ZombiU (Remake)

ZombiU, also known as ZombiU: The Blight in North America, is a first-person survival horror game that stands as both a tribute and a reimagining of Ubisoft's 2012 title of the same name. Unlike its predecessor, this iteration transcends its Wii U exclusivity, integrating the unique capabilities of the Nintendo Switch for a multifaceted gaming experience.

Setting
Set in 2023, the grim backdrop of ZombiU unfurls in a nightmarish city of London, an intricately reimagined urban landscape overrun by a zombie apocalypse. The enhanced visuals and meticulous design breathe life into this nightmarish world, crafting a profoundly immersive and realistic experience. In this version, the setting undergoes a remarkable transformation, transcending its predecessor's confined spaces to embrace the vastness of an open-world rendition of post-apocalyptic London. Diverging from its predecessor, this iteration introduces a seamless fusion of open-world exploration and RPG elements into its gripping survival horror framework, offering players an unparalleled immersion into the decaying heart of the city.

Unlike the original ZombiU, where gameplay was predominantly confined to tight quarters and linear paths, the remake opens up an expansive, interconnected map of London from the get-go. Traveling through this sprawling dystopia, you have the freedom to explore by foot or even by vehicle (either by using a car or through the underground subway system), navigating the treacherous streets and alleyways, all while facing the ever-present threat of the undead. This open-world design encourages exploration and freedom like never before. Whether you choose to navigate on foot or by vehicle, you'll have the entire city at your disposal. Roaming the desolate streets, you'll encounter not only the relentless undead but also iconic locations modeled after real-life landmarks of the United Kingdom. Whether you're creeping through a twisted version of Trafalgar Square, navigating the underground labyrinth of the London Tube, or seeking refuge within the haunting confines of St. Paul's Cathedral, each locale is a haunting reflection of its real-world counterpart.

Gameplay
Staying faithful to the essence of ZombiU, the remake retains its core identity as a first-person survival horror game, enriched with elements of Metroidvania and shooter genres. Players step into the shoes of a survivor navigating a post-apocalyptic London infested with zombies. Guided by the enigmatic Prepper, they're entrusted with fortifying a safe haven, essential for enduring the ravages of this newly desolate urban landscape. Concurrently, the survivor embarks on a quest for a cure, a mission impelled by the esteemed Dr. Knight stationed at Buckingham Palace. In your quest to survive, you'll employ a variety of strategies to confront the undead threat. From firearms and melee weapons to gadgets and explosives, you have a range of tools at your disposal.

There are several types of zombies, including riot zombies that are equipped with bulletproof armor and helmets, screamer zombies that can emit a loud, piercing shriek that disorients the player when caught and attract other nearby zombies, spitter zombies that can launch corrosive substances from a distance, and suicide bomber zombies that instantly explode when hit, potentially causing lethal damage to the player and nearby surroundings. As you dispatch zombies with different weapon types, you'll progressively improve your proficiency with them. However, remember that death resets these skills, requiring you to start anew. Sound plays a crucial role in survival; the noise generated by firearms can draw nearby enemies. Pushing zombies away with your weapon is possible but has limited effectiveness before they attempt to grapple and bite. A hypodermic needle in your inventory can save you from their deadly clutches. Stealth is another valuable tactic, allowing you to evade detection by lurking zombies. You'll also need to stay vigilant, as fallen zombies can still pose a threat if not dealt with promptly. Resources are scarce, and players must scavenge for food, medical supplies, and ammunition. Different areas yield different types of resources, encouraging exploration and strategic resource management.

Unlike its predecessor, your character's job takes on a much more significant role in the remake. Rather than merely serving as a backstory element, your chosen profession now directly influences your character's skills, abilities, and overall gameplay experience. Each job comes with a distinct set of skills and abilities that align with the professional expertise of that occupation. For instance, a former police officer may excel in firearms proficiency and combat tactics, while a scientist may possess advanced knowledge in crafting and medical procedures. As your character progresses, they can earn and unlock perks based on their job. These perks provide unique advantages and bonuses, further enhancing their effectiveness in specific aspects of survival. For example, a firefighter might gain a perk that grants resistance to fire damage, or a chef might have improved cooking and food preservation skills. Players have the opportunity to customize their character's appearance, allowing for a more personalized and immersive experience. This customization extends beyond just aesthetics, as it may also influence certain gameplay elements. For example, choosing a stealthier outfit might provide a slight advantage in avoiding detection from zombies. Certain jobs grant access to exclusive abilities that can be crucial for survival. For instance, a paramedic may have the ability to craft potent medical items or revive fallen companions, while an engineer might excel in fortifying the safe house or creating improvised traps. As you navigate the treacherous streets of the zombie-infested London, your character's skills will develop over time based on their job-related activities. For example, a journalist may gain proficiency in gathering information and uncovering hidden secrets, while a mechanic might become adept at repairing and modifying weapons. Choosing a job becomes a strategic decision, as it directly impacts your character's strengths and weaknesses.

Exploration is paramount, unveiling hidden beds that serve as save points and routes guiding players back to their sanctuaries. Scouring areas and fallen foes yield vital resources, including weapons, ammunition, and rare items. The accumulation of these items unlocks previously inaccessible zones, stored either in the player's inventory or within a cache at the safe house. The game incorporates intricate environmental puzzles that require players to think critically and solve challenges to progress. These puzzles add variety to gameplay and test players' problem-solving skills. ZombiU eschews conventional checkpoints in favor of emphasizing survival's imperativeness. Given that a single bite proves fatal, the developers aim to instill a profound sense of the survivor's worth, discouraging recklessness in favor of a more calculated approach. The game ditches traditional checkpoints in favor of fostering a sense of character preservation. Given that a single zombie bite spells doom, the developers aim to instill a heightened appreciation for the value of each survivor's life, discouraging reckless behavior. Aside from that, the game also introduces a sophisticated dynamic weather system and day-night cycle, adding layers of realism and complexity to the survival experience. For instance, rainfall dampens ambient sound and muffles footsteps, making it easier for players to move stealthily without alerting nearby zombies, while nighttime brings heightened danger and increased zombie activity.

The infected horde in ZombiU exhibits more sophisticated and unpredictable AI, with varying behavior patterns and levels of aggression depending on the day-night cycle. During daylight hours, some zombies may be less aggressive and move sluggishly, while others might be more active and persistent. This dynamic change in behavior adds a strategic element to the gameplay, as players must adapt their tactics accordingly. Some infected may exhibit pack mentality, traveling and hunting in groups. These packs can be more coordinated and pose a greater threat when encountered together. On the other hand, some infected individuals may display erratic and unpredictable movement and attack patterns. These zombies may zigzag, change direction suddenly, or hide in the shadows, making them more challenging to predict and evade. In an unsettling twist, some infected may continue to move and attack even after severe head trauma. Certain zombies may also possess heightened senses, making them more responsive to visual and auditory cues. They might detect movement from a greater distance or react more swiftly to sounds like footsteps or gunfire.

Death in the game returns your character to the safe house but doesn't erase objective progress or accomplishments like unlocked doors. While there are no conventional checkpoints, special beds scattered across the game allow you to save your progress. Fortunately, weapon upgrades persist after death. The only setbacks are the loss of equipment, weapons, food, and other inventory items, underscoring the importance of utilizing the safe house's chest. Retrieving lost equipment requires venturing back to the location where your previous survivor met their demise and eliminating and looting the Infected. However, Infected survivors can migrate across game instances, emphasizing the urgency of reclamation before it's too late, as everything can be lost if not swiftly recovered.

One of the new gameplay mechanics introduced in the remake is an infection status meter similar to that of No More Room in Hell. When bitten or exposed to hazardous environments, the infection meter increases. As it fills, the survivor's condition deteriorates, and they move closer to turning into a zombie. Players need to scavenge for antidotes, medical supplies, and antibiotics to manage infections. Administering these items can slow or halt the progression of infection, but resources are limited, adding a layer of tension to decisions regarding when and how to use them. If a survivor succumbs to infection, they become a zombie and remain an obstacle within the game world. The player can choose to deal with these former allies or avoid them altogether. You must either cure the infection in time or, in the worst-case scenario, put down the infected survivor through suicide to prevent them from posing a threat to the group.

As players progress through the game, they can invest resources and effort into transforming their safe house into a more secure and functional refuge. This includes reinforcing doors and windows, installing traps, and building defensive structures like barricades, security cameras, and noise traps. These defenses help in the early detection of threats and fortify the base against zombie attacks. To construct and upgrade structures, players must manage their resources effectively. This involves allocating materials strategically and making decisions based on immediate needs and long-term goals. Alternatively, players can invest in various upgrades for their safe house. These upgrades might include adding a generator for electricity, creating an infirmary for medical treatment, building research facilities to study the infection, or setting up a garden for sustainable food production. Survivors recruited during the game can be given specific roles within the safe house, such as medics, engineers, scavengers, or guards. Each role contributes unique benefits, like improved healing options, enhanced trap effectiveness, transporting items to your base, or better fortifications. As players accumulate resources and survivors, they can unlock upgrades and expansions for their safe house. These improvements might include better weapon crafting stations, expanded storage capacity, or the ability to grow food for sustenance.


 * Main article: ZombiU (Remake)/Jobs & Professions
 * Main article: ZombiU (Remake)/Perks
 * Main article: ZombiU (Remake)/Skills & Upgrades
 * Main article: ZombiU (Remake)/Vehicles
 * Main article: ZombiU (Remake)/Safehouse Upgrades
 * Main article: ZombiU (Remake)/Facilities

Items

 * Main article: ZombiU (Remake)/Weapons & Ammo
 * Main article: ZombiU (Remake)/Prepper's Gadgets
 * Main article: ZombiU (Remake)/Equipment
 * Main article: ZombiU (Remake)/Clothing
 * Main article: ZombiU (Remake)/Food & Drinks
 * Main article: ZombiU (Remake)/Crafting Materials
 * Main article: ZombiU (Remake)/Medical Supplies
 * Main article: ZombiU (Remake)/Miscellaneous Items

Enemies

 * Main article: ZombiU (Remake)/Enemies

Storyline
Four centuries ago, John Dee, a brilliant English mathematician and alchemist, delved into the arcane realms of knowledge, seeking to unravel the mysteries of the future. His calculations led him to make startling predictions about impending doom, which became known as the Black Prophecy.

As the centuries passed, the Black Prophecy's significance remained dormant, its secrets hidden away in the annals of history. However, it did not escape the attention of those who recognized its potential significance. One such individual was the Prepper, a rugged ex-army veteran with a no-nonsense attitude, who had once been a part of the British Royal Marines. He took it upon himself to prepare for the impending apocalypse predicted by Dee's prophecy, but his interpretation of Dee's message diverged from others. Meanwhile, a secretive organization known as the Ravens of Dee had been tirelessly researching Dee's predictions, driven by their belief that they held the key to averting the impending catastrophe. They saw themselves as the custodians of the prophecy, determined to decipher its true meaning and to prevent its grim realization. To the Ravens, it was not merely a matter of understanding Dee's words; it was a matter of saving humanity from an unknown and impending calamity.

In 2023, the first ominous signs of the Black Prophecy's manifestation emerged in the heart of London. A deadly and contagious virus began to sweep through the city, transforming its unfortunate victims into undead monstrosities, driven by insatiable hunger and aggression.

This sudden outbreak of cannibalistic zombies sent shockwaves through the city and the world at large, sparking panic and chaos. Rumors surrounding the virus's origin swirled like a maelstrom. Some speculated that it was a genetically engineered weapon that had accidentally escaped containment, while others believed it to be the result of a terrorist attack, an extraterrestrial encounter gone awry, a mutated strain of rabies that had made the species jump from apes to humans, or even a divine punishment for the sins of humanity. The true source remained shrouded in mystery.

The Outbreak
The precise moment when the nightmare began is obscured by the fog of history, but estimates place it between November 2 and November 6, 2023. In those early hours, the military acted swiftly, erecting an "exclusion zone" to stave off the encroaching darkness. Their actions, though decisive, would only serve as a temporary bulwark against the relentless tide.

At the onset, the government's portrayal of the outbreak was a carefully constructed facade, masking the true horror that unfolded. They painted it as a mere flu-like illness, sowing seeds of confusion and panic among the infected populace. The virus, a malevolent specter lurking in their midst, spread through the most intimate of contacts — scratches and bites. Five days after the barricades were erected, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a chilling decree, grounding all international flights that weren't directly tied to the military or medical efforts. This drastic measure plunged the nation into chaos, while the Prime Minister's frustration with the international response simmered beneath the surface. Across the globe, government leaders denounced Great Britain, as the response lacked clarity and purpose. There was also a single photograph smuggled out from the heart of the Exclusion Zone (implied to be taken by the Prepper himself), which was like a haunting scream echoing through the corridors of the world's consciousness. The image captured a man, drenched in blood, bearing the gruesome wounds of bites and missing an entire arm, amidst a desolate street teeming with the lifeless. It was a visceral testament to the grim reality taking hold.

After eight days of uneasy containment, a cacophony of shots and explosions pierced the exclusion zone's perimeter. The noise served as a grisly symphony, luring the infected like moths to a flame. The once-unyielding blockade began to crumble, as hundreds, perhaps thousands, of the afflicted broke through its fragile defenses. Within a mere fortnight, the contagion traced its malevolent path from Manchester to the heart of London, leaving a macabre trail of death in its wake. The streets became charnel houses, choked with the lifeless and echoing with the anguished cries of the survivors. Then, an insidious twist unfurled its tendrils upon the beleaguered land. People began manifesting symptoms of the infection without any discernible contact with the infected. It was a chilling revelation, an enigma that defied explanation.

The Blight, as it came to be known, erupted with a ferocity that defied containment. The fabric of society unraveled, and the contagion leaped beyond the island's shores as if riding the winds of chaos itself. Europe, Asia, and Africa fell under its dark shadow, despite the WHO's desperate lockdown on international flights, casting the world into a vortex of despair and uncertainty.

Amidst the chaos and uncertainty, the rift between the Prepper and the Ravens of Dee deepened. While the scientists of the Ravens believed that the Black Angels, a mysterious and powerful force, would emerge to save the world, the Prepper held a contrasting belief. He was convinced that Dee's prophecy foretold something far more ominous, something that would challenge the very essence of humanity. As the city of London crumbled and survivors struggled to adapt to this new and nightmarish reality, the Prepper, the Ravens of Dee, and the mysterious Black Prophecy became intertwined in a desperate race against time. Their differing interpretations of Dee's enigmatic words would shape their actions, alliances, and ultimately, the fate of a world teetering on the precipice of annihilation.

How long will you survive the apocalypse?


 * Main article: ZombiU (Remake)/Missions
 * Main article: ZombiU (Remake)/Quests
 * Main article: ZombiU (Remake)/Characters
 * Main article: ZombiU (Remake)/Locations

King of the Zombies
King of the Zombies is an asymmetrical multiplayer game mode where four players take on the roles of " Survivors," while the fifth player assumes the critical role of the " Director." The gameplay revolves around completing tasks and surviving zombie attacks, but it also introduces a captivating twist of strategy and manipulation.

The Survivors must band together to escape a series of maps within a set time limit. They are assigned various tasks and objectives, which vary from map to map to enhance replayability. These tasks often involve collecting items, repairing mechanisms, or reaching specific locations. The ultimate goal is to escape the map alive, but the journey is fraught with peril. Each Survivor begins with one virucide shot, a potent weapon to eliminate zombies. These shots are limited, but additional ammo, weapons, medical supplies, and other equipment can be found scattered throughout the map. When Survivors sustain excessive damage, they enter a downed state. Teammates can revive them if they reach the injured Survivor in time. Failing to do so results in a respawn, costing valuable time. However, if a Survivor succumbs to infection from a zombie bite or contaminated water, they will respawn as a zombie instead. Survivors accumulate "Gifts" as they eliminate infected units, with automated turret kills also contributing. These Gifts are essentially rewards that can be exchanged for useful items, such as recovery items or better weapons, enhancing the Survivors' chances of survival.

The Director assumes a commanding role, manipulating the game environment and controlling the undead horde to thwart the Survivors' escape. The Director views the Survivors' actions through a minimap and security cameras placed strategically across the map. This vantage point offers insight into the Survivors' progress and enables the Director to plan their actions. The Director can impede the Survivors' advancement by locking doors, placing traps, and strategically summoning zombies and other creatures. This creates challenging obstacles and adds an element of unpredictability. To perform any of these aforementioned actions, the Director relies on the "Mutagen" system, a resource that regenerates over time. Mutagen is used to spawn new creatures, deploy traps, or arm security cameras with manually controlled guns or automated turrets, amplifying the Director's toolkit for hindering the Survivors.

As the Director spawns more infected units and hinders the Survivors, they can level up. Upon leveling up, the Director gains access to a selection of three random upgrades, which can range from enhancing zombie abilities to unlocking unique environmental hazards, creating a dynamic and evolving experience for both the Director and Survivors.

Outbreak
In Outbreak, survivors must work together to safeguard designated sectors within the level, fending off successive waves of encroaching zombies. With each new wave, the undead hordes increase in size and ferocity. To emerge victorious, they must maintain the health of these sectors, staving off the relentless onslaught until the arrival of a rescue vehicle. Each sector has its own health percentage, which is depleted if it becomes overrun by zombies. If all sectors reach zero health, the rescue vehicle refuses to arrive, and the players lose the match.

To aid their fight, players may find supplies airdropped from a military helicopter, providing crucial resources including weapons, ammo, and ammunition. These supplies become essential for their survival and the fortification of sectors. After a specific number of waves (varies by map), players can also access upgrade stations to enhance their arsenal and abilities using the money earned by slaughtering zombies. These upgrades include improvements to weapons, damage resistances, movement speed modifications, and enhanced health regeneration. These upgrades persist for the duration of the game or until players choose to reset their abilities at another upgrade station. Survivors can also earn respawn tokens by killing zombies, typically receiving one for every 20 zombies defeated (10 in Chicken mode). These tokens allow a player to respawn after death. If players run out of respawn tokens and die, they must wait until the current wave is cleared to return to the action. In Chicken mode, a player without any remaining tokens can rejoin the game after a 30-second delay.

The ultimate objective for survivors is to reach the final wave and prepare for an extraction event. Successfully surviving until the extraction event occurs signifies victory in the game. However, if all survivors perish without any respawn tokens left, the game is lost.

Infestation
At the start of the round, players have the choice to either join the Survivor team or volunteer to be "Patient Zero," the first zombie, at the beginning of a round. In the absence of volunteers, the game randomly selects one survivor to kick off the round. The objective for Patient Zero is simple: infect and eliminate all human survivors, one by one.

On the survivor side, the goal is equally straightforward: stay alive for as long as possible, complete designated objectives, or potentially wipe out all the zombies. However, they face the added pressure of not knowing who among them has turned into an undead threat. When a survivor meets their unfortunate demise, they instantly join the ranks of the undead. The living survivors cannot discern which players on the list are still human and who has become an undead adversary. This suspense adds a layer of tension and suspicion to the gameplay. Survivors must collaborate, gather resources, and fortify their positions to fend off the zombie onslaught. The absence of clear knowledge about who is still on their side necessitates constant vigilance and smart decision-making. Communication and teamwork are crucial for the survivor team's success. They must strategize, watch each other's backs, and decide when to take calculated risks.

In a survival round, the zombie team has a finite number of reinforcements (lives). Each time a zombie is killed, the team loses one life from their counter. Surprisingly, when a survivor meets their doom, they gain one additional life for the zombie team. This dynamic creates a delicate balance between the survivor and zombie sides. The round concludes when the zombie team exhausts all of their lives, resulting in a victory for the remaining survivors who must eliminate the last few undead threats.

Some rounds are also objective-based. In these scenarios, the zombie team benefits from an unlimited number of lives, making it even more challenging for the survivor team. Survivors must work together to complete various map-based objectives, such as securing critical supplies, repairing communication systems, fueling a vehicle, or clearing out infected areas. Achieving these objectives is the only path to victory for the human side.

Quarantine
In Quarantine, players are pitted against each other in a brutal free-for-all contest, but they're far from alone in the fight. As they battle one another for supremacy, the game's environment is teeming with AI-controlled zombies, creating a relentless and ever-evolving hazard. The presence of these undead hordes adds an intense layer of unpredictability and chaos, ensuring that players must remain vigilant not only of their human foes but also of the ravenous horde.

A unique feature of this game mode is the way player elimination is handled. When a player is killed by another participant, they don't exit the game or spectate; instead, they undergo a sinister transformation. The defeated player respawns as a member of the undead, joining the AI-controlled zombie ranks. As a newly risen zombie, players have a new role to fulfill - seeking revenge against the living. They can use their various abilities and mutations to unleash relentless assaults on the surviving players, creating an intriguing dynamic where former competitors now collaborate against the uninfected. The ultimate goal in Termination Mode is simple yet adrenaline-inducing: be the last living player. With every elimination, the player pool of survivors dwindles, and the tension mounts. The surviving participants must utilize their wits, weapons, and tactical acumen to fend off both the undead and their fellow players, inching closer to victory with each vanquished opponent.

The presence of AI-controlled zombies creates an ever-evolving battlefield. Players must be strategic in choosing when and where to engage their human adversaries, all while considering the looming undead threat. These zombies can be used as an environmental weapon, directed toward rival players, or lured into strategic traps. As the game progresses and the player count dwindles, strategic alliances and betrayals become integral elements of Termination Mode. Temporary partnerships may form to eliminate common threats, only to disintegrate into chaos as players compete for the title of the last living survivor.

Time Trial
The objective of the Time Trial mode is to amass as many points as possible by eliminating enemies before the evacuation chopper arrives within a specified time limit. As you venture into the apocalyptic streets of London, your goal is to eliminate zombies swiftly and efficiently to earn money.

Each regular infected vanquished awards you a specific amount of money, taking out the special infected grants you even more money, and confronting the formidable boss infected (also known as Apex Predators) unique to each stage can yield substantial point bonuses, ranging in the thousands. To maximize their accumulated money, players must focus on executing enemies consecutively, triggering exhilarating combo sequences that award significantly more money.

Achieving consecutive enemy eliminations forms the backbone of the Time Trial mode's scoring mechanism. The faster you dispatch zombies in succession, the more money you accrue. The combo system encourages players to strategize and maintain their momentum by chaining eliminations together, ultimately pushing their score multiplier. Skillful weapon selection and well-timed tactics are crucial for securing the most lucrative combos. In the intense race against the clock, players can seize several clocks scattered throughout the level. These bonuses grant valuable additional seconds to the countdown, extending the available time for racking up points. Players must keep an eye out for these bonuses, strategically choosing when to collect them to optimize their playtime. The tension in the Time Trial mode escalates as the looming presence of the evacuation chopper grows nearer with each passing second. It's a race against time, and players must effectively balance speed and precision to ensure they earn sufficient money before the chopper's arrival.