Scheming Through The Zombie Apocalypse: The Beginning review for PS4, Xbox One, Switch

Your enjoyment of Scheming Through The Zombie Apocalypse: The Beginning will depend entirely on your answer to one question: how funny do you think it is when cartoon animals swear?

Because really, if your answer to that is anything other than ?It?s the funniest thing ever!?, then you?ll probably have a hard time with this game. After all, it?s built around the proposition that there?s literally nothing more innately hilarious than cartoon animals swearing a lot, with pop culture references and a bit of ultra-violence thrown in for good measure. Basically, think of it as a slightly edgier version of Family Guy.

Okay, that?s a lot blow. It?s not that terrible. But for a game built almost entirely around theoretically funny writing, the jokes here kind of suck. As I said, the humour is generally relies on the premise that if a cute (well, cute-ish) animal says something outrageous, like calling another animal ?retarded? and throwing in a couple of choice swear words for good measure, it?s inherently hilarious. Unfortunately, the end result is less funny, more mildly transgressive, and even then, they?re only transgressive if you?ve been living under a rock for the last two or three decades.

The gameplay itself is mostly an afterthought to watching the two main characters, Larry the dog and Hank the rabbit, bicker and connive their way through a zombie apocalypse, driving from location to location as they enlist various passersby in their schemes and try and get an invite into the scavenger?s guild. Occasionally you get to pick a line, but they don?t add that much to Scheming Through The Zombie Apocalypse. There are also a few mini-games, like picking locks or a dice game, but they?re rare enough that they?re basically inconsequential.

Which brings it all back to the writing. Humour is extremely subjective, so I?m sure that some people out there will think that Scheming Through The Zombie Apocalypse is absolutely hilarious, and if they do, I won?t judge them too much for it. Personally, though, I like funny games that are, you know, actually funny, which is why it?s hard to get too enthusiastic for this one.

Ratalaika Games provided us with a Scheming Through The Zombie Apocalypse: The Beginning PS4 code for review purposes.