Blimey, where does the time go? As inconceivable as the notion seems, we’ve tucked yet another 12 meaty months of quality gaming under out belts, with December rounding off what has been a stonking year for PlayStation 3 and PSP owners. Still, better buckle up and hold on tight, as 2011 is poised to be a roaring roller-coaster of sumptuous triple-A treats, with many already forecasting it as one of the best years in gaming history. Fortunately we’re old enough to have experienced a few golden years first-hand over the past decade and a half or so—1996, 1998, 2000, and 2007 were right corkers, just to name but a few—and we’re stoked to see how the New Year measures up.
As expected, December got a little chilly (in more ways than one) in regards to must-have software, with the lion’s share of 2010’s heavyweights squashed into the November retail rat race. As such, there wasn’t really any genuine competition to filter through when deciding on this year’s final Game of the Month recipient—a fact we’re relishing in given the amount of bickering that typically goes on at PSU Towers whenever we have to get down to the nitty gritty of picking a worthy winner. Nonetheless, this month we were inexorably drawn to the quality coding emanating from developer Housemarque (of Super Stardust HD fame) and its PSN zombie romp, Dead Nation. Phew, is that the faint aroma of decomposing flesh invading our nostrils?
Those of you who have any pre-conceived notions on the state of the zombie shooter genre should toss them out the window—Dead Nation gnaws and chomps on its rotting contemporaries for breakfast like a ravenous undead gobbling down human brains. Just check out our review for proof, where PSU’s Steven Williamson extols the undead blaster’s visceral combat, meaty weapons and stellar production values. Zombie Apocalypse and Monster Madness take note; Dead Nation is the perfect paradigm for all your undead needs and has a killer co-op mode to boot. Sure, it might not win any awards for innovation, but you’d be hard pressed to find a more enjoyable zombie blaster for a budget price.
Get the skinny on Dead Nation below, and be sure to check out the full review.
“The repetitive nature of moving through gloomy environments and slaughtering undead – the kind of which we’ve seen in so many zombie games over the years – hasn’t changed that much in Dead Nation, Housemarque’s first PSN title since the brilliant Super Stardust HD. However, after racking up an insane body count and enjoying the wonderful array of zombie types and the ways in which you can get creative to kill them, we’re under no illusions that zombie games, when done properly, are brilliant. Quite simply: Dead Nation is one of the finest arcade style shoot ’em ups on PSN.”
Not convinced? Why not have a gander at what some of our readers had to say on the game.
“Definitely one of the best zombie games I have played in a really long time. The game is insane. Co-op is fantastic.” – Robardian
“Really good game and it’s actually hard just like old school mega drive ‘n super nintendo games. Very unique as well when your kills help your country’s position in the world.” – markwesker
Don’t agree with our choice? Let us know what game you think deserves the award for Game of the Month – December 2010 in the comments section below.
Also, get ready for our whole slew of 2010 Game Awards, including our 2010 Game of the Year. We’ll begin to reveal our award recipients this coming Monday, January 3.