Judge Dredd vs Zombies
'I am the Law'
Review Cop of the future Judge Dredd has been pounding the streets of Mega City One since 1977, but it took host comic 2000AD's acquisition by software developer Rebellion in 2000 to see the lawman to star in a decent videogame. Dredd has appeared on the PC, the PlayStation and the Xbox, and now he's meting out justice, shot by shot, on the iPad and iPhone.
The scenario? Who cares? This is Dredd executing ever larger mobs of zombies, wisecracking on the way. It doesn't really matter why. The plot is no more pertinent to the gameplay than those angry birds' motivation for catapulting themselves at pigs. The fun is in the flinging or, here, the fighting.
You're goin' down, creep
And, let's be honest, Dredd vs Zombies is Angry Birds, with guns, the undead and better dialogue. But it's the same repetitive gameplay, with AB's individual levels here rendered as rooms and corridors within a bigger level.
As soon as you enter each section, the doors slam closed and you have to destroy the undead within if you want to proceed. Bizarrely, they come up through the floor - in a tower block? - more appearing as the initial horde are laid to rest.
All done, the doors open and Dredd can proceed to the next lot.
It's a long shot, Dredd
The presence of large Judge Shield badges to collect like so many Super Mario Bros. coins prevents the game being played as a third-person adventure in the world of the comic strip. But it does provide a mechanism for gaining points to spend on improving your weaponry, buying better guns and attaining superior combat skills.
And, this being the era of the 'freemium' mobile game, you can top up your Credits by spending real money. I'm not sure I approve. I couldn't quite rid myself of the notion that the game might not be so readily doable without coughing up more cash.
Choose your weapons
It's certainly hard to proceed without Credits, earned not only by destroying your zombie opponents quickly - very quickly, though each Shield you grab gives you a few more seconds to gain maximum kill points - and by taking as little damage as possible. A few hits and Dredd is calling for a medpack - one more and the mighty lawman is toast.
Next page: Cursed earth
COMMENTS
Re: Anti-hero
Indeed. I thoroughly enjoy the Dredd strips, but you can't deny that he's a fascist bastard.
Anti-hero
He's part of a paramilitary authoritarian government. He spends his days metering out harsh punishments without a trial of peers, without oversight and often enough without basic human qualities like mercy. Not to mention he's executed hundreds of people in the street. This is all part of his job too, what he's paid to do and not some additional risk he's taking upon himself. All of which makes him the opposite of what we'd traditionally describe as a hero. It might even be a stretch to call him an anti-hero (a protagonist without the qualities of a true hero), in any other world than that depicted in the comics he'd be a 'really bad guy'.
I'm with Code Monkey
Whoever the Devs are need to make an Android version. And pronto. I'd pay 69p for this.
Whatever next? An awesome AAA premium Dredd title on Xbox?
A dream come true for me would be for the developers of Batman: Arkham City to reuse a new version of their code (which is built around the unreal engine) to create a Judge Dredd game.
That could be so amazing they can have my money now! :)
