Samurai vs. Zombies Defense is a action packed tower defense styled game for your Windows 8 computer or tablet. You play the role of the heroic Samurai that must defend his village against brain hungry hordes of zombies.
Samurai vs. Zombies Defense has power-ups, upgrades, and a mini-game to keep things from getting stale. Add attractive graphics and challenging game play and Samurai vs. Zombies Defense is a welcome addition to our Windows 8 Xbox gaming library.
Traditionally, Samurai warriors were charged with protecting their villages from threats. While the more common threats came from rival clans, invading armie with Samurai vs. Zombies Defense you must defend your village from the undead.
Game play is rather simple. On the computer, you use the keyboard directional arrows to move your Samurai. On a table or touch screen you tap the screen in the direction you want the Samurai to move. Samurai vs. Zombies Defense also supports Xbox game pads.
Samurai vs. Zombies Defense's game screen has your level progress, health meter, coins/gem counts and sushi supply running across the top of the screen. Along the bottom of the screen is your available allies and bonus attack controls. As your Samurai approaches the zombies, he'll start his attack with a bow and arrow and when he gets within striking distance, he'll use his sword. Attacks are automatic so you can concentrate on moving to attack the zombies or retreat to avoid getting your brains eaten.
As you take hits from the enemy, your health meter will begin to deplete. You can eat sushi to gain some health back or simply back away from the action to regain your strength.
The objective is to take the fight to the zombies and protect your village's gate. To help you in your defense, you have a collection of allies that can be summoned. Along the bottom of the screen you have icons for the various allies available.
Samurai vs. Zombies Defense Allies
The allies include farmers, swordsmen, bowmen, soldiers armed with spears and more. They span a wide range of strengths and abilities and are progressively unlocked as you progress through the game. You have an energy meter at the bottom corner of the screen that will slowly replenish. If you're energy levels build high enough, you can upgrade the meter where more energy is produced. Just keep in mind the troops are generated at your village gate so it may take a few seconds for them to catch up to the action.
Samurai vs. Zombies Defense Bonus Attack
Your bonus attacks rest at the bottom right of the gaming screen and will give your Samurai a boost of power that helps take out the zombies. As you take out the zombies you earn coins and gems that can be used prior to each level to upgrade your Samurai, your allies, a few stationary defensive units or purchase health related items that will keep you in the game. You have revival tokens that will bring you back from the dead and sushi that will replenish your health.
Samurai vs. Zombies Defense Upgrade Shop
If you need more coins or gems you can get a jump on things through in-game purchases or play Pachinko to earn coins, gems and other bonus items. The balls you earn while playing the game will open up this mini-game and is accessed through the Shop Screen that appears before each level.
Samurai vs. Zombies Defense: Zombies Rising Mode
You also have bonus levels where you guide your army of allies as a spirit warrior and eventually you can unlock the Zombies Rising mode where you can play the role of the Zombie Samurai. Game play is just like the Classic mode but you play the zombie, defending the Gates of Hell (their version of a Village Gate) from the Samurai and his allies. Where the Samurai has allies in the Classic mode, the Zombie Samurai also has allies to draw upon. They're just more of the undead variety (i.e. legless corpse, etc.).
Graphics are rather nice, animations are entertaining, there is a ton of gaming involved and overall, Samurai vs. Zombies Defense is a challenging, fun game for your Windows 8 devices. If you install it on multiple devices, your progress is saved, allowing you to pick things up where you left off. The gaming experience was equally enjoyable from a computer or tablet. Maybe one day we'll see Samurai vs. Zombies Defense ported to our Windows Phones to add a mobile gaming aspect to things.
Samurai vs. Zombies Defense is a free Xbox Game for Windows 8 and you can find it here (opens in new tab) in the Windows Store.
George is the Reviews Editor at Windows Central, concentrating on Windows 10 PC and Mobile apps. He's been a supporter of the platform since the days of Windows CE and uses his current Windows 10 Mobile phone daily to keep up with life and enjoy a game during down time.
