Reviewed: July 30, 2009
Reviewed by: Mark Smith
Publisher
Clickgamer
Developer
Clickgamer
Released: July 19, 2009
Genre: Shooter
Players: 1
7
8
8
7
7.2
Game Info:
App Store Price: $.99
If you are a fan of Zombies, Sheep, or Monty Python then you are going to love Zombies vs. Sheep, the latest touchscreen shooter that pits your favorite undead brain-eaters against innocent fluffy-white sheep. The premise is incredibly simple, as is the gameplay…at first, but as you progress through the increasingly difficult levels and start to purchase upgrades things start to get really crazy.
You tip your iPhone (or iPod Touch) to move your sheep back and forth along the bottom of the screen. Meanwhile, all sorts of “creepy” zombies drop in from the top of the screen, hanging from marionette-style strings. They dangle for a moment giving you just enough time to shoot them by pointing on them. Headshots result in instant death or you can slowly dismember these cardboard zombies by pointing at various limbs. If you fail to kill a zombie fast enough they will turn into a flaming skull that you must then quickly move your sheep to avoid getting hit. Defeated zombies drop coins that you must collect with your sheep to go shopping for upgrades.
Zombies vs. Sheep is more than a mindless shooter. There is an underlying strategy in that you want to dismember the zombie as much as possible to earn more falling coins, but you also want to kill the zombie (with a headshot) before it catches fire and falls toward your sheep. You also have to avoid shooting the doves that will drop extra-life hearts to extend your gameplay.
My only minor complaint with the game is that your “gun” finger is often overlapping the screen making it hard to see your sheep and accurately avoid the flaming skulls and grab coins. When you collect enough coinage you can pause the game and visit the shop to buy upgrades, weapons, and sheep boosters.
The visual style is total Monty Python with 2D cardboard cutouts with awkwardly hinged limbs, multilayered stages and stage props, and simple, but elegant artwork. The game is so retro it achieves an entirely new next-gen art style of its own.
The music is classic western with a distinct banjo flavor and excellent sound effects for the various weapons, crying sheep, and creepy sounds for the zombies. The sound is as charming and retro as the visuals. Great stuff!
The title is just as ridiculous as the entire game premise and design, but thanks to incredibly charming graphics, sound, music and totally addicting gameplay with a great ramp in difficulty and challenge, this is a fantastic app for only a buck. Get it now!
