Three Dead Zed Review (PC)

fair
key review info
  • Game: Three Dead Zed
  • Platform: PC
  • Show system requirements
  • Gamepad support: Yes  
  • Reviewed on:
Three Dead Zed review on PC

2D puzzle platformers have been done to death and zombie games have been done to death and back again. However, independent studio Gentleman Squid has decided to blend these old notions into something completely new.

Enter Three Dead Zed, a puzzle platformer that stars a powerful zombie that can turn into three different forms and must navigate a scientific facility in order to rescue some weird cats.

As you can see form the basic premise above, the indie project certainly scores points in originality, as not only does it offer some interesting goals but also some really outlandish characters.

Does Three Dead Zed manage to deliver a great gameplay experience or should it have remained a wacky idea? Let's find out.

Three Dead Zed starts off with the main protagonist, a zombie known only as Zed, as he's led through a tutorial portion in name of scientific tests. Apparently, Zed is one of the many zombie experiments run by the company but the first to actually do what he's told.

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Control a zombie ...
... and gain new shapes

Zed is quickly endowed with a special ability that allows him to switch forms on the fly. He can choose to remain his old Zed form, which can move and interact with objects at a medium pace, or turn into an agile teenage zombie that can run around on all four limbs, jump really high, and reach plenty of new spaces. Zed can also shapeshift into a third form, which turns him into a huge lady zombie that can barely walk but can easily smash objects, push larger ones, and withstand enemy bullets.

Shortly after receiving the new powers, you're guided by a mysterious voice that promises you escape from the facility in exchange for freeing a wide array of cats held captive by the scientists. Apparently, the cats are really special but, because they have tinfoil hats on, are rendered powerless.

As such, throughout the campaign, Zed, in all his forms, must navigate a series of environments in order to reach the end of each level and free the helpless felines.

During these adventures, you'll have to look out for security forces while eating any hapless human being that ends up in your way.

The actual story is relatively good and definitely has some funny moments. However, the voice acting is mediocre at best and doesn't do the writing justice. The actors all speak in a deadpan way without adding that much emotion to their performance.

In terms of gameplay, the title is relatively good, offering quite a few imaginative puzzles. Unfortunately, it quickly devolves into a somewhat repetitive experience. Jump between walls with the agile zombie, hit a few buttons with the regular one, and pummel a few guards with the big one. Even if the story campaign is pretty short, things still manage to feel a bit tedious.

What's worse, the controls don't feel all that responsive, especially when controlling the agile zombie. His wall jumps in particular are extremely finicky and, when you reach special sections throughout the end of the game where you can only stick to the wall in a short bit of space between razor blades, you'll get really angry.

There are also some really weird design ideas in some places, as the developer saw fit to put buttons for elevating platforms just a bit out of reach. If you stand too close to them, the platform will squish you. As such, you need to constantly mess with the finicky controls and find the sweet spot.

Speaking of controls, the game recommends a controller and it's certainly the best idea if you want to maintain your sanity. The keyboard is relatively good at first, but once you start going through the campaign, the tough challenges require way more finesse than possible on a keyboard.

The level design, as I said above, has a few issues but manages to stay relatively fresh. It does start to abuse towards the end special force beams and lasers to keep players away from their immediate objective, which means exploring a level in order to find the generators and switches needed to turn them off.

Once you complete the story campaign, you'll get access to some Challenge levels, but it's quite possible that you've had your fill of the regular gameplay until then. There are also hidden audio logs and collectibles throughout the levels, but most of the times you'll just be focused on finding the cat and getting out.

The levels have checkpoints scattered throughout them but their layout isn't exactly the best one. Sometimes you'll find a checkpoint just a few zones after the initial spawn point, while in other levels you'll barely manage to find one.

In terms of visuals, the game has a relatively nice style. However, the animations are a bit repetitive and the crude drawings, not to mention the somewhat weird cats, put a damper on the experience.

The soundtrack is repetitive and doesn't really match the zombie platforming experience, so don't expect that great of a time. The voice effects are also repetitive, particularly the cats and the constant yet dull meowing.

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Traverse environments ...
... to save cats

The Good

  • Clever premise
  • Pretty good writing
  • Decent visuals

The Bad

  • Annoying controls for teenager zombie
  • Dull voice acting
  • Repetitive soundtrack and audio effects
  • Erratic checkpoint layout

Conclusion

Three Dead Zed delivers a decent puzzle platformer experience but it's largely weighed down by finicky controls, lackluster voice acting, a repetitive soundtrack, and some annoying design decisions. Depending on how much you love zombies and platforming, your mileage may vary.
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story 7
gameplay 6
concept 8
graphics 7
audio 5
multiplayer 0
final rating 6.5
Editor's review
fair
 
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