allgeektout

This is part of the 2009 Game Cryer Holiday Gift Guide. Be sure to find more game reviews just in time for the holidays here!

Zombie Murder Mystery is a roleplaying murder mystery game from Expy Games where one of the PCs is the murderer – but nobody knows who. Designed with the intention of being a one-shot game, ZMM focuses on being a quick to setup and play game. In particular, it has a unique character creation system that is built around having an auction where the players compete for the best stats, powers, and items. The rest of the game has a simple resolution mechanic, designed to push to the forefront character interactions, suspicion, and paranoia.

ZMM is an incredible game – I mean, who can’t love a game that combines Zombies, Murders, and Mysteries (for bonus points, it even has a scenario that includes pirates, though I haven’t had the chance to check it out)? However, in some cases, it seems to be flaunting its unique systems when they ultimately are only their for appearances. Despite this, its uniqueness and quirkiness allow it to shine while some other developers push for more workaday systems.

One problem is with the stats. In the initial release, no monsters were given any stats, in order to emphasize the roleplaying aspect of the game. They were only later added on to the support wiki, almost as an afterthought. Although I am not opposed to games where stats are secondary (in fact, I prefer them), it seems a bit pointless to be giving the characters any if they aren’t going to get the chance to use them. In a way, it seems as though they are just trying to show off the auction system used to create characters, even if ultimately the stats don’t matter.

The auction system is definitely what initially attracted me to the system (besides, of course, the name). It’s a clever way to create characters, and I imagine that in a normal context it would be an exciting and speedy way to create characters (I’m currently testing the game over Wave, so I don’t have the real time perspective for which the system was built). It is pretty clever, I just wish that it was used for a more useful task. The items and powers that you can get through the auction, however, are pretty nifty, and some of them are interesting enough outside of the combat context that this can be partially forgiven.

ZMM does an excellent job of building the mood. In the included scenario, there are tips on how to build up the tension, including a “ticking clock” – something that will happen, and fast, if the characters don’t act. Also, the way they suggest the murderer is picked is genius – although I’m not going to repeat it here, to avoid spoiling any future players. The mood is really where ZMM excels – I can see players getting very paranoid about anything they say to the others.

Ultimately, ZMM really is just like its name – exciting, innovative, and just a little bit showy. I’m a bit worried about the lasting appeal, but with a new set of people each time, it can easily be a fun game to play.

Hits: Creative character creation, excels at setting the mood
Misses: Lack of monster stats make player stats seem useless, seeming lack of lasting appeal

One Twit’s Opinion:

Zombie Murder Mystery is like its name: exciting, creative, and just a bit showy

- @allgeektout