Zombies Ate My Neighbors

""Truly one of the best and classic games of ALL time!""

About a year ago, I disconnected my SNES, about a week ago, I reconnected it. Now I am able to relive my favorite game (that has ALWAYS been my favorite ever since I have gotten it), which is of course Zombies Ate My Neighbors (ZAMN).

ZAMN is a game like no other. It parodies past horror films in a comical way, yet it is still hard (but in a really fun way). There's just something about the game that keeps you glued to it for such a long time.

Gameplay: The gameplay for ZAMN could not be any better, in my opinion. It is EXTREMELY fun. To give you one little tid-bit, every level in ZAMN somehow mocks a past movie (usually horror movies). Levels such as ''Nightmare On Terror Street'' mocks Nightmare On Elm Street. Also, there are giant babies (possibly mocking Honey, I blew up the Kid!), and even psychotic lumberjacks who look remarkably similar to Jason. Your main goal in ZAMN is to rescue 10 neighbors in each level. If a monster touches a victim, he/she is dead. Say, for instance, that on level 1, one of the victims dies, then on level 2 you will only have 9 victims to save, and so on and so forth. Don't worry though, because every 40,000 points you are awarded an extra victim if you have lost any. Of course, there are enemies you must face to save the victims, and weapons you must use to kill the enemies. The weapons in ZAMN are outrageously funny: Water Guns, Popsicles, Tomatoes, Plates, Weed-whackers, etc. The enemies can be hard too, such as the seemingly invincible chainsaw maniacs (also known as lumberjacks), so do not hesitate to test out your weapons on them. The gameplay for ZAMN is absolutely perfect.
Score: 10/10

Controls: The controls are simple: use the + shaped directional pad to move around, start to pause, L and R shoulder buttons to bring up your victim radar, B Button to scroll through your weapons, Y Button to use the current weapon on screen, A Button to scroll through your items, and the X Button to use the current item on screen. Could not be any more simpler for such an awesome game.
Score: 10/10

Story: ZAMN even has a good story: ''The notorious Dr. Tongue has created a lethal, seemingly endless, hoard of dreadful, terrifying monsters into Zeke and Julie's peaceful, quiet town. It is obvious that Dr. Tongue wants to rule the entire town, and possibly the world. It is up to Zeke and Julie to save their town by going through each level and saving as many as 10 victims in each one. Enemies will be after them, so they must stock up. Will there be an end to Dr. Tongue's MADNESS!?!?!''
Score: 10/10 - it's classic!

Music/Sounds: Another perfect quality of ZAMN. Every sound is clearly heard and the music themes are awesome. For Martian levels, there is an alien tune that wonderfully fits that environment (you can just picture a big green alien bobbing his head to that music, lol). For levels that have chainsaw maniacs there is a hectic ''you-will-die'' sort of tune that can easily send chills down your spine. And then there's the soft, soothing music of a barbeque-type day where everyone is lazying around, lying in the pool, etc. The sounds are wonderful, and each enemy has their own specific noise so you will know which enemy is coming after you so that you can prepare the appropriate weapon. Some weapons, such as the Soda Cans, have a wonderful sound of a soda can bursting open. Bazookas sound like bazookas, Fire Extinguishers sound like Fire Extinguishers, etc. Basically, the Music and Sounds definitely are one of the major stones that had to be put in place for this wonderful monument of a game!
Score: 10/10

Graphics: PAAAAALEEEEEEEASE!! Everything else is perfect, so should the graphics, right? Right! The graphics are SUPERB. The best I have, personally, seen for SNES. The game is made of sprites, but still seems VERY realistic. Everything is detailed to the last pixel. Even the bushes have a certain texture so that you know which parts can be demolished by the Bazooka! Some of the bosses (such as the Giant Baby) look very well done also for such a cartoonish-based game. There's not much more I can say about the graphics for ZAMN, you truly have to experience it for yourself.
Score: 10/10

Replayability: 100% baby! ZAMN is an EXTREMELY addicting game. Hey, if you wanna get addicted to something ''non-drug'', play ZAMN (that's what I do!). Seriously, though, with 48 regular levels and 7 bonus levels, it will probably take you a few years to beat ZAMN (I've had it for about 6 or 7 years and I honestly JUST beat it like 3 days ago! Boy, was I psyched!). So, yes, ZAMN has tons of replayability.
Score: 10/10

Overall Score: 10/10

Final Word: Please buy ZAMN. Trust me, do not rent it. The only SLIGHTLY possible, almost insignificant chance that you will not like ZAMN is if you do not enjoy parodies or humorous games that are addictively hard as well.
Buy ZAMN and have the time of your life!

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 12/26/02, Updated 12/26/02