Kids Vs. Zombies Lite review

At some point in every kid’s life, one wonders what it would be like to try to survive a zombie apocalypse.

However, the folks at Monkey Wrench Games take this thought to a whole “Ëœnother level.

Say hello to Kids Vs. Zombies, an exciting new game for the iPhone. This tower-defense(ish) app has a lot going for it, but will it be intriguing enough to purchase over the deep field of similar titles?

Kids Vs. Zombies has two different versions: Full and Lite. With only 2 levels and limited functionality, Lite has significantly less entertainment and replay value. Today, we will be looking at this Lite version to see if it warrants the purchase of the fully functional edition.

The object of Kids Vs. Zombies Lite is to defend your base from the increasingly difficult undead onslaught. As the zombies approach your fort, it is your job to kill them before they can do any damage. The more levels you complete, the more money you will receive to repair your base and upgrade the weapons and intelligence of your characters.

Your tools for defense come in the form of a few weapon-savvy kids. Dexter, the demolitions expert, is responsible for taking out large groups of close to medium-ranged zombies. In the Lite version of Kids Vs. Zombies, Dexter shoots large orange balls that will take out just about anything in its path. Scarlett, the long-range sniper, is the character I found myself using the most. She is able to hit zombies at long ranges by launching golf balls out of a slingshot. Finally, Marcus is the close-combat specialist. He is only effective when the zombies are very close to the base. Each kid has their own unique skill set and can come in handy in each game.

To play, users must aim one of the kids towards a zombie, pull their finger back in order to determine the distance of which to fire your weapon, and then release. Aiming involves pointing an arrow in the direction of the targeted zombie. Don’t expect to be accurate from the get go as it will take you a few tries before you really get the hang of the targeting system.

Initially, the gameplay of this app seemed a bit unnatural. Turning the separate characters in order to use their weapons to your advantage can get a little hectic, but one gets used to it fairly quickly. Also, when the zombie get close enough to your base, the characters that you aren’t using will pitch in with a few shots. Unfortunately, when aiming at distant zombies, the targeting system can be unforgiving. Luckily, the characters have nearly unlimited ammo, so one can just keep pumping out rounds until the enemies are cleared.

An interesting aspect of this game is that every level represents a new night of survival. This means that every level is taking place in the dark, making zombies tough to see. Luckily, aiming Dexter, Scarlett, or Marcus at an area can also be used to illuminate zombies that may be approaching in the darkness. This element makes Kids vs. Zombies Lite much more exciting and VERY addicting.

Other helpful features include the ability to save a game in mid-level. I have been waiting for more apps to implement this feature because most of my gaming is on-the-go. Kudos to the guys and gals at Monkey Wrench Games. The tutorial was also surprisingly accommodating.

In terms of graphics, Kids Vs. Zombies Lite is pretty good. The game runs very smoothly while it’s also visually impressive. The zombie models are diverse and move realistically. Also, the models for Dexter, Scarlett, and Marcus are satisfactory. The different types of ammo that are fired, the colorful menus and even the battle grounds are detailed as well, making it quite apparent that Monkey Wrench Games did not cut corners when it came to graphical presentation.

Overall, Kids Vs. Zombies Lite is a good, addicting game. With four difficulty settings and two levels, this app will surely keep any mobile game player enticed for a while. However, it is clear that purchasing the regular version of Kids Vs. Zombies is undoubtedly worth the $1.99 price. Happy hunting, kids!