App Review: Zombies, Run!

"Zombies detected!"

That's the constant refrain you'll get when using this app, Zombies, Run!. I picked it up years ago on a whim and I've been entranced ever since. Have I mentioned how much I really love zombie apocalypse flicks? Well, this app from Six to Start combines fitness and storytelling into one mind-blowing package.

Honestly, I hesitate to call it a "game" because there are so few gameplay elements in it. No matter how fast you run, the results are always the same - you complete the mission and get ready for the next one. At most, you lose a few Supplies when you get caught by chasing zombies. There are a few mini-games in there, but these feel like a tacked-on addition rather than any earnest attempt in actually making Zombies, Run! a game. It's really a zombie apocalypse-themed fitness app, with a storyline.

Stats

This fitness app monitors your speed and distance run, keeping logs and occasionally telling you to run faster, and is best played with a headset. Sound files deliver mission status updates and your imagination does the rest. Functionally, it's like a fitness app had a one-night stand with a radio programme and this is the illegitimate offspring.

The Premise

Britian has fallen to a zombie plague outbreak. You are Runner Five, tasked with making runs outside of base to collect supplies and gather information. On the way, you will encounter zombie hordes, crazed humans and other hostiles.

As the seasons progress, you'll find the scope of your missions expanding, as you not only fight to save your community, but the whole of London, Britain, maybe even the world.

The Aesthetics

The predominantly black and red (with shades of blue, orange and green sparingly applied) theme is bitchin'. And when you do your running at night, it just gives this whole  funky, apocalyptic warrior vibe. The art's great. It's simple and stylish, all at once.

The Experience

The voice acting, plus sound effects, provides this really immersive experience. When the snarls of chasing zombies are heard in your ear, all it takes is a little imagination to make the app come alive. The storyline is pretty cool, as are the characters. You'll soon grow accustomed to their voices - the awkward reediness of Sam Yao, the dulcet tones of Maxine Myers and the no-nonsense starchiness of Janine DeLuca.

The Interface

Navigation is a breeze, and everything you need can be found quite easily. The buttons are fairly large - no squinting and fat-finger syndrome for the most part. From the main menu, you'll see an entire array of options.

Missions!

You can choose Story Missions mode, where you'll go straight to a storyline-themed run. On these runs, you will collect Supplies, Materials and Artifacts.

Story Missions.

Into one mission...

Or you can choose any of the other options which will lead you to any of these Zombies, Run! fitness mini-apps. They all involve you running - but the variations are pretty fun. Some are just endurance training, some are interval training (for speed boosts) and some actually use the mapping system for something other than showing the route taken.

Training Plans.

Airdrop mini-game.

Interval Training.

There are also Supply Runs, a more lighthearted version of the Story Missions mode, where nothing major happens and you're just outrunning zombies and collecting Supplies. (Materials and Artifacts are available only in Story Missions mode).

Supply Runs!

There are also Races introduced into the app from time to time. The dev team loves to stay in touch with their fan base, and it shows. Check out their blog!

Races.

All this stuff, admittedly, is only available if you pay a monthly subscription. The Story Missions are still free... though they'll only be released to you at an interval of a few days at a time if you're not subscribed. Damn, these guys are evil... or just need to eat, like everyone else.

What I liked

The characters and storytelling in the entire series are captivating. My personal favorite has to be Season Two, where most of the cool stuff happens and the characters are just more compelling somehow. Admittedly, that could be because many of the best ones die tragic but heroic deaths. The voice acting is out of this world. London actress Clare Kissane herself plays Runner 8 Sara Smith, who, despite having only appeared in two seasons, is a legend in the Zombies, Run! world due to the absolutely compelling way this character was written.

Descriptions!

Wit. Whatever this app lacks, humor isn't it. It's got an abundance of charm in its little explanatory notes.

Content.

In Story Missions mode, for those who can't decipher British (or Irish, or Scottish) accents very well, there's a recap section (which appears after you have completed that particular mission) where each sound clip can be replayed, along with an explanatory summary.

Radio Abel.

There's also Radio Abel! That's the wisecracking duo of Jack and Eugene who grace your headsets if you continue running after completing a Mission. If you like them, you can actually just listen to them on your own. My larger point is, all this content is isolated for your listening pleasure. So thoughtful!

I started using this app when it was in Season Three, and now it's in Season Seven. The content never seems to stop coming!

You've got mail!

I love, love, love this. The app sends you email whenever you complete a major storyline milestone. There's just so much personality in this little feature.

What I didn't

The base-building potion of the app serves no real gaming purpose. You get Supplies and Materials from Story Missions, which you then use to build the base... but you can tear down buildings and rebuild without penalty. It's just a charming little add-on to the app, but adds no significant value. That said, the descriptions do rock!

Base-building.

More
descriptions!

In the story, there are plenty of characters in gay or lesbian relationships. No problem with that. But somehow the couples in heterosexual relationships always seem to die while those in homosexual relationships thrive. This storyline is pandering just a little too hard to the LGBT community.

Illogical at times. The Runner picks stuff up while running. I can get that. But he (or she) continues to pick stuff up even when, in the storyline, it should be impossible. In Season Two, there's this little sequence where the Runner's hands are tied to the back of a moving jeep, and stuff still gets added to inventory! Weird!

While navigation is largely fine, it would be nice to allow the user to scroll back and forth to previous and next missions, instead of assuming that the user always wants to go to the ext mission. It's a reasonable assumption for the most part, but still...

Sports bras. What is it with this app and sports bras?! I can't run a Story Mission without collecting a sports bra at least two or three times.

Conclusion

While it looks like I have a lot of complaints about the app, these are niggling at best. The pros far, far outweigh the cons. This is one of the few apps I actually pay money to use, and a large part of it is the superb storytelling. Zombies, Run! is a decent fitness app with an irresistible theme. And above all, it's fun.

My Rating

8.5 / 10

Stay safe out there, Runners!
T___T