Zombies ate my Neighbors
  "Zombies ate my Neighbors" is a beloved SNES classic from the renowned Lucasarts (owned by George Lucas, creator of many, many things that are not Star Wars). In it, you take on the role of a young boy or girl battling armies of monsters through 50+ small but hectic maze-like stages, each home to a number of oblivious human by-standers that must be collected by you - or killed by monsters, whichever comes first - to advance to the next stage.

For a "horror"-themed game, Zombies is very, very goofy, cheerful, and colorful; exactly the reason it's so damn fun. Stage names are a plethora of movie title parodies ("Dances with Werewolves" and "Mars needs Cheerleaders" are my favorites). Weapons include popscicles, soda bombs, silverware (for slaying werewolves, duh) and the super-cool, super-fun weedwacker! The game's soundtrack, too, is a tough act to match - the tunes are in the style of eerie 50's B-movie music, but with an upbeat jazziness that perfectly accompanies the game's style.
  Drinking a "monster potion", regardless of the character you're playing, transforms you into a big purple beast impervious to damage and with a very powerful attack.
The Humans
  There are several more "victim" types than these, but they all do pretty much the same thing, which is stand around and wait to get either rescued or devoured. In some stages, however, the sky grows dark and all "tourist" type victims (above right) transform into werewolves!
  The rarest and most valuable "victim" in all the game is also my instant favorite character; Dr. Tongue's adorable assistant, "Dr. Bug!" He can be found only in the bonus stage "Son of Dr. Tongue", and I never would have found him if not for a swell e-mail which also pointed out something tragically, tragically shameful: my first version of this page excluded the ZOMBIES. Noone else brought this to my attention for literally months.
The Monsters
The zombie death sequence
Obviously, zombies are the first and most common enemies in the game!
Obviously, zombies are the first and most common enemies in the game! Obviously, zombies are the first and most common enemies in the game! The zombie death sequence
Obviously, zombies are the first and most common enemies in the game!
Obviously, zombies are the first and most common enemies in the game!
The zombie death sequence
Bogeymen sometimes emerge from item chests and damage you.
The zombie death sequence
Obviously, zombies are the first and most common enemies in the game!
Obviously, zombies are the first and most common enemies in the game!
The zombie death sequence
Werewolves have a very interesting death animation.
Werewolves have a very interesting death animation.
Werewolves have a very interesting death animation.
Werewolves have a very interesting death animation.
Vicious, leaping werewolves, sometimes spawned from humans!
Vicious, leaping werewolves, sometimes spawned from humans! Vicious, leaping werewolves, sometimes spawned from humans!
Vicious, leaping werewolves, sometimes spawned from humans!
Vicious, leaping werewolves, sometimes spawned from humans! Vicious, leaping werewolves, sometimes spawned from humans!
Vicious, leaping werewolves, sometimes spawned from humans! Vicious, leaping werewolves, sometimes spawned from humans!
Giant ants can burrow and run away with items you haven't picked up yet.
Giant ants can burrow and run away with items you haven't picked up yet.
Giant ants can burrow and run away with items you haven't picked up yet.
Giant ants can burrow and run away with items you haven't picked up yet.
Giant ants can burrow and run away with items you haven't picked up yet.
These weird plants shoot bubbles and grow thorns along the ground.
Blobs can launch slime that comes down and covers your head, disabling weapons. Blobs can launch slime that comes down and covers your head, disabling weapons.
Blobs can launch slime that comes down and covers your head, disabling weapons.
Blobs can launch slime that comes down and covers your head, disabling weapons.
Body-snatcher pods that clone whichever character you're playing as.
Body-snatcher pods that clone whichever character you're playing as.
Standard fish monsters. They leap, claw, and swim. Standard fish monsters. They leap, claw, and swim.
Standard fish monsters. They leap, claw, and swim. Standard fish monsters. They leap, claw, and swim.
Body-snatcher pods that clone whichever character you're playing as.
Standard fish monsters. They leap, claw, and swim.
Body-snatcher pods that clone whichever character you're playing as. Standard fish monsters. They leap, claw, and swim.
Evil dolls with axes!
Evil dolls with axes! Evil dolls with axes! Evil dolls with axes!
Fire guys originate either from lava or burned doll enemies
Fire guys originate either from lava or burned doll enemies
Fire guys originate either from lava or burned doll enemies
The rare Frankenstein's monsters are one of the game's toughest enemies.
The rare Frankenstein's monsters are one of the game's toughest enemies.
Mummies emerge from sarcophagi and chase you down.
The rare Frankenstein's monsters are one of the game's toughest enemies.
Mummies emerge from sarcophagi and chase you down.
Martians, not very animated, attack with bubble-guns. Martians, not very animated, attack with bubble-guns.
Martian bubble-guns can trap you for several seconds.
Martians, not very animated, attack with bubble-guns.
Odd how Jason has stolen Leatherface's gimmick in the public subconcious for decades...
Mummies emerge from sarcophagi and chase you down.
Odd how Jason has stolen Leatherface's gimmick in the public subconcious for decades...
Awesome little mushroom-men! They sprout from the ground and slowly walk around.
Awesome little mushroom-men! They sprout from the ground and slowly walk around. Awesome little mushroom-men! They sprout from the ground and slowly walk around.
Awesome little mushroom-men! They sprout from the ground and slowly walk around. Very annoying and speedy little spiders, usually only spawned by the spider boss.
Very annoying and speedy little spiders, usually only spawned by the spider boss.
Vampires are another rare, powerful enemy. They teleport and send bats after you. ...they can also transform into a bat swarm and circle around you.
...they can also transform into a bat swarm and circle around you.
...they can also transform into a bat swarm and circle around you.
...they can also transform into a bat swarm and circle around you.
The Bosses
  The rather terrifying giant baby runs about incredibly fast and can scatter milk. When defeated he transforms into a normal, harmless baby for you rescue. You can battle another one in the bonus stage, "Son of Dr. Tongue"
  The martian saucer isn't technically a "boss", since you don't have to fight it at all to complete the stage it's in. It dashes across the screen and attacks with electrical bolts.
  SNAKEOIDS! A reference to "Tremors" (snakeoid was one of the killer sandworm's alternate names, though "graboid" was settled on as official)...there are several of these great-looking monstrosities burrowing around level 20, periodically emerging to slurp you up!
  Dr. Tongue, the game's main villain, guzzles a potion upon sighting you and undergoes a comically grotesque transformation into an absolutely gorgeous giant jumping spider, complete with realistic jumping-spider "blinking" and rapidly scurrying legs! It sends out hordes of tiny spiders, and coats the floor with webbing that slows you down.
  In stage 48 you'll again battle Dr. Tongue, but once you have defeated his spider form he drinks a second potion to become this goofy but gross giant head, which attacks by shooting tongues (what else?). He grows more disturbing as he takes on damage (love those pulsing, color-changing lights in his head) and attacks with spinning eyeballs once his glasses are shattered! He eventually explodes, and that's that...sort of.
The Ending (SPOILER!)
(Click to go back)
  Not content to fade out and roll some text, this game has what it calls a "credit level"...a final, extra stage where you wander the very halls of Lucasarts and meet the design team! Employee's give their names, roles, and/or amusing tidbits when you walk into them. You're even "greeted" by George Lucas himself!!
  The credit level even has its own unique enemy - a floating, spitting boss head! (Company boss, that is)
Day of the Tentacle
Purple tentacles from Lucasfilms "Day of the Tentacle!" Encountered only in two bonus stages.
Purple tentacles from Lucasfilms "Day of the Tentacle!" Encountered only in two bonus stages.
Purple tentacles from Lucasfilms "Day of the Tentacle!" Encountered only in two bonus stages.
Purple tentacles from Lucasfilms "Day of the Tentacle!" Encountered only in two bonus stages.
  A computer game from long, long ago, "Day of the Tentacle" was a sequel to Lucasart's "Maniac Mansion", and featured an invasion by angry, raygun-wielding purple tentacles! In "Zombies", you'll encounter one as an enemy in the credit level and hordes of the little guys in a secret bonus stage named after their game of origin!
 

 

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