A Critical Review of Zombies Run! 

Zombies Run! created by Six to Start has the idea to make the idea of running more appealing to its players. The zombie genre is what’s popular right now and Six to Start has created a zombie game where you the player is not killing or attacking the zombies you are just running from them. They took an exercise and made it into something more fun and interactive. They place you into a post-apocalyptic town where you must run to survive.

LEARNING ELEMENTS

The game teaches you that running can be fun it does not have to be hard work. The learning experience a person can take away from this game is that running is not all about losing weight and staying thin. To play this game a person must download the application via the app store. They must turn on the GPS on their phone to track their progress. As the player continues to play the game they are affected physiologically since most of the game is the person running form the zombies to make it back to township of Abel.

FORMAL ELEMENTS

This game is a one player game where the player’s objective is to outrun the zombies and to make it to the township of Abel. Some rules of the game are to set a music playlist if you choose to listen to music while you put on your headphones and prepare for a run. Missions can last for 35 minutes and while running radio broadcasts come on so that’s important to have headphones on. Each mission the player had to make it to the end by running and completing the allotted time where they will receive materials and supplies. Supplies consist of batteries, medical supplies and food to ensure survival. The materials obtained can be used to build defenses and to upgrade them as well. The conflict in the game is that zombies have now entered the world and humanity is fighting to survive. In order to survive Runner 5 must outrun the zombies and bring them the supplies needed. Limitations of the game are that the person cannot shoot or kill the zombies. As the player continues to play the different seasons and levels it gets more difficult from being chased by the zombies and you have to keep building and upgrading your defenses to survive the zombie invasion of the township of Abel.

DYNAMIC ELEMENTS

The main character is Runner 5 they are new to the township of Abel and have to prove themselves worthy to the township so they have to retrieve the supplies and materials. While playing the game challenges Runner 5 can run into is to complete each mission which means they have to run faster each time they play because zombies can speed up. The story uses a branching narrative and has the option while running to be chased by zombies where the player will hear the radio broadcasts warning the player about incoming zombies. The game is playful because the player actually is a part of the game and it’s not like they have to push buttons to play the whole game. The game is very interactive. People who are achievers will really take to this game since they will try their hardest to complete all the missions outrunning the zombies and building the best defenses. Tension and Resolution are controlled by completing missions and by listening to the radio broadcasts which let you know how far the zombies are from your location.

SYSTEM DYNAMICS

Materials and supplies that are collected from the missions become useful after season 1 is completed where it’s made available the player can start building and upgrading the building and making defenses. The player can choose to build buildings but they have requirements that must be met such as having a certain amount of people or population before it lets you build. The player has a choice if they choose to run races and it lasts longer than a regular mission. The player has the option when they do the missions if they want to be chased by zombies or not.

FUNCTIONALITY. COMPLETENESS. BALANCE.

The game is very functional in the reason that helps the person to fully immerse themselves into being Runner 5 in the post-apocalyptic world who is fighting for humanity’s survival. The game is not complete yet the programmers are always adding more levels, seasons, and more ways to upgrade so the player never gets bored.  The game is balanced and Runner 5 is made to run and it helps condition the player as they play each level whether they start out from a light job to a sprint.

FUN. ACCESSIBILITY.

The game is very engaging since the person has to be running in order to play. Player choices of the game would be how many times the person wants to play a specific mission because you play it over and over but you’ll only get the materials and supplies from playing a singular mission up to three times after that you will receive nothing. The game is very fun and it feels realistic when the radio broadcasts come on alerting you about humanity and the conditions of the world and the zombies approaching you as you are running. If the option was available to shoot the zombies the game would be better even though I understand the game is solely for getting the person to run. The game is very accessible as long as you have a cellphone and have the capability of the app store you can play. The game is very convenient since people like to use their phones a lot and they can use their music while playing the game. The game can be learned as soon as you load it onto your phone and get ready to go for a run.