Games worth discovering

Retro Rampage mixes base-building, zombie shooter gameplay, and an extreme hunger for your wallet

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SHOULD I PLAY RETRO RAMPAGE?

If you’re looking for a fun and easy-going zombie shooter that doesn’t take itself too seriously, Retro Rampage is something to keep an eye on. Although it first appears as just a side-scrolling zombie shooting adventure, Retro Rampage also combines base building, gacha, and strategy. That mixture is fun to play, but just be aware that the pay-to-win elements are pretty heavy. Unless you’re spending some sweet cash, not all of the game modes are worth it.

TIME PLAYED

I’ve put a solid three and a half hours into Retro Rampage. In this time, I’ve recruited new characters, opened the strategy mode, completed up to chapter four of the main campaign mode, and worked on building my base to receive some sweet upgrades and ammunition.

WHAT’S AWESOME ABOUT RETRO RAMPAGE?

• It’s three zombie games in one. I initially thought I was only getting a typical side-scrolling shooter with Retro Rampage, and honestly, that would’ve been enough. Blasting zombies with assault rifles, grenade launchers, and Gatling guns was plenty satisfying, but the additional game modes were a cherry on top. I was excited to see the game open up to include base-building (complete with a system for crafting cool items and equipment), and player-versus-player settlement raiding on the strategic map.

• The funny zombies. Retro Rampage doesn’t take itself too seriously, and it’s most apparent with its humor when it comes to the zombies. Zombies on skateboards, zombies with guitars, and of course huge muscular zombies—all shapes and sizes of the undead are represented here! One of the funniest moments was when I was fighting a disco zombie, and each time I shot it it did a cool disco dance move. Little moments of character like this encouraged me to keep playing.

• A retro meets contemporary feel. It’s in the title! Retro Rampage has a cool nineties vibe to it, and the story is even set in the ’90s. However, the animation and graphics felt very modern to me, especially compared with the large amount of pixel-art games that are on the market currently.

• The zombie-busting combat. While I appreciated the other modes as mentioned above, the side-scrolling shooting was by far my favorite mode in Retro Rampage. Fighting my way through hordes of zombies felt enjoyable with the large array of guns and characters I had at my disposal. I was rewarded for switching between heroes, since each one had a weapon and a unique signature special ability. Many of these special abilities are over-the-top and memorable. For example, I loved how Roxy would blow a big bubble with her gum and then roll it at the zombies like a bowling ball, destroying all in her path.

• The wacky characters. The characters in Retro Rampage are fully voice-acted and have a lot of personality. I was hooked from the start playing as Logan, a man who loves his dog and his two handguns. Other characters added even more to the experience—characters like Natasha, a hardened badass with a Gatling gun, and Roxy, a bratty, bubble gum-chewing youngster with a sniper rifle. I was much more drawn to the gacha element than I would have been otherwise due to these colorful characters; they made me want to build my team and see how these extreme personalities would interact with each other.

WHAT NEEDS IMPROVEMENT IN RETRO RAMPAGE?

• The wallet grab is serious. It’s possible to enjoy Retro Rampage for free. However, you’ll soon notice that building additions to your base and acquiring precious resources takes forever unless you’re willing to pay for items to accelerate the process. I’m convinced that the strategic map PvP raiding mode was designed as a cash grab; the players who spend the most money will easily be the most successful in this mode. If you’re not paying, you’re better off not even trying to engage with it.