Grave Mania Review: Time Management Against the Undead

I’m sure you heard of the notion of a zombie apocalypse. It’s a kind of pandemic where the world comes to an end by being overrun by mindless zombies that have been created by a disease, virus, or a mutation. Philippine game company Anino Games combines the concepts of a zombie apocalypse and time management with a twist and gives us Grave Mania: Undead Fever.

The story

It all began in the year 1948 in a town called Pastryport where the bakers were able to create the perfect cake. When people asked about the ingredients, the bakers simply said it was a “trade secret” and sent the people away. Everyone decided to get a slice of that perfect cake and ended up being turned into zombies as soon as they took a bite.

Enter Johnny and Bonnie Loca, a married couple and owners of Funeraria Loca. Apparently, having zombies turning other people into zombies was not good for business at their funeral parlor. Thankfully, Bonnie was able to devise a special procedure to put the undead to rest. And so, in an effort to save the world and their business (whichever takes priority for this couple), Johnny and Bonnie set out to treat the zombies not only in their town of Pastryport, but also in other towns and cities.

Gameplay

Grave Mania: Undead Fever is a time management game wherein you accomplish a set of tasks to earn points. You need to repeat the tasks over a certain period of time. In this game, tasks include dousing zombies in special formula, tying them to a chair, exorcising demons, prepping them with make-up, and fixing their bones. Then you can finally put them in their casket and bury them for good. Oh, and keep in mind that you have to do all these things before they wake up. And just in case they do wake up, you can hit them across the head to get them to behave. Otherwise, they’ll do ridiculous things like bite you or free the other zombies.

Unlike most time management games, Grave Mania: Undead Fever does not require you to do tasks in repetitive cycles. You encounter different kinds of zombies as you progress and each zombie has its own personality. Depending on their personality, they have a certain preference as to how you should prep them so they can pass over to the next life and remain forever dead.

There are also bonus stages where you have to take your trusty shovel, go to the graveyard and prevent some zombies from escaping. It’s quite easy. You hit them across the head before they get out or bury them before they have a chance. The bonus stages and the processes increase as the game progresses so you can be sure to always have something new as you move from town to town.

The verdict

Grave Mania: Undead Fever gives a whole new meaning to dealing with zombies with its game play, story line, and its crisp-colored comical 2D design and interface. Grave Mania: Undead Fever is recommended for those who go for games that have something significantly different to offer every stage. Aside from coming across new kinds of zombies, you will also enjoy the various mini games as you progress. If you’re the type who goes for games that are exciting, colorful, and that keep you at your toes, then this game is for you.

I’ve been used to games getting rid of zombies by means of killing them with guns, axes, fire, and plants, but the idea of having to give them a proper burial to silence them is something new. The story-telling and character designs are also creatively done. These little things contribute to giving you that feeling of always having something to wait or watch out for. Before you know it, you’re moving to the next town, wondering why zombies have personalities or if you’ll ever find out what was in that cake and why.

Grave Mania: Undead Fever is available to download for iOS, Android or PC.