Helpless Zombies

In Brief

Helpless Zombies is a puzzle game that rethinks the game play, but retains the spirit of classic games like Binary Land, Clu Clu Land and Adventures of Lolo and a very vague link to aspects of that classic game Lemmings (I've linked to free version of Lemmings below, with more details at the end of this review; also, anyone owning the original version of the award winning 'Elite Sniper v2' on Steam; there is a fantastic offer of a 75% plus discount on the remastered version, which looks amazing. Finally for those who like naughty anime games there's Mahjong Strip Solitaire, that's only available for free for 24 hours (see end of review for link)

Introduction:

Helpless Zombies is a puzzle game that rethinks the game play, but retains the spirit of classic games such as Binary Land, Clu Clu Land and Adventures of Lolo.

Hungry zombies are stuck in the basement of your mansion. Your aim is to avoid all the traps, solve puzzles and collect various goodies while attempting to rescue all of the zombies by leading them to the exit. They move as a pack in one direction (much like the game Lemmings which you can get free via Microsofts store HERE - UK and HERE - US

The developers rethought and upgraded the graphics and created a puzzle emulating those popular games from the mid to late 1980's. Player are given simple tasks to complete, which increase in complexity as you progress through the various levels.

I initially used the Steam description for the introduction but it was poorly written so I've rewritten it using the original as a framework. Reference accessed HERE. 10th April 2019

Installation:

Helpless Zombies downloads to a 7.3 MB zip file that unzips to two files, (a set-up executable and a read me). The game installs to the following path by default, but can be changed if you wish. The installed game is approximately 7.91 MB in size.

C:\Program Files (x86)\Helpless Zombies

Five shortcuts are installed to the desktop, four of which can be safely deleted (i.e. Falco Space - Online Game!, FalconLine Online Games Website, FalcoGo WebGL Games! and Free Games Downloads!). If you don't want to install the games shortcut to the desktop during installation, just make sure the install desktop shortcut is unchecked when the 'additional task's window appears; you will still get two of the other Falcoware shortcuts installed (i.e. FalconLine Online Games Website & FalcoGo WebGL Games shortcuts). Also, if you don't like icons installed to the quick launch task bar, make sure you also uncheck the appropriate checkbox when the 'additional task's window appears (after the Select Start Menu Folder window).

The Game:

Helpless Zombies is another puzzler I'd recommend downloading. I've only had time for a brief soiree into the game, but like yesterdays, despite only several minutes of game play, I found it worth keeping. After the first several levels, which are very easy, the difficulty ramps up once more than one zombie is present. It can be quite challenging if you're not a puzzler addict, but for those familiar with this type of game, it may be relatively easy to beat.

The basis of the game is to rescue the zombies by avoiding the traps, picking up the good stuff (brains) and exiting by the door. It sounds simple enough, however you are faced with zombies that copy every move each other makes, and more importantly, each zombie is separated by a maze like labyrinth of corridors spiked with traps etc. You have to work out the move that will allow each zombie to reach the exit door without setting off a trap. The first levels are easy as each are in separate area's of a maze like area, with only a single zombie.

The door remains locked until you've picked up all the brains that are scattered throughout each level. The further in you progress, the more brains need picking up. On at least one of the early levels when you are controlling only one zombie, it may appear impossible to access one of the brains as they appear locked away, however, you can find secret passages that access those areas. From level seven you have two zombies to control and later three zombies. When zombies appear trapped by barriers, you'll notice a switch that at least one zombie can access. This must be switched before that zombie escapes, otherwise the rest of the zombies will be trapped. you'll see what I mean when you play the game. Later levels include movable object, that if moved incorrectly, will block the path of escaping zombies.

Whiterabbit-uk 10th April 2019

Controls:

↑ = Move Up
↓ = Move Down
← = Move Left
→ = Move Right
Enter = Select
Esc = Back
R - Restart
↓ = Scroll through Main menu

Conclusion:

Overall a decent puzzle game, but it will not be challenging to those who play puzzle games or maze games regularily.

Videos of Helpless Zombies:

You can see a couple of game play videos of Helpless Zombies HERE & HERE.

Suggestions:

After you've had an opportunity to play today's giveaway please take a few moments to give some positive or negative feedback; for example, what you liked or disliked about the game, or how it could be improved. If you don't like the genre at all, please explain why and if any, what improvements would change your mind? If you don't have time to post a comment today, please do so at your convenience, thank you. If you wish to post a review or comment about the game later, you can access the comments section by going to the game giveaways home page, then scroll to the bottom of the page where it says Archives and select the date the giveaway was live (giveaway days are in bold type). This will open the appropriate page for you to post your comment or review. Alternatively, you can google the name of the game and include Gamegiveawayoftheday in the search. This should give you a list of links to whenever this game was given away.

If you miss today's game giveaway you will be able to get the game via Steam HERE, the release date was the 4th April 19, but there has been a delay in the release.

Problems getting the game to work:

If you're having problems installing or activating or getting Helpless Zombies to work please visit the FAQ's Thread HERE and read through the communities comments because sometimes fixes have already been posted, for example, a common issue seen since the Themida wrapper was introduced three years ago is that some community members installation of the game are blocked by their security because Themida code has been known to hide malware, (usually an error message is flagged for example 'The executable is corrupted' even though in reality it is not); so as a precaution some anti malware programs will block and even delete the suspect installation files even though the files (i.e. the setup, read me and setup.gcd files are actually totally free from malware. This issue can be solved either by rebooting your computer in safe mode with networking or a quicker method is to temporarily turn off your security software to allow the installation. You could also try white-listing the setup.gcd file. In the almost 12 years this game giveaway site has been operating there has 'never' been a game given away that was infected with malware.

If for any reason you want to contact the giveaway team, for example, you have a game to offer the community, or are unable to download the latest game or other issues that the FAQ's thread or these comments don't cover or solve you can do so HERE

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the developer Mihan0id and the distributor Falcoware games for giving away Helpless Zombies and also to the game giveaway team, as always, for securing other ways to get free games.

Useful Information not related to today's game giveaway:

If Helpless Zombies doesn't doesn't interest you, but you still hanker for something new to play, you'll find details of some game deals whether they be sale items, heavily discuounted (up to 95%) indie bundles or games being given away for free HERE (I've not updated the thread in a while, but most of the links still take you to the latest deals).

The rest of the information that used to be posted in the game review can be found in the forums HERE. Finally, check out Delenns threads for details of other free games and offers; she often updates with the latest deals from Indie Gala, the Humble Store and others HERE; plus other community members sometimes post details of free games elsewhere in the game discussion forums HERE, (current deals are usually on the first page of the game discussion forums).

The free game over at Epic Games is now The Witness; a single-player game in an open world with dozens of locations to explore and over 500 puzzles; (sells for £29.99/$39.99/€36.99/₽699). From the 18th of April Transistor (sells for £15.46/$19.99/€16.79/₽435) is available free HERE; a sci-fi-themed action RPG where you discover the world of transistors; from the creators of Bastion. Indie Gala have removed some of the games that were available last week and added new ones to their free games list, (at least 20 free games are available via their recently added showcase section) that includes adventure, RPG, Simulation, strategy and casual games (most recent first) i.e. Survivalist (a huge open-world Role Playing Game), Galactic Missile Defense - ( an endless/leaderboard-based shooter and tower defense game, where you must protect Earth from the invading Martians), Super Destronaut - (A retro space invaders clone), Siluman Project - (An RPG Maker game where the purpose of the game is to defeat monster girls bosses and reach the ending based on what action do you do), Five Nations - (A futuristic real-time strategy game that follows the events of a mind-bending opera of space about the survival of humanity), False ReBirth - (Another RPG Maker game - A psychological, story-focused game about the last remaining human), GOR - Gorilla Office Rampage - (Top down action game - play as a monkey and you smash stuff), Home is where Chip is - (Casual simulation), Age of Fear: The Free World - (introduction to the series' tried-and-true gameplay, focusing on non-linear exploration and combat in an Open World style), Die Legende von Saya: Befehl aus der Dunkelheit - (aka The Legend of Saya: Command from the Dark) - (Action adventure RPG), What Never Was, The Last Humans: Awakening, Childhood, Dunwell, Safe Not Safe, Hi Hotel, Bugs Must Die, Cuadradito y Circulito, Hellino, Hovership Havoc and Wake Up , or you can find them all HERE. Finally, there are some excellent bargains on sale via Steam HERE, for example, if you previously purchased the game Sniper Elite 2 on Steam, there is a decent discount on the new remastered version of the game HERE. The developer is re-releasing the award winning game with additional content and all the original dlc is included with the game as well. It will be released on Steam mid May. Owners of the original game will get over 75% off the usual price. i.e. £6.99 instead of £29.99. (If you don't own the original, it's no longer available via Steam, but you may find cheap steam keys on various stores that deal in steam keys. Pre ordering the remastered version will give you 10% off the usual price i.e. £26.99 instead of £29.99 After watching videos of the remastered version and comparing it to the original, it looks amazing.

The classic game of Lemmings (released in 1991) has been free for a long time; however, I've just downloaded the game from Microsoft, where you can get it free HERE - UK and HERE - US, with I believe improved graphics. It looks amazing considering its age. Definitely worth downloading either for nostalgic reasons. (me and my wife used to play this regularly while still at university), or for those who've never experienced Lemmings, its an addictive puzzle game where you have to lead your lemmings to the exit (it's one of those
ne more level type of games. There are different types of Lemmings, some that dig, others that block, others that parachute and others that explode. you have to use these different Lemmings to guide your group of Lemmings to the exit. Sounds easy, but as you progress, the game can get really challenging. The level designs are superb and often devious.

Finally, Indie Gala has brought back cherry Kisses Mahjong Strip solitaire by cherry kiss. This game is definitely for adults only and features a full strip in the end game. It's only available today, so for those who don't mind something a little naughty, this may be something you'll like. All the characters are anime and exaggerated. You'll find the deal HERE - UK