EU): March 31, 2020
- Publisher: RebellionInteract
- Developer: Rebellion
- Genres: Third-Person Shooter, Action, Adventure
- Also For: PlayStation 4
Game Features:
When Zombie Army Trilogy first landed on PS4 and Xbox One consoles in 2015, I was in amazement that I could extend the fun I had been having playing Sniper Elite V2 on my trusty old PS3. PC players had been enjoying this zombie free-for-all since 2013 when it originally released as standalone downloadable content for Sniper Elite V2, comprising of a remastered version of the original Nazi Zombie Army, its titular sequel sprawling across familiar maps and a previously unreleased third instalment for the series bringing all-new levels and fresh undead creativity to the series. Never before though, has it been possible to smash the undead on the move, so this is a landmark occurrence for Rebellion’s slick supernatural shooter.
After selecting either Campaign or Horde, you're presented with the option to either dive into Online Play, fire up Local Play or start a Solo campaign. The connectivity features of the Nintendo Switch definitely lend themselves well to this style of game and I was glad to see those still in pride of place above the set of Solo modes, as they were in the PS4 and Xbox One outing all those years ago. The ability to setup up-to four-player Campaign Coop or Horde modes with the newly implemented motion controls is another absolute masterstroke from Rebellion, bringing a five year old game into 2020 with a bang up to date feel—especially so with HD Rumble. Motion controls may not appear to be essential if you've played this title on the bigger home consoles, but in this edition, I feel like it enhances the game to a point that I would not play without it enabled. Though the game doesn't enable it by default, you can easily turn it on in the controls settings menu, along with ramping up the turn and scope sensitivities and inverting the Y-axis, should you feel inclined to do so. Aiming your rifle is as easy as holding ZL, emptying your lung, and tilting your console to zero-in for that slow-motion X-ray kill cam vital organ shot by pressing ZR at that perfect moment. These bone-shattering X-ray kills are a solid mainstay of the series, which is awesome because I love them, and they look absolutely stunning on the Switch yet again, punctuating the action as you get better and better at aiming for the critical areas. Throughout the game I found myself rather inexplicably thumping zombies to pieces with my feet, kicking them like a possessed mule and stomping them into the ground with a satisfying squelch. Within the first six minutes of play, I had hit 45 zombies with my boots, building up the tally for the "And stay down!" achievement, of which I only needed 50 in total. The achievements system is another feature that Rebellion capitalises on, and it's something other games, and the Switch console in general, are sorely missing out on. Hats off to the devs for including them internally, all 60+ of them are such compellingly fun to work through.
Graphically this is as polished as I would expect from any Rebellion title. It should be noted the title does not contain the words "remaster" or "HD,” so we should assume that this is simply a port that has been remoulded to run as smoothly as possible, and with as much detail as can be retained, on the hybrid portable console. The models used are effectively simplified and the Sniper Elite 3 engine has actually been utilised for the Switch so that it runs as smooth as silk even with masses of bodies on screen. Though featuring what are essentially repurposed Sniper Elite V2 assets, you get to see them in all their gory glory. I didn't experience any notable slowdowns or stuttering throughout my time playing this title, it was all rather impressive to be experiencing all this action in handheld mode at 720p, or docked at 1080p. The visuals are definitely scaled back slightly in comparison to those of Sniper Elite V2 Remastered, clearly favouring a fixed 30fps over higher graphic fidelity. I adore the stylised and graphic look of Zombie Army Trilogy, and it doesn't in any way detract from the action at all. The audio design of this title is also superior, with every sound fleshing out and encompassing the raw evisceration and ricocheting sounds of your ammunition hitting its target. The atmospheric windy background sound effects with its elongated and piercing sustained notes constantly rides alongside the gameplay, but never overtakes the action and drowns out the wonderful foley. From crackling fires to trip mine explosions, zombies groaning and exerting themselves while trying to clobber you, to the screamingly distressing resurrections of fallen occult leaders. Every sound is finely represented and increases your immersion tenfold, even in the menus and its creepy vintage-sounding compositions give you the chills and set the scene ready for the next wave of carnage.
15 missions sprawl across the three main campaigns, ranging from the tight rat-run alleyways through to chokepoint-laden towns, churches, and cemeteries. Our seasoned protagonist, Karl Fairburne, returns to the fray, fresh from his Sniper Elite V2 service to the detritus riddled action of some familiar locales of an alternate version of World War 2. Utilising weapons of the era, Karl assumes the lead role of sniper heading a ragtag band of warriors including veteran Red Army infantryman Boris Medvedev, Wehrmacht Captain Hermann Wolff, and German occultist Efram Schwaiger with the sole objective of saving the world from the clutches of Hitler's evil, yet again. The opening act "The Berlin Horror" sets the scene and eases you into the devolving madness of the Nazi occult's grip on the action, building your understanding of the unfolding story and getting you acclimatised to the Nazi zombie masses and eventually decimating occult SS generals before escaping by boat to relative safety. The second act, aptly titled "Back to Berlin" spins you 180 degrees straight back into the grimy action again, this time to storm the Führerbunker where Adolf was cannily hiding out when he was overcome by the brain-craving foot-dragging hordes. Your objective? To obtain three parts of a super-secret-sacred-relic with a hope to banish this permeating occultist evil forever, in a race against time, before the USAF swoops in and carpet bombs the entire zombie population. The final chapter "Beyond Berlin" sees you finally nearing the uber-Nazi's actual location, where he somehow still has the sense of undead-mind to become the zombies' leader. You finally get to square off with the gigantic effigies of Der Führer through even more supernatural settings with the ultimate objective of casting Zombie Hitler into Hellmouth, nuking him with the Sagarmatha Relic's Holy energy and finally ridding the world of his undead evil.
The two to four player online modes absolutely shine on the hybrid portable system thanks to the sheer simplicity of the matchmaking. You don't need to have a squad on hand to partake either, thanks to the ability to buddy up randomly with comrades from around the globe if you wish to join the fray online, while none of your pals can join you for the system-exclusive local wireless play mode. Local wireless play just requires the presence of mind for three of your like-minded nearby friends owning the game and being able to get together for a local session. No matter how you want to play this game, you are guaranteed a sublime experience, and the matchmaking was exceptionally fast too, giving me next to no time waiting around to blast some walking corpses. Just remember to be kind and revive when your buddies fall, as your game will come to an abrupt end if you get overrun with fully armoured tanks and screaming bomber type enemies. It really does take some co-ordination for you to cooperatively mow down the undead, unless you turn off the friendly fire option, as it can become quite a frenzied blood bath at the various riotous locations and, nine times out of ten, you or your buddies will become a bullet sponge to those who completely lose it and go rogue.
There are eight playable characters with customisable load-outs in this outing with no less than 26 weapons of varying specificity. Your armoury consists of a wide variety of sniper rifles, a handful of machine guns, a few pistols, a couple of shotguns, and the meaty beast that is the Panzerfaust. You also get a bunch of melee type weapons to play with too, including creativity-inducing trip mines, old faithful Stielhandgranates, and finally, the option of dynamite. Each combination has to be well planned out as if you don't opt for any close quarter armaments you may come unstuck when the battle encroaches on your personal bubble. I personally always go for a mixture of trip mines, with a sniper rifle and shotgun where possible, as I like to run ahead, set traps then run back and pick off as many of the larger enemies first as I possibly can before the mindless crowd of brainless corpses inevitably trigger my diabolical explosive surprise.
The portability of the Switch is never to be sniffed at, nor is "another port of another old game" as some may think. This outing redefines and rejuvenates the Zombie Army Trilogy for a fresh new audience who get to experience the thrills and spills in a way we couldn't have imagined at its inception. This is, yet again, a standout port by Rebellion that demonstrates that you can revive titles in a thrilling way, adding additional tweaks and adjustments, without destroying the formula. Highly recommended for people who want to get up close and personal with waves of the undead, and especially for those with buddies they can play locally online with at the drop of a hat.
Verdict
- Mobile precision zombie killing
- 1-4 players, 15 missions, achievements and a horde mode
- Motion controls enhance this port
- Fantastic frame rate throughout
- A little repetitive and linear
- Graphics aren't remastered
