Review: Stubbs The Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse (XBX)

For as long as Gamestyle cares to remember, we have fought the zombie curse across the world. From tropical islands to Raccoon City or in shopping malls, weve defended humanity using baseball bats, chainsaws, boomsticks and flamethrowers. Fallen colleagues number in the hundreds, but at the end of it all we have emerged victorious.

Now the tables are turned, as Gamestyle becomes the source of a new zombie plague intent on destroying a city. Stubbs The Zombie in his former life was a travelling salesman during the Great Depression. Like so many in America he did not make it out of that economic crisis, instead choosing to rise from his shallow grave in 1959. Times have changed, as Punchbowl, Pennsylvania is now a high-tech futurist built by the world’s richest man. For Stubbs it’s a return to his old stamping ground, instead this time he isn’t peddling worthless tat – who can argue with eternal life? Albeit as a brain munching, green coloured zombie?

To base a main character as a zombie is a brave move and Stubbs certainly has more personality and ability than we’ve associated with the undead to date. The most potent weapon is the ability to infect the living that will join your ranks. These infected souls are typical zombies, who congregate in groups and infect any stray humans that you overlook. They are vital at times to distract the focus of attention away from Stubbs and make sure you have a stream of colleagues willing to lay down their life for the cause.

Stubbs also has unique zombie strength and may tear off arms to use as weapons, rather than infect the hapless victim. He can also remove his own hand (which you can control) as it scampers across a level, looking for someone to possess. This is a vital tool when you find yourself pinned down or without the backup of a zombie horde. Stubbs can also use his guts as a grenade or his head, as an exploding bowling ball. And if that wasn’t enough his unholy flatulence will knock out groups of the most stubborn opponents.

All of these ingredients are used to spice up the combat, which is thankful as even with such options it does become a slightly tiresome avalanche of munching. Part of the reason comes from the repetitive levels on offer. Using the Halo engine it also suffers from that flaw of identical environments towards the end of the adventure. Whether charging through empty streets, a shopping mall or open countryside it is difficult not to become disengaged, or frankly lost. The goal to completing each of the twelve levels does not vary at all, simply infect anyone in your way and reach the end.

Where Stubbs improves is through the sense of humour on display. We know that Halo was full of sound bites and interesting quotes, that facility has been put to good use. This sense of fun carries through to the game itself with several memorable boss encounters and the outrageous nature of Stubbs himself. The audio generally is excellent with a soundtrack of cover versions on rotation throughout the whole game. These tracks are some of the classic American tracks of the period, which you are more likely to hear nowadays in replica themed diners.

Visually this release seems far removed from the Halo engine with a general blandness to the visuals and textures, with some levels ridden with fog and a variable frame rate. The fog becomes more of an issue during the fun co-operative mode, which is the only option outside the main single player option. Perhaps put together on a limited budget and timescale, it is a shame there isn’t more on offer.

Ultimately Stubbs The Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse is one of those rare experiences that somehow made it to market. Packed full of limitations and issues, the sense of fun and destruction overcomes the majority of flaws on display. As a debut release from Wideload Games, Stubbs shows real promise and we look forward to their next adventure due soon as Hail to the Chimp.

Rating: 7 / 10

Words by Jason Julier