Video Game Classics: Zombies Ate My Neighbors

Video Game Classics: Zombies Ate My Neighbors Some games will live forever as Classics. Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we’ll be taking a look at 1993’s classic run-and-gun horror comedy “Zombies Ate My Neighbors.” Developed by LucasArts, this 2-player love letter to B-movie horror flicks made its debut on the Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis. Upon its debut this game was largely overlooked, but has since developed a large cult following. This is due to the game straying from the typical horror setup, instead relishing in a slapstick atmosphere, complete with goofy monsters and outrageous villains. These freakish baddies include more than the standard shuffling brain-eaters, you will also go up against alien pod people, monster-sized ants, vampires, werewolves, chainsaw wielding nut jobs, mermen, and giant demonic babies. As the game begins, players can take on the adventure alone or with a friend, selecting between Zeke and Julie. The goal of the game is to navigate a variety of locations, rescuing hapless neighbors by simply touching them. Saving all the humans scattered across a stage will unlock a door, allowing you to advance. These areas include suburban neighborhoods, shopping malls, pyramids and haunted castles. In total, there are 48 stages and seven bonus levels to explore. On your quest, your weapon of choice is a squirt gun filled with holy water. However, you will also make use of exploding soda cans, rotten tomatoes, popsicles, plates, cutlery, shape-shifting potions, a weed-whacker and a bazooka. You will also find health-restoring medical kits, keys that open locked doors, inflatable clowns that you can use as decoys and a radar that can be toggled to help you conduct your search. Adding to the overall challenge, human survivors will be killed if you’re too slow in rescuing them. As such, every stage has a maximum of 10 neighbors awaiting rescue, and your final count will limit the amount you can save in the following area. That is, unless you earn high scores that will replenish your neighbor count. Originally seen as too graphic, Nintendo forced the developers to censor its content. As a result, the game features purple ooze instead of blood, and toned down enemies, depending on the region of its release. Graphically, the game is very colorful and highly detailed, and features a thrilling soundtrack that pays homage to the over-the-top musical scores found in older horror flicks. A beloved mixture of action game and scavenger hunt, Zombies Ate My Neighbors is a fantastic romp that spawned a sequel in 1994 called “Ghoul Patrol.” Not only has there been talk of a film adaptation, but it has been added to Nintendo’s Virtual console for a new generation to discover.