10 Tips From Games For Surviving A Zombie Holocaust (part 1)
At some stage or another we’ve all had to consider it; what if one day the dead really do rise and we are forced to fight for our survival against the masses of hungry zombies who have taken back to the earth? Whether it’s from watching a film or TV show, reading a book or playing a video game, we’ve all had to think about just how we’d survive such an ordeal. And, unsurprisingly, you are probably having to consider your own chances for survival in a zombie holocaust right now as you read these words…
Well fear not! We’re here to tell you that the clues for survival are closer (and far more fun to research) than you might think. Along with providing us no end of entertainment, zombie-themed video games have actually been giving us tips for surviving an undead apocalypse for quite some time now. So here we have compiled some of the most important things that these games want you to bear in mind should you ever open the front door to find your friendly neighbours have all been turned into flesh hungry monsters!
Whoever said there was nothing useful on the internet any more, eh?
10. Keep Your Head
This may sound obvious, but if video games are anything to go by then it’s apparently not always an easy thing to do. It is crucial, though, that you keep your wits about you if you find yourself on trying to survive the zombie apocalypse. Though not exclusively zombie-based games, the ‘Silent Hill’ series offer players a look at what terrifying hallucinations one’s own frantic and panicked mind can create in this situation. One of the last things you’ll want when the dead rise back to earth is to be having to fight off nightmarish illusions. If you let your mind slip you could find yourself frantically swinging an axe or chainsaw at some imaginary pixie, all the while not realising that a zombie has stumbled its way towards you and is preparing to take a large bite out of your neck.
You’ll want to find solace in the moments of quiet in between the fights and struggles. Try to remember what you’re fighting for. Many video games like to use memory sequences to remind players that they are trying to help their characters find a way back to the lives they had before the outbreak. Try to imagine being reunited with a loved one, returning to that killer salary you had or, if nothing else, enjoy the satisfying crunch you heard when you sunk a hammer into the zombified skull of that guy from your office that you just never liked. If you can keep a calm head on your shoulders mentally, you’re far less likely to have your head bitten from your shoulders…
9. Not All Survivors Will Be Friendly
You’d think that surviving the initial struggles of a zombie holocaust would unite all survivors together and see the end of petty squabbles and feuds. You might also think that you’d be able to trust everybody else to have your back when things start to get a bit hairy. Well then you’d be wrong. Twice. Game developers are keen to advise players that they will encounter problems and even enemies among their fellow survivors. But why is this?
The ‘Walking Dead’ video game suggests that problems amongst survivors can arise from power struggles, disagreements over the best survival strategies and even long-standing cultural prejudices. Thought there’s very little you can do to settle differences based on the latter, there is a very easy way to avoid the first two problems; go with the flow. There are certain people who’ll want to lead, the type of people who like to think they know best and that they should be in charge.
You may not like this, you’ll at least have a common goal in that you most likely will both want to avoid being eaten by the undead. So to avoid problems with your fellow survivors it may be wise to keep quiet, keep your head down and follow the crowd. Unless that crowd is leading you to an inevitable death, that is, and then you may wish to call someone on it.
8. EVERYBODY Will Need Your Help, But Choose Wisely
Yep, that’s right; although you’ll quickly find that not all fellow survivors can be trusted or relied on in a crisis, you will also learn that damn near everybody will ask you to help them out. Although zombie-based games won’t instantly put you at the head of a group as its leader, most will invariably have you play as the unsung hero that rises up to save the masses. These games are based on the premise that ordinary folk have to become extraordinary in circumstances as dire as a zombie apocalypse, and are keen to suggest that the opportunities to do so will be numerous. What they are also quick to point out is that you won’t be able to succeed in all such tasks, and you certainly won’t be able to save everybody.
The solution? Assess your companions quickly so that you know which of them are of most use to you alive. This may sound harsh, but this is survival we are talking about. There’s no point saving the sensitive wet-blanket type over the hardened military veteran if you’re likely to end up having to get your hands dirty and fight of an undead horde down the line. In an ideal world everybody would be saveable, but a world infested by zombies is certainly not an ideal one so the hard choices will have to be made sooner or later. It’s either them or you…
7. Always Be Prepared
Vacations should be a time to relax, a time to get away from the stress and grind of everyday life and put your feet up in paradise for a week or two. Vacations are not, however, a time to forget about the possibility of the dead rising from their graves and attacking the living. If you’re going to survive the zombie holocaust preparation will be key. ‘Dead Island’ is a game keen to remind players that zombies could even attack paradise islands in their quest to quench their hunger for human flesh. So when you’re looking forward to a nice summer break it’s key to bear a few extra factors in mind. Would your chosen destination be easily fortifyable should the worst happen?
Staying in a straw hut on a beach front may seem quirky and interesting, but that thatched wood won’t keep the undead out forever. And make sure your escape routes are clear; the top floor of a fifty storey hotel might give you great views for the week, but fifty flights of stairs are an unnecessary delay when you’re fleeing for your life. Finally, take another look at your suitcase before you leave; all those books might be relaxing poolside entertainment, but taking them out to make space for a crowbar or cricket bat may be a better move in case the worst happens. Also, beach cricket is far more fun than reading…
6. Stock Up On Food
When you’re traversing a landscape that has been laid to waste by the never-ending bloodlust of the undead you’re going to need to be able to make friends quickly. The phrase “safety in numbers” is probably never more appropriate than in a zombie holocaust and the quicker you can surround yourself with helpful companions/ potential human shields (don’t say you wouldn’t consider it) the better. A key thing to bear in mind during the attack of the undead is that it’s not just the zombies who are keen for a snack.
You and your fellow survivors will also need to stay fed and hydrated if you’re going to have the strength and energy to fight of wave after wave of zombie. Stocking up on food will not only ensure you’re able to quickly re-fuel should the need arise, it will also mean you become instantly useful to survivors who may not have been so well prepared. Food and drink will be the ultimate bargaining chips in the zombie holocaust and so having a few energy bars spare to trade for shelter or a weapon will definitely prolong your survival.
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