Format: XBLA
Release date: 16/08/2009
Price: 80 Microsoft points
Website: Xbox Marketplace

I embarrassingly admit that I’ve neglected to check out much of the Indie game section available on Xbox Live. So with a touch of excitement I dropped the meagre 80 Microsoft points required to purchase the absolutely fantastically brilliantly titled I MAED A GAM3 W1TH Z0MB1ES 1N IT!!!1.

The game is another of those twin stick shooters that have always been popular on the XBLA, and more recently on the iPhone with the likes of Minigore, iDracula, and Alive4ever. Which lands it slap bang right in the middle of not only a phenomenally popular, but also massively saturated genre.

In order to differentiate itself from the norm, Z0MB1ES not only has this brilliantly cheap price point (for me it was a choice between this or a Scotch Egg) but it’s so amazingly hectic and jam packed with action that your eyes wont drift away from the on screen obliteration for a split second.

Using the left stick to move your character, and the right to aim and fire, zombies (and other things as you progress) attack from all sides giving you not a seconds comfort. You’ll constantly be moving, tweaking your aim, and slaughtering masses of the undead.

It doesn’t look particularly stunning (though it’s certainly no slouch, particularly for 80 Microsoft points) but the soundtrack which consists of a single comically brilliant song is yet another high point.

For such a tiny price, it’s obvious to see just why this has transformed into the most popular and highly rated XBLA Indie title released thus far. It’s fast, hectic, over-the-top, and simply brilliant. Get it bought.

Rating: 5/5