The Walking Dead: A Look at the Evolution of Gaming Zombies

THE WALKING DEAD: A LOOK AT THE EVOLUTION OF GAMING ZOMBIES

Zombies have been a staple of horror culture for decades, but it’s the gaming industry that has truly taken the undead to new levels. In particular, The Walking Dead franchise has led the charge in revolutionizing the portrayal of zombies in video games. From slow-moving and easy to avoid, to fast, agile, and—for lack of a better term—intelligent, gaming zombies have come a long way.

So, what are some of the key ways that gaming zombies have evolved over time?

1. Increased Intelligence

As mentioned, gaming zombies are no longer mindless, shuffling monsters. A good example of this is the clickers in The Last of Us, which use echolocation to “see” and are capable of killing the player with a single hit. Similarly, in Resident Evil 2, zombies can open doors and save rooms, adding an additional layer of danger.

2. More Realistic Movement

Early gaming zombies tended to move in a very linear and predictable fashion, but now, developers are working hard to make them more lifelike. Dead Island, for instance, introduced zombies that could stumble and appear weakened if their legs were damaged. They also included state-of-the-art motion capture and animation technology, making them some of the most convincing zombies in any video game.

3. Social Integration

The Walking Dead series shows zombies in ways that were previously unimaginable. One of the key features that sets it apart from other games is how it portrays the interactions between players and zombies. For example, players can use zombies to attract larger herds or create distractions, thereby getting closer to their objective.

4. Emotional Connection

Before the emergence of The Walking Dead, killing zombies in games was just another facet of gameplay. But the game’s emphasis on character development made players far more emotionally invested in their virtual companions. This makes it all the more harrowing when a member of your group falls to the hands (read: mouths) of zombies.

5. Complex Narrative Threads

Finally, the Walking Dead series also introduced some of the most complex and intricate storylines of any zombie game out there. The plotlines involving individual characters or entire cities are both interesting and compelling.

Conclusion:

The ways that gaming zombies have evolved over time to become more sophisticated, intelligent, and realistic is impressive. The Walking Dead series, in particular, has played a significant role in this revolution, introducing players to zombies that are more complex, emotionally engaging and offer interesting ways to interact with them. The future of gaming zombies is guaranteed to be just as exciting, if not more so.

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