I'll
be the first to admit that I don't like Real Time
Strategy games, frankly because I'm stupid. I'll
also be the first to admit that I suck at First
Person Shooter games, frankly because I suck. If
there is one thing I do like, it's zombies! And
if there is one thing I'm good at, it's acting like
a zombie! So naturally when this game came to my
attention I became very excited, because now I finally
have a Next-Gen title to look forward too.
Imagine having control of a giant horde of zombies,
who will do your bidding at the touch of a button.
Sound good? Then you'll definitely want to check
out Possession, a zombie action real time strategy
game coming to the PlayStation 3, wow that's a mouthful.
Possession starts off very similar to the movie
28 Days Later. You're one of four protestors whom
break into a research facility and in your noble
quest for freedom, you release a toxic gas. Within
hours an infection scours through not only you but
also your comrades, transforming you into the living
dead! Lucky for you, you're the ridiculously strong
and intelligent zombie who has been chosen as the
leader called The Enslaver. The Enslaver's concept
looks like it was derived from the alien on Tool's
live album cover Salival, creepy! As the super smart
Enslaver you decide to create a giant army of zombies
and destroy the corporation that did this to you.
Now here's where the fun begins…
As
The Enslaver, you must create a vast army. To do
so all you need to do is follow the zombie way,
by eat innocent people! You will be able to command
your horde to chomp away at the fresh living flesh
that lurks around you, transforming the victims
into minions for your undead army. This is the most
effective, and thoroughly entertaining, method to
expand your force. You will have plenty of food
to go after, as the cities that Possession takes
place in are fairly expansive, for the PS2. Reports
state that cities in Possession are about as big
as the city in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. That's
nice for one zombie, but my army needs some bigger
romping grounds.
In
the words of Yoda, size matters not. The phrase
holds oh so true to Possession as the scale of the
city isn't what is most important, it's the fact
that the cities you are in are actual working cities.
There will be media outlets, electrical and water
systems, and even police communications around all
for your zombie havocking tendencies. The levels
have been designed in a way so that there is no
single outcome. There will be many different ways
to complete a level. This will help to inspire creativity
in the player's strategy.
So
we have our premise and we have our stage, but what
about the people within? As the "Zombie King"
you will have 5 different "archetypes"
of zombie to do your bidding. First up there's The
Shambler, who is your stereotypical zombie. The
Shambler is slow and dumb, and while not very strong,
they are dangerous in numbers. Then there's The
Runner, who is the polar opposite of The Shambler.
The Runner is not only fast, but vicious as well.
The Bloater seems very interesting. As your Bloater
walks around, its body decomposes and fills itself
with gas. When The Bloater reaches its destination,
it explodes, releasing a toxic gas that will turn
anyone it comes in contact with into a zombie. This
is where I get all worked up. There's The Shredder
who can rearrange dead flesh, creating some twisted
undead killing machines. The Shredders will be the
efficient pack hunter who also have a 
1st
person view mode that will allow you to see who
will be a threat or not. Last but not least is The
Monster, a 10-foot tall mound of rotting flesh.
The Monster is the tank of the archetypes, as its
high defense is perfect for its sole purpose, mass
destruction.
Possession
is slated for a 2007 release, I know, I shouted
a W.T.F. as well. This game sounds like an absolute
BLAST, but we have to wait 2 years. Blitz Games
is trying to make the wait worth it, by implementing
an online mode. Hopefully by 2007, I won't rot away
like my zombie friends.
