The Official Stubbs the Zombie Thread

[Looper]

Well, I stand by my opinion of it.

There's a thousand worse games, less fun, less this, that or the other thing.

There's lots of good things about Stubbs - the soundtrack (US indie takes on classic 50's sugar pop songs), the joy of sneaking up on someone and eating their brain while they scream for mercy, the first time you pull someones arm off and beat them to death with it, the great moment the tide turns in your favour and the soldiers/civilians you were fighting start panicking as their former friends attack them with you leading the charge into their midst. Fuck me, even that ace moment when you send your hand on a mission half way across the level to take over the marine sniper's head and you end up killing about 20 troops (with body-relative damage - you can take limbs/heads off) as they vainly try to shoot you out of your perch miles above their heads.

There's plenty wrong with it, don't get me wrong. Terrible first few levels, an appallingly judged rhythm-action section, very repetitious design BUT there's just no way it deserves the level of vitriol laid on it above in this thread.

[Stroker Ace]

Well, I stand by my opinion of it.

There's a thousand worse games, less fun, less this, that or the other thing.

←

No. There just isn't.

I've said it before and I'll say it again - one of the worst games I've ever played. It's Home Alone on the SNES bad.

[Lothar Hex]

So I made the right choice by getting Psychonauts instead of this then?

[Stroker Ace]

You could have burned the money and it would still have been the right choice.

[Guest henofdoom]

So I made the right choice by getting Psychonauts instead of this then?

←

Wow. Thats like saying 'instead of chopping my hand off with a rusty hacksaw I'll just knaw at it for a while'

[Dimahoo]

I didn't even see this thread.

I've got to say i found Stubbs to be really boring.

Running around aimlessly trying to convert people.

It sounded good on paper too, and it looked funny from the ads, but i found it dire.

[Wroth]

A guy who doesn't like Psychonauts! Oh the controversy!

[Varcan]

I didn't mind Stubbs, though it was diabolically short.

[Stroker Ace]

"Mercifully" short, I think you'll find.

[Varcan]

"Mercifully" short, I think you'll find.

←

Heh

[Switchblade Honey]

Stubbs The Zombie got mediocre reviews at best from the credible games press and a crop of 7/10s from places like IGN, which is as low as they go for any game with an advertising budget.

But it's really pretty good. Certainly a lot more fun than the reviews and the initial reaction here would lead you to believe.

I started writing this post thinking that we had a reverse Driv3r situation, where an accomplished game got a kicking from lazy reviewers because the first two levels are a bit slow. A glance through Metacritic shows that most of the reviews aren't that far off the mark, but let's address a few of the wrongest complaints about the game:

* The combat is repetitive. Not really, because you have to chop and change between using different powers. You can just rush cops and overwhelm them, but that doesn't work on soldiers. There's vehicle sections, reasonably varied enemies (later on), gun emplacements...

The whole idea of building and leading an army of zombies forces you to keep up the pace - since you need to attack while the enemies are distracted in mowing down your previous crop.

*The rhythm action bit spoils everything. This is *one* short section used instead of a boss battle. It's a funny and original way to avoid having a conventional boss fight, lets them showcase the soundtrack, and is over in about two minutes. It's not a big deal.

*The standard of graphics spoils the game. This was a common complaint on here among importers. Some of the levels are undeniably plain, but the character design and animation is pretty good. It amazes me that people are really that upset about wall textures.

*You don't have to use the special powers. Anyone who says this hasn't played the game past level 3. The hand possession power is very important later on, especially if you're playing on harder difficulty.

*The humour isn't funny. For every bit of stupid toilet humour, there's three genuinely funny bits of dialogue from the incidental characters. The mad scientists are particularly good - "I'll show you hard science!" "Even I wouldn't do that, and I have no ethics." Certainly a cut above the usual miserable level of game writing.

The strengths of Stubbs are, not surprisingly since they share an engine, similar to the strengths of Halo. A real feeling of mayhem. Bits which are impossible by brute force until you formulate the right strategy. Great co-op. Fast loading when you die, encouraging experimentation. A few good levels that you can replay again and again, coupled with more forgettable bits.

A future overlooked gem, I reckon.

[Exit Chamber]

You might be right, but it so painfully sloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooow I couldn't be arsed getting past the 3rd level. And I LOVE zombies.

Oh, good soundtrack though.

[Wroth]

If only the barber shop music was available on the soundtrack

[Craig]

What was the general consensus on this? It's a tenner for PC and I'm listening to the game's original soundtrack as I type, having had it since the game came out. But I've never actually played the game itself - despite generally loving zombies.

[hanzo]

Absolutely hated it. Who would've thought that being a zombie would be so ... boring? Nice premise but everything was really, really unpolished and the combat was totally uninteresting. Oh woo you can ride a tractor. :/ I can't believe I finished it - I was desperately trying to convince myself it was a good game at the time, given the rather fun soundtrack and general mischief.

[Vin]

I've only had a quick bash with it, and it seemed decent. I dug the premise and everything but it's a shame it's still relatively expensive given how old it is.

[Girth Certificate]

staggeringly awful, one the most tedious and repetitive games on the xbox. Conning it's way into people's homesby being a little bit related to Bungie, or something.

[djezz]

What was the general consensus on this? It's a tenner for PC and I'm listening to the game's original soundtrack as I type, having had it since the game came out. But I've never actually played the game itself - despite generally loving zombies.

Switchblade Honey's post, just a little bit further up the page, sums up my feelings on the game completely.

[Switchblade Honey]

What was the general consensus on this? It's a tenner for PC and I'm listening to the game's original soundtrack as I type, having had it since the game came out. But I've never actually played the game itself - despite generally loving zombies.

Buy it! Although I think the controls work better on the Xbox. It's backwards compatible now too.

[Guest FortyTwo]

Switchblade Honey's post, just a little bit further up the page, sums up my feelings on the game completely.

I concur: Stubbs is thoroughly undervalued. A unique and inspired game, to be sure.

"Noooo!: That was my second favourite arm!"

[paddyo]

Had this on Xbox and loved it, want to play it on my 360 as its listed as backwards compatible, however when i try and play it the graphics and sound are gliched and it doesnt work

i have tried 2 different copies of the game now

any ideas?

[Vin]

Buy an old second-hand Xbox?

edit: assuming you've got rid of your old one.

[Camel]

I sold a copy of this on eBay recently and had it returned it as faulty, so a few nights ago, I stuck it in my 360 to test it. I've played it three nights in a row since. It's funny reading this old thread where people are declaring it the worst game they've ever played considering how much fun I've been having with it.

The bare bones front end probably doesn't help matters. One or two players and some basic options. Even after playing there doesn't seem to be a level select, so it's pretty much a case of blasting through the whole game by yourself or with a partner and that's it. Contrary to some of the opinions on here, I enjoyed the first couple of levels as an introduction and loved converting people to zombies then watching the zombie horde go on the rampage. The first vehicle-based level makes no sense whatsoever though and is a bit of a chore. After that though, the game becomes a lot more fun as abilities are added. The hand possession thing is especially awesome (and looks great) and taking control of someone in the middle of an army of gun-wielding enemies then taking them all out from within is all kinds of excellent.

I even enjoyed the rhythm game bit. It made me laugh and only lasts about a minute so it's not exactly a game breaker.

The 1950s style 'futuristic' (flying cars and whatnot) setting works well and there is some genuinely funny dialogue in there (though I could without the 'hilarous' farting).

Yes, it's a little slow (you're a zombie), but I don't understand some of the criticism aimed at the game, especially complaints about it being repetitive. Sure, if you just amble around biting people, I imagine it would be, but try tackling levels by possessing enemies, throwing gut grenades about and bowling a load of enemies over with your own head. There's loads of fun to be had here.

So yeah. I'm really enjoying this. Disclaimer: I haven't finished it yet, so there's still time for it to grate, but so far, a big thumbs up from me. So much so that I decided to dig up this old thread. Anyone else like it?

[Looper]

I'm sure I have it installed to my old Xbox, I must give it a blast again one of these days. The vitriol in this thread still amuses me 6 (holy shit how much time have I spent on this forum) years on.

[Jg15]

A real "Rise from your grave!" moment...

 

 

Perfect for Gamepass?

[therearerules]

I stand by everything I have no recollection of writing 16 years ago.