Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse

Over-the-top gory zombie comedy is fun but shallow.
Kids say
Based on 1 review
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Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this game.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse is an action adventure game available for download on the Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Windows PC. Players assume the role of a zombie who must kill and eat innocent humans (pedestrians, police officers, scientists, and more), and lots of blood can be seen spurting out of their heads and neck (as well as brain tissue). This is accompanied by eating sounds and victims screaming in agony or pleading for their lives. There are guns in the game, and vehicles can be used to shoot projectiles at civilians, or these people can be run over and bodies will go flying. You can remove your head and use it as a bowling ball or toss your pancreas like a bomb. There are sexual comments and innuendo targeted to Stubbs' love interest, Maggie, who shows a lot of cleavage, and a flashback that implies sex between Stubbs and Maggie. There's moderate language and crude humor, including flatulence and urination as part of the game mechanic. Stubbs is also shown smoking a cigarette in most of his cutscenes.
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What’s It About?
STUBBS THE ZOMBIE IN REBEL WITHOUT A PULSE has risen from the dead of its 2005 release to take a bite out of a new generation of consoles. Players take on the role of Edward "Stubbs" Stubblefield, a down-and-out salesman during the Great Depression, who falls in love with the beautiful Maggie Monday. But Maggie's father strongly disapproves of his daughter's choice in boyfriends and decides to kill Stubbs and dump his body. Fast-forward a quarter of a century, and Maggie's son, Andrew, a billionaire playboy industrialist, has founded the fictitious city of Punchbowl, Pennsylvania, which is where Stubbs rises from the grave to exact revenge on everyone. Note that this is an alternate 1959, with a retro futuristic vibe, including oversized robots that roll around town, hovering cars, ray gun weapons, and other sci-fi lore. Stubbs must eat brains of the living to have the energy to accomplish his missions. From a third-person view, the undead protagonist will toss projectiles during combat, drive vehicles, and explore indoor and outdoor locations of the city. Stubbs can flatulate to stun enemies, convert enemies into allies, and engage in "couch co-op" two-player mode to boost the zombie fun.
Is It Any Good?
While this action game doesn't have deep gameplay or great graphics, fans of the original game or ones who like the idea of playing a zombie instead of fighting against them will be amused. Much of your focus in Stubbs the Zombie will be on eating brains, which you might be able to do easily by creeping up on a civilian. At other times, you'll need to punch someone to get them to stop moving, or release some gas to temporarily stun them until their heads can be ripped off. If you need some help in facing a bunch of gun-toting cops, for example, you can whistle to call over your undead followers. The action is broken up in some side missions, like hopping into vehicles, or by watching cutscenes (for some revealing backstory), but for the most part, the action is repetitive. But boss battles are fun and memorable (including a dance competition, no less).
Visually, the game doesn't hold up well, with very dated graphics that clearly show its age. It might not hurt the campy nature of this game, which is meant to look and feel like a pulpy B movie, but yikes, it's really not pretty. In fact, it can be difficult to tell who's a zombie and who's a human (especially on a small Nintendo Switch screen). This can be an issue, as you might not be able to advance to the next level until all the humans are dead, so you'll waste time walking (or limping) around to see who you've missed. Again, if you have a quirky sense of humor (including toilet humor), then this isn't a bad buy for a modest price. You can also play co-op with someone beside you. But its outdated visuals and humor will probably turn away a lot of other players looking for a more visually impressive game -- or something without the constant fart and pee jokes.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about violence in video games. Is the impact of the violence in Stubbs the Zombie affected by the fact that you're attacking people instead of monsters? Would the impact be different if you were fighting monsters instead of being one?
What's the appeal of playing a villain instead of a hero in Stubbs the Zombie? Do you think it works better in this game because you're clearly a monster that has to kill to live?
Game Details
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One
- Pricing structure: Paid ($19.99)
- Available online?: Available online
- Publisher: Aspyr
- Release date: March 12, 2021
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Adventures, Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires, Robots
- ESRB rating: M for Blood and Gore, Crude Humor, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language
- Last updated: May 26, 2021
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