Review: Splatter – Blood Red Edition
A top-down-shooter with a film-noir-singleplayer-campaign, challenging fights against all kinds of monsters, gory splatter effects and destructible level environments. Real cool characters with quests, boss fights, upgradeable weapons, cutscenes, actions sequences, secret collectibles and an arcade survival mode. This is Splatter.
Pros:
- Graphics are detailed and the actual level art is superb.
- 360 pad support.
- Four difficulty options with the highest tier unlocked after finishing the game once.
- Turn hints on/off or after a bit of time has elapsed.
- Graphic options allow you tinker with: resolution, post FX, shadows. lighting and screen shaking.
- Rebind able key layout
- Quick save/load function.
- Three modes to pick: Story, Arcade which is more of survival mode and multi player.
- Top down zombie shooter with a noir influence through out.
- Environments are destructible in terms of furniture, barrels, lamp posts and cars!
- Brilliant voice over work.
- The lighting in the game is top drawer, Using a torch when no lights are on is so atmospheric.
- Big boss fights through out the game.
- Secret areas to find.
- Online leader boards.
- Find cash or rare gun parts in the level, can be hidden in crates,desks etc.
- Find upgrade stations to upgrade your guns and add bigger clips, faster reloading or maybe a handy laser.
- Auto saves through out but can be hard saved through the menu.
- Full Steam integration including achievements and trading cards.
- Full stat screen at the end of every level.
- Offline multi player which allows multiple pads or keyboard mix matches.
- Game play gets mixed up with free roaming to on rail sections.
- Loads of different enemy types each with unique attacks.
- Slain zombies will just kind of blow up into tiny pieces with there left overs displayed all over the floor.
- Side missions throughout the game and for the most part can be skipped and are totally optional.
- Find AI survivors who help you with friendly fire turned off so you cant accidentally shoot their face off.
- Game play is very much an open space with an objective in it. You can get hint arrows to help you but you have such a huge space to explore.
Cons:
- Prompts in game show mouse and keyboard inputs despite recognizing and using the pad.
- Annoying screen distortion when your idle on the menus.
- Zombie animations are really basic.
- Cut scenes are just low spec illustrations.
- Using the menus and any prompts in game with the pad are clunky and not very clear.
- When upgrading you don’t have a choice what part to upgrade, Instead you just plop money down and the game follows a regimented upgrade path.
In Summary,PlayStation owners have Dead Nation and until now Steam only had a handful of decent top down zombie shooters. Well welcome a new addition to the list and one that shows just how easy and fun a top down shooter can be. The atmosphere in the game rivals anything that Dead Nation brings. Sound effects like smashing windows and distant groans is just so well done. Add in a decent story with loads of gore and guns and you sir have a winner. The pad will plug right in and work just fine if thats your bag. Leaderboards keep the score chasers happy whilst any zombie hunter can get fun from the game. Higher difficulties are meant for the hardcore crazy ones out there. Even on easy the game still provides some challenge. So in short, Atmospheric, underwear filling zombie shooter with tons of fun.
