I’ve been powering my way through the new World War Z DLC that introduces a host of The Walking Dead characters, locales, and themes. It’s an interesting foray into the universe, and if nothing else, I’m surprised this DLC didn’t arrive much sooner. It’s not enormous, but it’s big enough that it warranted the attention of some of the show’s original actors.
Enter Negan, Michonne, Daryl, and Rick, all hellbent on tearing through three iconic locations from AMC’s television series, battling through waves of the undead with utter brutality.
World War Z’s Walking Dead DLC is a Solid Representation
I’ve always been a huge fan of The Walking Dead. I watched it religiously from around season two onwards, and whenever a game comes up set in that universe, I jump at the chance to play it. That’s even true for the less impressive ones, like the somewhat bizarre The Walking Dead: Destinies, a story-bending title that emerged a couple of years ago.
The VR games are brilliant, though.
World War Z x The Walking Dead isn’t a full game, but it’s a piece of DLC with plenty of meat that promotes solid replayability and cooperative fun. I played the DLC solo because of my review version, but I still had a blast ripping through hordes of zombies in the most iconic locations from the show, including season three’s prison and the settlement of Alexandria.
Daryl and Rick are voiced by Norman Reedus and Andrew Lincoln, respectively. They reprise their roles perfectly, offering quips and one-liners aplenty, but Negan and Michonne’s actors, Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Danai Gurira, aren’t present in the DLC. They’re still done justice by their actors, though.
World War Z’s ‘Zeke’ hordes have been replaced with traditional walkers from the show, which includes some unique creations like the spiky, razor-headed walker that inhabits the trash heap in later seasons. Slicing up the infected as Michonne with a katana or using Negan’s Lucille to bat the living daylights out of a crowd never got boring in several hours of gameplay, so that’s nice.
It’s as authentic a representation of The Walking Dead as you could hope for, even if it’s relatively short-lived.
World War Z does offer a wealth of replayability, though. You can alter run conditions, difficulty levels, perks, character types, and some approaches and challenges. The few hours you get to walk through the DLC can be expanded further in this way. I just wish it were a) longer and b) featured more characters from the show.
What if I wanted to run around the prison as Eugene, but like, early show Eugene with absolutely no survival instincts whatsoever?
Or as Glenn, but post-Lucille? If that would even work…
What’s better is that the DLC is only $9.99, which offers a lot of bang for your buck.
World War Z x The Walking Dead Review Verdict
There’s no reason why you’d not invest ten bucks in The Walking Dead’s crossover with World War Z, especially if you’re a fan of either title. It’s not just a cosmetics pack; it’s a more in-depth offering that plants you in the heart of the show’s most memorable locations and allows you to explore them with timeline-bending characters.
It’s more than worth the minor investment, I think. I absolutely recommend this.
World War Z x The Walking Dead is available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series XS. Let us know on the Insider Gaming Discord server if you’re enjoying it.
World War Z x The Walking Dead
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World War Z x The Walking Dead
Grant's adoration for gaming started on the Amstrad CPC in 1996. Now, he's a multi-platform expert gamer with a deep love for the industry, a passion for esports, and more…
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