For the past few months, this daftly named title has generated a great deal of positive buzz online, fuelling excitement with the promise of crisp graphics, a wide variety of challenges and inventive, comic book presentation. Sadly, it doesnt live up to the hype.
Feeling like one of the myriad Identikit platformers that riddled the Super NES and Mega Drive as they neared the end of their natural lives, Teenage Zombies is a side-scrolling, puzzle-heavy adventure where swapping between a trio of undead heroes with unique powers allows you to climb walls, squeeze through gaps or grab hold of distant platforms. But while the old-school action initially fuels a warm, nostalgic glow, the awkward controls and apparent inability for characters to stand on the edge of platforms without slipping off will soon have even the most forgiving player gnashing their teeth in frustration.
Hats off to the developers for integrating a host of touch-sensitive challenges and their clever use of B-movie clichés; but while Teenage Zombies has everything in the right place, poor implementation makes this one of the DS most disappointing platform hoppers.