Are you serious about the eventual zombie apocalypse? Well, you better start training for one.
“Zombies, Run!” is a smartphone app designed to keep you running with the threats of moans and groans of flesh-eating zombies on your tail and, of course, the rewards of surviving.
You’ll flip on the app, turn on the “Zombie Mob Chases” mode (who would buy this app to not be chased by zombies?), indicate whether you want music from your iPod to play in the silences and then begin your first mission.
You’ll run no farther than from Plaza to the Student Recreation Center before the gritty voice of the narrator unfolds a tale and tells you that you’re spotted. He talks to you, begs you for help. Your first mission is thus structured: run to the hospital (not MU’s), gather supplies and valuable Center for Disease Control documents and bring them back to the township of Abel so that you may be permitted sanctuary, a template likely reused for each subsequent mission.
Anyone with an undying love of the undead has undoubtedly dreamt of experiencing a zombie apocalypse. However, don’t be misled on the thoroughness of the application in zombie lore.
As soon as the tutorial plays, you are made aware that your pace doesn’t matter. You don’t even have to increase your speed that dramatically to outrun the groans that grow steadily louder. This app is really more for running with an entertaining story.
But if you’re just in it for the story with zombies, it’s not the most efficient story experience. The audio clips range from 30 seconds to one minute, whereas the silence/music lasts for about four to eight minutes (depending on your song length). You’re not getting much zombie bang for your effort.
Further, the dialogue and story is something you could create in your head while running and listening to your own music. It’s a story but not a highly imaginative or in-depth one (or one you can hear very well over your music).
Throughout the jog, you’ll also pick up items like water bottles and underwear to placate the needs of Abel Township. You can level up the hospital, armory and more with the allocation of your finds. This might give you an incentive to keep using the app, but there are other apps that provide a similar town-growing experience at a lower cost.
“Zombies, Run!” is a tremendous step forward in app technology. Your activity is tracked via GPS or accelerometer, and when you encounter the audio story and zombies is based on this data.
One note: This app is designed to incorporate a new routine into your daily jog, not to satisfy the wildest dreams of zombie enthusiasts. If you run, you might want to hash out the $7.99 for the app. If you don’t, keep on dreaming.
