By now, you should all know that I’m a huge fan of zombie games. Whether it be on a gaming system or even tabletop board games such as Zombicide, I’m all for it. That’s why when KINGDOM of the DEAD was offered up, I was quick to throw my name into the mix and eager to give it a go.

Developed and published by DIRIGO GAMES with help from Digitial Bros and HOOK, KINGDOM of the DEAD feels very much like the arcade First Person Shooters I grew up with. Playing as Agent Chamberlain, you and the other Gatekeepers must fight back Death and his armies, all while preventing the civilian population from learning about a war that has been fought since the dawn of time.

The opening scenes give off a very “who-dun-it” vibe, with Chamberlain sitting at his desk in what appears to be a very L.A. Noir-style office. A knock on the door draws your attention, only to see a file pushed underneath, containing a little information on your next mission – The Mansion. Reaching for your trusty single-action six-shooter, and reluctantly grabbing a sentient, smart-assed sword, you mount your horse and make haste.

The most obvious thing that stands out about KINGDOM of the DEAD is the graphics, and that’s because they’re all hand-drawn in pen and ink, and it heavily features a very monochromatic black and white colour palette. What makes things even more interesting is that it’s done in such a way that the environment and enemies are also completely 3D modelled.

One would expect to see some kind of tearing and lines not matching up, particularly given the randomness of the lines that shade and colour the models, but no matter the angle you approach them from, it all flows seamlessly. It’s almost as if they were drawn with a 3D pen – which is entirely possible in this day and age, but it’s still an incredible feat.

The black and white scheme is punctuated with colours to draw your attention to certain items, such as spare ammunition or new weapons you can collect along your journey, whilst satisfying red blood splatters will show you where you have been. While the gameplay can feel a little linear if you’re following your objectives, the worlds are generously sized and offer the player plenty of opportunities to explore and find hidden stashes. They’re also punctuated with checkpoints, allowing you to respawn and carry on without having to re-do the whole mission; a system I used fairly frequently.

Just like the early First Person Shooters, the HUD is simplistic in its design, allowing the player to take in more of the intricately drawn world. Your health is initially monitored by 3 red hearts, and different enemies will reduce it by certain amounts. The everyday unarmed zombie will remove a quarter of a heart, whereas a sword-wielding one might remove half, and certain enemies will turn you into a red paste in a single swipe. Available weapons are displayed, complete with remaining ammunition, and a soft coloured glow shows you what boxes you need to look out for when you’re running low.

True to its arcade playstyle, KINGDOM of the DEAD features a musical soundtrack that would fit right at home sitting next to Time Crisis at your local arcade. The upbeat music changes its tone as you play through the levels, encountering more powerful enemies and eventually bosses, while the screeches of zombies or the creepy human-headed vultures almost sound as though they were recorded voices passed through an old digital filter. It all ties in perfectly with the whole arcade feel.

KINGDOM of the DEAD is a bit of an interesting one. I really enjoyed it, mostly because it reminded me of the games I played growing up, but also because of zombies and creepy monsters. The hand-drawn pen and ink graphics probably won’t appeal to everyone, and the arcade music and sound effects could put a few people off. The strange mix of medieval, western, fantasy, and subtle 50’s vibe work really well within the story, and the gameplay is wonderfully smooth and exciting. I’d certainly suggest at least watching a couple of gameplay videos, but if you have the chance, it’s a whole lot of fun to muck about with.

Written by: Mathew Lindner