Monday night Zombies

Yesterday John, Nate, and I sat down for another late afternoon of gaming. Right now everyone wants to be done playing by about 8 PM so that we can watch Heroes and Chuck. As a result, we’ve been trying to play more “light” fast games (also known as beer and pretzel games). Last night we gave Zombies!!! 4: The End a try (I've been avoiding zombie games for years, but I figured what the hell). http://www.twilightcreationsinc.com/zombies/zombies4.php

Zombies!!! 4: The End is the forth in a series of games in which players run around an “ever changing map” trying to defeat “an always hungry pack of undead dogs” (100 ZOMBIE DOGS!!!). Players are attempting to make it to the “cabin” and perform a spell that would put an end to the zombie infestation. We played this game as a stand-alone expansion but it can be combined with any of the other zombie games for a larger more complex game (how can you not want to Send in the Clowns). Not to say that this game could ever be very complex, the game mechanics are relatively simple. In fact, After looking over the 4 page rule book I had my doubts about this game but after ten minutes we were all laughing, making smartass comments, and having a good time. We only had one rule question and that was about how many zombie dogs get removed from play when you die.

At the beginning of each turn players place one new game tile and multiple new zombie dogs. This mechanic slowly builds the game board. Next players get to move d6 spaces fighting zombie dogs whenever they come across them (Bring your “dog repellant” and “rolled up newspapers”). Finally a player gets to move d6 zombie dogs two spaces each (preferably away from you but next to your opponent’s guy). We likely played this game with a lot more of a co-opt style than it was designed (“I got your back Nate…you go first”). In fact none of our guys ever even died and by the end of the game about 50 of the zombie dogs had been moved in a corner of the board away from the cabin. Next time we will all likely play this game a lot more cutthroat. We all had a great time and plan on playing a zombie game the next time we meet. On a side note, my buddy Derek told me about this game around two years ago and I frowned on the idea of even playing it (“I’m not playing a zombie game”). Well I was wrong (I really should start keeping a more open mind when it comes to this stuff). This is a fun game and it will likely get a large amount of play at John’s and Nate’s apartment. Now if someone will just bring the beer and pretzels.