Zombie State

[Adrian (the other one)]

We just played Zombie State earlier today... and I must say, this is one intense, fun, awesome game!  If you've ever played Pandemic and felt tense about things getting out of hand... well get ready to feel that every step of the way!

After much thought, I really really really like this game!
I honestly can't wait to see it again to play it!

[Earl]

I just played my first game of Zombie State and it was a blast. We had a 4 player game and it has engaging and fun at the same time.

It has a most different feel as I was not trying to get points or money but was trying to save my people as a leader. This game had me close to elation at some points and close to despair in some. It was generally a fun roller coaster ride.

I'll try to post a detailed review after I get enough sleep.

I'm looking forward to trying different strategies in my next games. I'll be sure to bring this to the next gaming event!

[Alger B C Lim]

hmmm a zombie game that reminds you of pandemic... promising yan ah hahaha

do you get to feed your friends to the hordes of zombies?

anyway looks really good kahit mga other online reviews glad to know guys here enjoyed it as well

-alger

[Earl]

Let me comment on a few things about the game.

Components - I like the components of the game. The tokens came punched out and the organizer in the box is a great help sorting things out. I would suggest putting the components in ziplock bags so that they dont scatter when you travel. I also like the player boards because it contains most of the info you need to play the game.

Theme - This would be the first zombie game I've played that is not RPGish where you play a character, run around and kill things. This puts you as a world leader trying to save your people by political, scientific or military means with a number of technologies for each one. The events are in line with the theme and really affect the game while remaining in theme.

Mechanics - I would say that this belongs to resource management, action point allowance,and territory management (I say management as you don't fight for control but rather manipulate the game to manage your territories and the adjacent areas of your neighbor).I can say that this is the first ameri-euro game that I've played.

Gameplay - The rules are simple enough and can be easily explained using the player boards. Cath and I felt that there was no downtime because when a another player is doing their turn, you can plan out our move in the meantime. Some phases could actually be done simultaneously but if you want to keep an eye on your opponents, you could do it one at a time.

Unlike most games that player's turns get longer towards the end game, this one is exactly the opposite. You most probably have fewer actions or options towards the end that player's turns becomes faster. This helps the theme as you feel frantic near the end as the zombies spread and you scramble to save what population you have left.

You can play cooperatively with other players but there are plenty of ways you can screw them over too. Aggression here is by manipulation. I find it hard to explain this without giving game play tips away so you'll just have to discover by yourself!

Overall, This game gets 9.5/10 for me. A couple of house rules and it'll be a 10.

[Talismanic (Mark)]

Another problem though since player elimination ends the game it is possible for a player to "hasten" the end. Kind of sad when you want to see if you can carry out a tech combo.

[Talismanic (Mark)]

With regard to down time, I did not notice it that much, but definitely AP can happen, its a question of your group dynamic really. THe game could use that cube thingy to measure turn speed.

[Talismanic (Mark)]

We ran out of barriers during play, if you own Risk 2010 you could substitute the space stations for barriers, possibly even some of the troops. OR even better the little houses from Monopoly, para magkasilbe sila ha ha ha

[Earl]

Another problem though since player elimination ends the game it is possible for a player to "hasten" the end. Kind of sad when you want to see if you can carry out a tech combo.

The only way to hasten the game is to be really aggressive against other players. Just another strategy to try instead of saving your ass.

[Talismanic (Mark)]

Yeah, you can be aggressive with the research and use of tech and military. But if a player decides he's going to let the hordes in by razing his own barrier that can pretty much decide it.

[Earl]

Yeah, you can be aggressive with the research and use of tech and military. But if a player decides he's going to let the hordes in by razing his own barrier that can pretty much decide it.

Oh...I didn't know suicide was an option...
but I guess if you're over run and have lost hope, opening the gates and letting the hordes in is not a bad idea.

Who did you play with btw?

[Talismanic (Mark)]

I played with the HM Regulars. Saw some interesting strategies and possibilities, though again there is enough randomness to bother a pure Euro player, I found that that's what gives the game tension and suspense making it more like real life- As you can never have perfect information especially in a crisis of global proportions.

Heres the report on our game:

It was, for me, an enjoyable experience as we tried to outwit the zombies and salvage civilization from the ever growing ever moving hordes. I was fortunate with initial outbreaks as a lucky event cause movement of the Zs in my eastern area to vacate to Indonesia. Also, the remaining zombie horde only managed to take Sahara.   

Tom and Adrian Classic saw their hordes merging and moving over the face of Asia and Europe. While Tom managed to cordon off the koalas and aborigines of Oz, Adrian Classic built Fortress Europe with UK, Scandinavia, St. Petersburg, and Moscow.

Jay had initial luck with his rule of North-Am and got ahead in the technology race. Adrian the Other One was El Presidente in South America and was generally safe from catastrophic outbreaks.

In the course of the game we tended to have the same Tech as those taking turns later would piggy back on earlier research. Generally most of us did safe assured research initially. I took Resource Infrastructure, Raised Borders, and Vaccination for Tier-1, For Tier 2 I took MV-1 and Spec-Ops. I did not reach Tier 3.

I had some unfortunate outbreaks and some zombie shunting that all had to be dealt with Militarily causing me to eventually give up on a military solution. Ultimately, I cordoned off South Africa and lost most of the eastern seaboard. MV-! screening helped a LOT in preventing further population losses and I finished with a decent score of 19 to Adrian the Other One's- 21.

Asia and Europe were generally devastated by uncontrolled outbreaks that had their zombie hordes merging and having a regular smorgasboard a la carte and screaming. Only Australia was saved. Fortress Europe had an internal outbreak that caused the implosion of the fortress. With decimated populations and resources it was the beginning of the end.

America fared a little better but not greatly, despite having the nuke and an initial lead North Am spiraled into destruction as the hordes obliterated major population centers successively.

Finally, South America was ravaged at the margins but able to keep its southern areas safe. Also, good use of evacuation allowed preservation of population coupled with Build Infrastructure for a slight victory margin of 2.

Generally, I did enjoy it since I felt I was keeping slightly ahead of the curb. I did abandon the seth afrikaans to their fate, but what the hey, it was a wise choice.

One problem though is that Europe has 12 Borders open to the outside, Asia has 8, North America has 9. Africa has 10. Finally, South America only has 8. The disparity can really have an effect due to the use of raised borders.   

Still and all, its a good game for Zombie lovers, especially fans of World War Z and the Walking Dead.

[Alger B C Lim]

Yeah, you can be aggressive with the research and use of tech and military. But if a player decides he's going to let the hordes in by razing his own barrier that can pretty much decide it.

LOLs talk about morale victory high ground... haha

interesting option, in effect joining the hordes and letting them attack other players hehe

anyway earl call na ako sa trade haha XD sorry guys if earl's ok to trade i'm calling dibs on his next copy hehe



-alger

[Earl]

yup, trade is done. hehe.

surrender is never an option, at least for some. Martin survived the horde with 1 population, right? hehe

and we tied for 1st place.

i'm looking fwd to expansions already. small cute  planes would fit right it. i'd like to  put an event in myself.

Security lapse - ignore all quarantine makers for this turn.
Flavor text lifted from Starcraft, "I love you,Sarge..." as the swarm breaks through..

[Alger B C Lim]

Thanks for running the game man

found it to be very interesting. Some of the rules are a bit weird for me though, and it would't hurt to have more options for PvP besides the nuke and the sonic abilities hehe

overall a fun game. . . and with a dice that constantly harasses Adrian even better hehe (dyok lang ah adrian hehe)

-alger