Zombieland: Headshot Fever Reloaded Review

March 7, 2023

Virtual Reality sees game developers try different things in gaming genres, and XR Games are doing this with the Zombieland licence. With the release of Zombieland: Headshot Fever reloaded bringing a light-gun feel with a twist to the VR medium. I have now been taking out zombies, but did the game land that headshot?

STORY

The game has a story which is based after the events of the Double Tap movie. This will place you into the shoes of character simply known as the ‘New Guy’, as you join the movies original group and train for an event known as the Zombieland Invitational.

GAMEPLAY

As previously mentioned Zombieland: Headshot Fever Reloaded brings a light-gun experience to Virtual Reality, but they have also mixed this with checkpoint racing mechanics – something that is different to what we have previously seen in the shooting genre.

Where this is the main essence of the gameplay, the idea behind the game is setting the best time you can, as you move the levels taking out zombies along the way. In order to do this you are going to be relying on the games main mechanic ‘Adrenaline’, which will help you by slowing down time – staying in the mode as long as possible with time slowing allowing you pick your shots more carefully. In order to activate Adrenaline mode you will need to hit precise double-tap headshots. As mentioned the aim is stay in this mode as long as you can, using the slowed down time to keep up those headshots and rack up combos.

Doing this is going shave time of you run, which is what the team at XR Games have based their core aim around. The levels in the game are planned to last around a minute max per run, with them looking to create a game that has a low entry barrier, but can be challenging and take high skill to be setting your best times and trying to take over the leaderboards.

Running the levels will reward you with toilet paper (TP) that you can use to buy upgrades for your weapons and perks – which in turn will assist in your run and help set even better times. When it comes to weapons you can carry as pistol that has unlimited ammo and a special weapon like a shotgun to has limited ammo but, does more damage and activates Adrenaline mode never mind where you hit the zombie. They do add a little more to the gameplay with different difficulties, remix levels and gun range challenges if you want a break from running the levels over and over.

With the quick turn around from starting to ending each level, the game brings with it that one-more go feeling and many will become addicted to trying to set better times – either in longer sessions or even just quickly jumping back in to try and set new times.

PRESENTATION

XR Games have given the PSVR2 version of the game a complete lick of paint compared to the Quest and PCVR release – which personally I felt were a little underwhelming. So, it was great to see them address this with the release of the Reloaded version for PlayStation.

The new cel-shaded look, animations and character models make this version standout and look levels above the previous releases. The style really does suit the feeling of the gameplay, look as fantastic in the headset as it does on the TV and with the foveated rendering offered by the eye-tracking keeping it all looking clean and performing well.

When it comes to the audio the game has kept the humor from the movies, with Abigail Breslin reprising her role as Little Rock, Tallahassee being voiced Woddy Harrelson’s brother Brett and Wichita and Columbus’ being voiced by actors approved by Emma Stone and Jesse Eisenber.

COMFORT/CONTROLS

The game can be played standing or seated, and the movement is controlled by teleporting to set points once an area of the level is cleared of zombies. So, there should not be any issues when it comes to motion sickness and suits the light-gun and speed running style of the game.

Control-wise the game keeps it simple and inline with the light-gun style approach. With the triggers being used to shoot, down on the analogue releasing the magazine and bringing the gun down to your belt to reload it. Movement is activated by looking at the next teleport point (thanks to the eye-tracking) or pressing the X button, keeping it simple and allowing you to concentrate on activating that all important Adrenaline mode.

With the features of the PSVR2 controllers it means they have made each gun feel different using the adaptive triggers and give you unique rumbles per gun using the controllers haptics. With the headset haptics allowing you to feel the zombie hordes approaching.

LONGEVITY

With how the game plays, it is only going to really last any sort of decent time for those who get hooked on trying to set better times and challenge those leaderboards. As aforementioned the levels are designed to last around a minute each to encourage players to keep coming back and trying to set new times and unlock the upgrades and perks to assist in doing this.

However, moving on from the Quest and PCVR versions that are already available the team have added a new story level, three new remix levels and new gun range challenges, along with new guns and perks to bring a little more to their game for Sony’s latest headset.

REVIEWED USING PLAYSTATION VR 2

For the purposes of transparency, this review was created using a review code provided by the company or their respective PR company. The use of a press code does not affect my judgement of the product

REVIEW OVERVIEW

Zombieland: Headshot Fever Reloaded will certainly resonate with fans of old school light-gun shooters like House of the Dead and fans of the movie franchise – but also offers a fun experience to everyone as well. The short run time of the levels giving the buzz of speed running while shooting, really does make this a fun game for longer or quick sessions. With the aim of the game being to set a new best time to not only challenge yourself but, get your name amongst the best on the leaderboards, meaning you really get the one more go feeling while playing. However, this could also be the games downfall for some players, as if you do not take to this speed run mechanic, it will offer very little for you with how the game is designed.

If you are looking for something that takes a step out of the norm when it comes to a on the rails shooter, this could be the one for you.