With nearly 50 games launching alongside PSVR2, it’s easy to overlook some of the smaller VR ports like Zombieland: Headshot Fever Reloaded. This is a VR zombie shooter that drops you into the comically violent world of the 2009 cult classic. zombielandOn first impressions, this feels like nothing fancy and a cheap way to get an existing IP. But give it a little time and you’ll get used to a fun, snappy arcade experience perfect for drop-in, drop-out sessions.
In Zombieland: Headshot Fever Reloaded, you enter a base of operations with four characters from the series. With Abigail Breslin returning to voice Little Rock and Woody Harrelson’s brother Brett standing in for Tallahassee, there are some great attempts to recreate performances from both Jesse Eisenberg and Emma Stone. For some narrative reason, it doesn’t really matter. We’re here to shoot zombies.
Missions feature an on-rails structure much like House of the Dead arcade shooters. Face off against different types of zombies with the goal of streamlining your runs and constantly beating your personal best. It’s a simple formula, and the levels are never more than a few minutes long, making it a short and sweet VR experience, especially for newcomers to Sony’s impressive headset.
The difficulty increases as the game progresses, and trying to complete each challenge in the level can be addicting. Other than perhaps the Pistol Whip, I haven’t yet found a VR experience that evokes such “one more time” energy.
Ultimately, Zombieland was a pleasant surprise, even if it didn’t really rely on movie-based nostalgia. Its simple yet effective construction, aided only by delightful gun controls, also meant that he happily sank half an hour of his time. It’s certainly not going to win any awards or push the media any further, but if you’re looking for a straight-up zombie shooter, you can’t go wrong.
