Zombies Ate My Neighbors (USA)
Zombies Ate My Neighbors is a run and gun video game developed by LucasArts and originally published by Konami for the Super Nintendo and Sega Mega Drive/Sega Genesis consoles in 1993. The object of the game is for one or two players to take control of protagonists Zeke and Julie to rescue the titular neighbors from monsters often seen in horror movies. Aiding them in this task are a variety of weapons and power-ups that can be used to battle the numerous enemies in each level. Various elements and aspects of horror movies are referenced in the game with some of its more violent content being censored in various territories such as Europe and Australia, where it is known only as Zombies.
While not a massive commercial success, the game has been well received for its graphical style, humor and deep gameplay. It spawned a sequel, Ghoul Patrol, released in 1994. In 2009, Zombies Ate My Neighbors was re-released for the Virtual Console to positive reviews.
The player chooses between two characters, Zeke and Julie, or both in a two-player mode. They navigate suburban neighborhoods, shopping malls, pyramids, haunted castles and other areas, destroying a variety of horror-movie monsters, including vampires, werewolves, huge demonic babies, squidmen, evil dolls, aliens, UFOs, giant ants, blobs, giant worms, and the game's namesake, zombies. In each of the 48 stages, which includes seven optional bonus levels, the goal is to rescue the surviving neighbors, at which point a door opens that will take the player to the next stage. If the player does not find a neighbor fast enough, an enemy will kill the neighbors when touched, preventing them from being saved. At least one neighbor must be saved from each level to progress to the next. The game is lost if the players lose all of their lives or if all of the neighbors in the current stage are killed. Scoring points earns players neighbors to save and extra lives. Each level has at most ten neighbors, and each neighbor type is worth a different amount of points.
While not a massive commercial success, the game has been well received for its graphical style, humor and deep gameplay. It spawned a sequel, Ghoul Patrol, released in 1994. In 2009, Zombies Ate My Neighbors was re-released for the Virtual Console to positive reviews.
The player chooses between two characters, Zeke and Julie, or both in a two-player mode. They navigate suburban neighborhoods, shopping malls, pyramids, haunted castles and other areas, destroying a variety of horror-movie monsters, including vampires, werewolves, huge demonic babies, squidmen, evil dolls, aliens, UFOs, giant ants, blobs, giant worms, and the game's namesake, zombies. In each of the 48 stages, which includes seven optional bonus levels, the goal is to rescue the surviving neighbors, at which point a door opens that will take the player to the next stage. If the player does not find a neighbor fast enough, an enemy will kill the neighbors when touched, preventing them from being saved. At least one neighbor must be saved from each level to progress to the next. The game is lost if the players lose all of their lives or if all of the neighbors in the current stage are killed. Scoring points earns players neighbors to save and extra lives. Each level has at most ten neighbors, and each neighbor type is worth a different amount of points.
Zombies Ate My Neighbors (USA)
Technical
CPU
- maincpu 5A22 (@ 21 Mhz)
- soundcpu SPC700 (@ 1 Mhz)
Chipset
- SNES Custom DSP (SPC700)
Display
- Orientation Yoko
- Resolution 255 x 225
- Frequency 60.098476 Hz
Controlers
- Number of players 2
- Number of buttons 6
- Kind of controler
- joy (8 ways)
- joy (8 ways)
- joy (8 ways)
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Zombies Ate My Neighbors (USA) Screenshots
Clones of Zombies Ate My Neighbors (USA)
Victim List
There are eleven victim types found throughout the game. Victims are stationary and will not move or try to escape enemies, thus the need for the player to reach them first. Some victims have special animations; for example the soldier will become terrified if monsters get too close and the dog will bark and growl. Each victim is worth a set amount of points. If a victim is killed by monsters, a cry of "No!" can be heard and the victims winged, halo-crowned spirit will float off of the screen.
Cheerleader - Worth 1000 points
Baby - Worth 700 points
Dog - Worth 500 points
Archeologist - Worth 500 points
Trampoline Girl - Worth 300 points
Tourists - Worth 200 points. Sometimes, the Tourists cannot always be saved, especially on level 7 as they sometimes become werewolves.
Barbeque Cook - Worth 105 points. In a humorous note, the cook himself is only worth 5 points while the barbecue grill is worth 100.
Soldier - Worth 100 points
Swimming Pool Man - Worth 100 points
Teacher - Worth 10 points
Dr. Bug - This victim can only be found on certain bonus levels and resembles David Hedison in the 1958 film The Fly
Cheerleader - Worth 1000 points
Baby - Worth 700 points
Dog - Worth 500 points
Archeologist - Worth 500 points
Trampoline Girl - Worth 300 points
Tourists - Worth 200 points. Sometimes, the Tourists cannot always be saved, especially on level 7 as they sometimes become werewolves.
Barbeque Cook - Worth 105 points. In a humorous note, the cook himself is only worth 5 points while the barbecue grill is worth 100.
Soldier - Worth 100 points
Swimming Pool Man - Worth 100 points
Teacher - Worth 10 points
Dr. Bug - This victim can only be found on certain bonus levels and resembles David Hedison in the 1958 film The Fly
Monster List
There is a wide variety of monsters encountered throughout the game, some more common and easier to destroy than others. Most of the monsters are based on classic archetypes while others are more contemporary.
Dr. Tongue - The main antagonist of the game. Dr. Tongue can be seen throughout the game several times (beginning with level 7), but if the player approaches him, he will drink a potion and vanish. Later on, Dr. Tongue must be fought twice; once in the form of a giant spider and once as a giant head that spits tongues and eyeballs at the player.
Tonguenstein - Dr. Tongue's Frankenstein-like monster, and one of the more uncommon monsters on the game. He fires energy bolts at the player.
Vlad Belmont - The vampire enemy gets his name from Vlad the Impaler and the Belmont clan from the Castlevania video game series.
Werewolves - When defeated, the werewolves will often emit a humorous howl as their green ghost leaves their bodies.
Mummies
Squidmen - Similar to the Gill-Man from Creature from the Black Lagoon, they are primarily an aquatic enemy but will pursue the player on land as well.
Chainsaw Maniac - In some foreign releases, the chainsaw was removed from the game and replaced with an axe, the character being known as Lumberjack.
Martians - The Martians are very similar to the aliens featured in the 1962 trading card series Mars Attacks. They have bubble guns that trap victims instead of killing them.
Martian Flying Saucers - Appearing very infrequently, the Flying Saucer is considered to be an optional "boss fight" that is very difficult to destroy.
Titanic Toddler - Not really a monster, the Titanic Toddler is a giant baby that will treat you like an enemy until they are "damaged" enough to revert back to their tiny form; and then must be saved like any other victim.
Killer Dolls - Little axe-wielding dolls similar to Chucky from Child's Play. Sometimes when defeated, the Killer Dolls will burst into flames and chase the player.
Mushroom Queens - Large plant-like mutations that cause harmful mushrooms to spread across the ground and spit damaging goop at the player.
Mushroom Men - Small mutations that spring up from the spawning grounds of the Mushroom Queens.
Living Ooze - Red globs of frantic ooze that launch splatters of slime onto the heads of the player and the victims.
Giant Ants - Red or purple giant ants that can be difficult to kill.
Tentacles - From Day of the Tentacle, these monsters make cameo appearances in two bonus levels.
Snakeoids - Giant earth-tunneling centipede-like monstrosities like the Graboids from the film Tremors (film).
Body Snatchers - Pod-like aliens that open up to reveal evil replicas of the player, like Invasion of the Body Snatchers.
Spiders - Red spiders, a very infrequent enemy in the game.
Football Players - While technically not monsters, the Football Players most certainly hinder the player's efforts in level 12.
Zombies - As the name of the game suggests, Zombies are the most common enemy on the game and are the easiest to destroy. They appear in almost every level.
Phantom of the Cabinet - At random, whenever the player opens a cabinet, garbage can, etc., a purple ghost-like entity may appear, unavoidably damaging the player.
Dr. Tongue - The main antagonist of the game. Dr. Tongue can be seen throughout the game several times (beginning with level 7), but if the player approaches him, he will drink a potion and vanish. Later on, Dr. Tongue must be fought twice; once in the form of a giant spider and once as a giant head that spits tongues and eyeballs at the player.
Tonguenstein - Dr. Tongue's Frankenstein-like monster, and one of the more uncommon monsters on the game. He fires energy bolts at the player.
Vlad Belmont - The vampire enemy gets his name from Vlad the Impaler and the Belmont clan from the Castlevania video game series.
Werewolves - When defeated, the werewolves will often emit a humorous howl as their green ghost leaves their bodies.
Mummies
Squidmen - Similar to the Gill-Man from Creature from the Black Lagoon, they are primarily an aquatic enemy but will pursue the player on land as well.
Chainsaw Maniac - In some foreign releases, the chainsaw was removed from the game and replaced with an axe, the character being known as Lumberjack.
Martians - The Martians are very similar to the aliens featured in the 1962 trading card series Mars Attacks. They have bubble guns that trap victims instead of killing them.
Martian Flying Saucers - Appearing very infrequently, the Flying Saucer is considered to be an optional "boss fight" that is very difficult to destroy.
Titanic Toddler - Not really a monster, the Titanic Toddler is a giant baby that will treat you like an enemy until they are "damaged" enough to revert back to their tiny form; and then must be saved like any other victim.
Killer Dolls - Little axe-wielding dolls similar to Chucky from Child's Play. Sometimes when defeated, the Killer Dolls will burst into flames and chase the player.
Mushroom Queens - Large plant-like mutations that cause harmful mushrooms to spread across the ground and spit damaging goop at the player.
Mushroom Men - Small mutations that spring up from the spawning grounds of the Mushroom Queens.
Living Ooze - Red globs of frantic ooze that launch splatters of slime onto the heads of the player and the victims.
Giant Ants - Red or purple giant ants that can be difficult to kill.
Tentacles - From Day of the Tentacle, these monsters make cameo appearances in two bonus levels.
Snakeoids - Giant earth-tunneling centipede-like monstrosities like the Graboids from the film Tremors (film).
Body Snatchers - Pod-like aliens that open up to reveal evil replicas of the player, like Invasion of the Body Snatchers.
Spiders - Red spiders, a very infrequent enemy in the game.
Football Players - While technically not monsters, the Football Players most certainly hinder the player's efforts in level 12.
Zombies - As the name of the game suggests, Zombies are the most common enemy on the game and are the easiest to destroy. They appear in almost every level.
Phantom of the Cabinet - At random, whenever the player opens a cabinet, garbage can, etc., a purple ghost-like entity may appear, unavoidably damaging the player.
Level List
All in all, there are 48 levels in the game as well as 7 bonus levels.
Level 1: Zombie Panic
Level 2: Evening of the Undead
Level 3: Terror in Aisle Five
Level 4: Chainsaw Hedgemaze Mayhem
Level 5: Weird Kids on the Block
Level 6: Pyramid of Fear
Level 7: Dr. Tongue's Castle of Terror
Level 8: Titanic Toddler
Level 9: Toxic Terrors
Level 10: No Assembly Required
Level 11: Weeds Gone Bad
Level 12: Mars Needs Cheerleaders
Level 13: Chopping Mall
Level 14: Seven Meals for Seven Zombies
Level 15: Dinner on Monster Island
Level 16: Ants
Level 17: Office of the Doomed
Level 18: Squidmen of the Deep
Level 19: Nightmare on Terror Street
Level 20: Invasion of the Snakeoids
Level 21: The Day the Earth Ran Away
Level 22: Revenge of Doctor Tongue
Level 23: The Caves of Mystery
Level 24: Warehouse of the Evil Dolls
Level 25: Look Who's Shopping
Level 26: Where the Red Fern Growls
Level 27: Dances with Werewolves
Level 28: Mark of the Vampire
Level 29: Zombie House Party
Level 30: The Horror of Floor Thirteen
Level 31: Look Who's Coming to Dinner
Level 32: Giant Ant Farm
Level 33: Fish and Crypts
Level 34: I was a Chainsaw Maniac
Level 35: Boardwalk of Terrors
Level 36: Monster Phobia
Level 37: Labyrinth of Horrors
Level 38: Monsters of the Blue Lagoon
Level 39: Destroy all Vampires
Level 40: Pyramid of Fear Two
Level 41: Martians Go Home
Level 42: Spikes
Level 43: Super Fun Cleanup Site
Level 44: The Curse of Dr. Tongue
Level 45: Danger in Picnic Park
Level 46: Day of the Chainsaw
Level 47: Gridiron Terror
Level 48: Curse of the Tongue
Bonus Level 1: Day of the Tentacle
Bonus Level 2: Mushroom Men
Bonus Level 3: Cheerleaders Versus the Monsters
Bonus Level 4: Someplace Very Warm
Bonus Level 5: The Son of Dr. Tongue
Bonus Level 6: Curse of the Pharaohs
Bonus Level 7: Monsters Among Us
Level 1: Zombie Panic
Level 2: Evening of the Undead
Level 3: Terror in Aisle Five
Level 4: Chainsaw Hedgemaze Mayhem
Level 5: Weird Kids on the Block
Level 6: Pyramid of Fear
Level 7: Dr. Tongue's Castle of Terror
Level 8: Titanic Toddler
Level 9: Toxic Terrors
Level 10: No Assembly Required
Level 11: Weeds Gone Bad
Level 12: Mars Needs Cheerleaders
Level 13: Chopping Mall
Level 14: Seven Meals for Seven Zombies
Level 15: Dinner on Monster Island
Level 16: Ants
Level 17: Office of the Doomed
Level 18: Squidmen of the Deep
Level 19: Nightmare on Terror Street
Level 20: Invasion of the Snakeoids
Level 21: The Day the Earth Ran Away
Level 22: Revenge of Doctor Tongue
Level 23: The Caves of Mystery
Level 24: Warehouse of the Evil Dolls
Level 25: Look Who's Shopping
Level 26: Where the Red Fern Growls
Level 27: Dances with Werewolves
Level 28: Mark of the Vampire
Level 29: Zombie House Party
Level 30: The Horror of Floor Thirteen
Level 31: Look Who's Coming to Dinner
Level 32: Giant Ant Farm
Level 33: Fish and Crypts
Level 34: I was a Chainsaw Maniac
Level 35: Boardwalk of Terrors
Level 36: Monster Phobia
Level 37: Labyrinth of Horrors
Level 38: Monsters of the Blue Lagoon
Level 39: Destroy all Vampires
Level 40: Pyramid of Fear Two
Level 41: Martians Go Home
Level 42: Spikes
Level 43: Super Fun Cleanup Site
Level 44: The Curse of Dr. Tongue
Level 45: Danger in Picnic Park
Level 46: Day of the Chainsaw
Level 47: Gridiron Terror
Level 48: Curse of the Tongue
Bonus Level 1: Day of the Tentacle
Bonus Level 2: Mushroom Men
Bonus Level 3: Cheerleaders Versus the Monsters
Bonus Level 4: Someplace Very Warm
Bonus Level 5: The Son of Dr. Tongue
Bonus Level 6: Curse of the Pharaohs
Bonus Level 7: Monsters Among Us
Production
Zombies Ate My Neighbors was originally developed by LucasArts. It was published by Konami, a company already known for platformers in 1993. Music for the game was composed by Joseph "Joe" McDermott. The ZAMN engine would later be used for Ghoul Patrol, Metal Warriors and Big Sky Trooper. The developer wanted to include battery save in the game but was unable to as they could not afford it.
The monsters in the game are based on classic horror films released in the 1950s and more modern films like Friday the 13th and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. Weapon effectiveness is also based on these depictions; werewolves die in one hit if attacked with silverware and vampires die faster if attacked with the crucifix. In the SNES version of the game, there's a flamethrower which is not included in the Sega Mega Drive version. The North American release was released with a variant cover art in limited quantities.
The game's theme was subject to some censorship. This game was released before the ESRB inclusion and before then, Nintendo did not want violence in their video games. Nintendo of America ordered all depictions of blood and gore be removed or changed to purple ooze.
Censorship committees in several European Nations—i.e. United Kingdom, Ireland, Italy, France, Spain, Austria, Portugal, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Germany and Australia—censored more by having the game renamed to Zombies and ordered other changes including the replacement of the chainsaw-wielding enemies with lumberjacks wielding axes.
The monsters in the game are based on classic horror films released in the 1950s and more modern films like Friday the 13th and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. Weapon effectiveness is also based on these depictions; werewolves die in one hit if attacked with silverware and vampires die faster if attacked with the crucifix. In the SNES version of the game, there's a flamethrower which is not included in the Sega Mega Drive version. The North American release was released with a variant cover art in limited quantities.
Censorship
The game's theme was subject to some censorship. This game was released before the ESRB inclusion and before then, Nintendo did not want violence in their video games. Nintendo of America ordered all depictions of blood and gore be removed or changed to purple ooze.
Censorship committees in several European Nations—i.e. United Kingdom, Ireland, Italy, France, Spain, Austria, Portugal, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Germany and Australia—censored more by having the game renamed to Zombies and ordered other changes including the replacement of the chainsaw-wielding enemies with lumberjacks wielding axes.
Reception
Although not an immediate success, Zombies Ate My Neighbors became a cult classic years after its release. Upon its release, it got above average praise, earning a 85.6% on Gamerankings.com. Reviewers of the game often cited its humor, two-player mode, graphics and music as some of its best aspects.
Mike Seiblier of Sega-16.com said the variety of weapons shows off the game's "tongue in cheek nature by giving you weapons and items like, silverware, dishes, soda can grenades, a weed whacker, keys, bazookas as well as health packs." The Armchair Empire similarly praised the variety and strategy that the weapon system incorporated. They also made note of the "little details that make it so cool to play", saying "If you come across a door, which you don't have the key for, you can blow it open with the bazooka." Critics agreed the co-op mode is "highly recommended".
The game's "colorful and detailed" graphics have been praised as well as its soundtrack which Seibler called an "homage to the spooky, over the top music found in old, scary flicks." He went on to mention the sound effects are equally impressive. Corbie Dillard of Nintendolife.com said the graphics do not "exactly set new 16-bit standards, but they still manage to look sharp and the creative use of the darker color scheme used throughout the game really makes the creepy visuals come to life onscreen." He ended his review by affectionately calling the game a "second-rate horror movie" version of Contra.
Upon the game's release for the Wii Virtual Console, Zombies Ate My Neighbors received immense praise and earned an Editor's Choice Award from IGN. The game has been regarded as one of "the most requested additions to the VC system even before the Wii launch." Comparisons to the game Dead Rising, released for the Xbox 360 in 2006, have been drawn, Lucas Thomas of IGN saying "Zombies Ate My Neighbors is basically a comical 16-bit template for the new Xbox 360 release, Dead Rising. And like that game, this one arms you with a pretty bizarre arsenal. Weed whackers, exploding soda cans and flying silverware all make an appearance to help you, or you and a friend, put a hurt on these living dead." GameFAQs described the Xbox 360 game Monster Madness: Battle for Suburbia as "a tribute to the classic Zombies Ate My Neighbors" due to its similar game play, scenario, and B-Movie humor.
Mike Seiblier of Sega-16.com said the variety of weapons shows off the game's "tongue in cheek nature by giving you weapons and items like, silverware, dishes, soda can grenades, a weed whacker, keys, bazookas as well as health packs." The Armchair Empire similarly praised the variety and strategy that the weapon system incorporated. They also made note of the "little details that make it so cool to play", saying "If you come across a door, which you don't have the key for, you can blow it open with the bazooka." Critics agreed the co-op mode is "highly recommended".
The game's "colorful and detailed" graphics have been praised as well as its soundtrack which Seibler called an "homage to the spooky, over the top music found in old, scary flicks." He went on to mention the sound effects are equally impressive. Corbie Dillard of Nintendolife.com said the graphics do not "exactly set new 16-bit standards, but they still manage to look sharp and the creative use of the darker color scheme used throughout the game really makes the creepy visuals come to life onscreen." He ended his review by affectionately calling the game a "second-rate horror movie" version of Contra.
Upon the game's release for the Wii Virtual Console, Zombies Ate My Neighbors received immense praise and earned an Editor's Choice Award from IGN. The game has been regarded as one of "the most requested additions to the VC system even before the Wii launch." Comparisons to the game Dead Rising, released for the Xbox 360 in 2006, have been drawn, Lucas Thomas of IGN saying "Zombies Ate My Neighbors is basically a comical 16-bit template for the new Xbox 360 release, Dead Rising. And like that game, this one arms you with a pretty bizarre arsenal. Weed whackers, exploding soda cans and flying silverware all make an appearance to help you, or you and a friend, put a hurt on these living dead." GameFAQs described the Xbox 360 game Monster Madness: Battle for Suburbia as "a tribute to the classic Zombies Ate My Neighbors" due to its similar game play, scenario, and B-Movie humor.
Sequels and spin-offs
A sequel entitled Ghoul Patrol was released in 1994, but was not as well received as its predecessor. Originally, Ghoul Patrol was not intended to be released as a sequel to Zombies Ate My Neighbors, but was re-worked as such to increase sales. In 1997, LucasArts released a game for Sony's PlayStation and Sega's Sega Saturn titled Herc's Adventures, which uses the same basic gameplay format and mechanics as Zombies Ate My Neighbors, but instead parodies ancient Greek mythology. Maniac Mansion: Day of the Tentacle, another game developed by LucasArts, is referenced in Zombies Ate My Neighbors through a secret level.
As of 2011, a film based on the game was in development. The film is being penned and produced by screenwriter John Darko, known for his work on James Wan's Insidious and Aaron Sims' Archetype. Story by unknown writer Mervin Luwee. At the time of report, the film was in the process of securing rights from LucasArts and obtaining a director as well as financing.
As of 2011, a film based on the game was in development. The film is being penned and produced by screenwriter John Darko, known for his work on James Wan's Insidious and Aaron Sims' Archetype. Story by unknown writer Mervin Luwee. At the time of report, the film was in the process of securing rights from LucasArts and obtaining a director as well as financing.
