<div class="text-justify">


<center>![20211102221558_1.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/bengy/23wgFkyokFuhQ8nbZSPvXYafZmCk16pVoZyafeDAVj4bV2hTgKnysdpXANNNdohkHNwx2.jpg)</center>

Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse (henceforth known as just Stubbs... or maybe StZiRWaP) in one seriously old game, having being released in 2005 on PC and about two decades later in 2021 on the consoles when their hardware started to become almost capable. Oh sorry, that was a mistake... also re-released on newer generation consoles in 2021 (the old ones had their release around the same time in 2005 as the PC version!... teehee, PC Master Race!). 

A sequel was planned... but was shelved when the development studio folded in 2014. Interestingly enough, on release, the game was condemned by some people as "encouraging cannibalism..."... because you play as a zombie that eats people's brains. Sadly, authorities and society decided not to heed the warnings of the Cassandras, and as a result the following decade recorded a huge spike in incidents involving impressionable children eating other people's brains. Studies are still being undertaken to see if there is a causal link between Stubbs and this sort of antisocial behaviour. With the amount of P-hacking rife in the social sciences... it is likely that eventually a link will be found!


<iframe width="1280" height="720" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/f6Zxnh4jqXM" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

# <center>The Setup</center>

<center>![20211102221846_1.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/bengy/23z7JHkAXa6Hnq3K5V7vcT2FnHN2fK4GqaoUjZmJ78eqKCz6v4ihVSo2sbyumcLhCged3.jpg)</center>

Stubbs is set in a post-WW2 American paridise of Punchbowl... where everything good and true about American Apple Pie and stuff is brought to life by the triumph of capitalism and industry. There are no homeless, no communists... and most importantly, no undead. Everything is as pure as a teenage sitcom... just like real life!

<center>![20211102221910_1.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/bengy/23tS13gJGbwuVcDDUghrQFn12HSaJ2rPHsHb9a7ceBvBxGhmNGHcicoS35xfKaSWVi8Qi.jpg)</center>

... until, one day... Stubbs (the zombie... not the game, I should have probably chosen something else to get over that ambiguity...) rises from the dead to violently break up a lover's idyllic and completely platonic hotdog sharing ceremony. 

<center>![20211102223241_1.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/bengy/23uQjyLZaKbejVpncopbxDrVEJWDNA7wzwjip2RBdyGtso5Q38HM5DL7jpbyveN9ePPae.jpg)</center>

What would bring a Zombie to the world of Punchbowl? Love of course... and a weird twisted story of chemicals and science experimentation gone wrong. 

<center>![20211102223249_1.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/bengy/23uFRyGk7VrwaaWQFQDfMb2Bm5C6t1vyLaT12RVDvhizWh2HZUxAr128N6PNSaYf16kCL.jpg)</center>

... and who is the object of undying love? Well, this NOT Marilyn Munro figure... and trust me, the story gets pretty awkwardly weird! Awkward... but hilarious!... if that is your sort of humour. 

# <center>The Game</center>

<center>![20211102221637_1.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/bengy/23tkjcuHAzMUELDvUj4swQsCfF2eeoDGxnZthVgEFXoMANvYcw2FtMPTi4fxpjjmBbgtx.jpg)</center>

Okay... the first thing that I do when starting a FPS style game is to set up the keybinding to the ones that I've had since I started gaming. Actually, not quite since I started... but a little bit afterwards, when I had transitioned to WASD away from the arrow keys. Anyway... F is ALWAYS the USE button! Plus, Y axis is ALWAYS inverted!

Anyway... digression aside, how can this keybinding screen not just bring a smile to your face?

<center>![20211102222335_1.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/bengy/23uQjyJFHwFJguwVJJjArJoU5A3VDFXZtFh9VM4oatfZHhE7Qs6x62nHpvNdqLyTC2X76.jpg)</center>

Combat in Stubbs is pretty floaty and terrible... it isn't a difficult game at all, but there is a lack of heft to hits, and corralling your zombie horde is real pain in the bum! However, we do have to give it the benefit of the doubt, as this is a game that is about 15 years old!

The amount of map exploration is pretty thin as well (again... 15 years old...), and the levels are highly scripted corridors.... but then again, 15 years old!

<center>![20211102223418_1.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/bengy/23uQi7shkpsvsUPePfyLc4Bdmfg6nveXdt2dkqj53FkabZXUocCebetrhbw2EAmXX8mzJ.jpg)</center>

There are some little vehicle sections... and these also suffer from the same sense of floatiness that infects the on-foot sections. They are mercifully short though... and again, very simple to play through and defeat. 

<center>![20211103143804_1.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/bengy/23vsQTG7ppnfjQBaR1ZCPPQcapWw9QYBnoarcmrpGTdGC33cfESvNKRBVqbNW3FwNLQ2u.jpg)</center>

Like most games, this cliched "captured" scene and escape sequence appears near the start of the game. One will always wonder why you don't just execute the person who has caused so much destruction right away... seems like the smart thing to do? 

<center>![20211103145248_1.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/bengy/23t7DhRsw7M2hwn1FvPadWKm2hXYAKFXAGcy4im6k7NohPRLUWhfp2xifVRRgvPNDrVDr.jpg)</center>

Boss battles are QTE battles... but done with some serious style! The first boss battle... is a dance-off with an ex-Nazi commandant! You would never see that coming... and it is emblematic of the writing and humour of the game all the way through! Hilariously unexpected... great in small doses, but so effective!

<center>![20211104205003_1.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/bengy/23tm9UMduneeaM5daqhQufJh3xqF8TBj1LghnSErb5xaPp36DiBnxq9TCPQz7HxARSehg.jpg)</center>

... because you will infect the town by peeing in their water supply.... 


# <center>Visuals, Sound and Performance</center>

<center>![20211104225823_1.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/bengy/23sweHTkh5KnswYFN5Gav1gS9ha82Jbz3y6EL25YnRwXkCMfG2fVRSiYVUVhZi1tqrZfE.jpg)</center>

This is no longer a demanding game (even for consoles...), a Switch can run it... and if that notoriously underpowered piece of hardware can do this, then pretty much anything can run this. Honestly, if you can launch the Steam launcher, you probably can do this game! 

Visuals are cutting edge for the turn of last century... and similar for the sound effects and music. My gaming laptop was overkill for this game, I ended switching to the iGPU instead of hammering this with the dGPU. 

# <center>My Thoughts</center>

<center>![20211104135118_1.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/bengy/23t7BBvSCfo9A5ag7HncdWa24s2raaHzNFoTTfTyBbpfvtsCz3jWErbjpz8Srqg1HnAmp.jpg)</center>

The combat is terrible and floaty... the visuals are dated, as are the controls. However, there is a crazily hilarious charm to the humour and writing in this game that is just too good! If you haven't played this, this is a really fun 10 hour little romp... I would say that the writing and story are funny enough to slog through the combat... and the combat isn't difficult, it just isn't that engaging. So, definite recommendation... or just watch the YouTube cutscenes!



# <center>Review Specs</center>


XMG Fusion 15

CPU: Intel Core i7-9750H
RAM: 16 GB
Storage: SSD (SATA/Nvme)
GPU: Nvidia GTX 2070 Max-Q


https://steemitimages.com/0x0/https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmQgdKBYt2WqqK4iNvDmFsZHUJfu9t62Hz1JxHAwJ7SyoB/thealliance_pagebreak.png

I can also be found cross-posting at:
[Hive](https://peakd.com/@bengy/posts)
[Steem](https://steemit.com/@bengy/posts)
[Publish0x](https://www.publish0x.com/@bengy)

# <center>Handy Crypto Tools</center>

[Ledger Nano S/X](https://www.ledger.com?r=7db72b914099): Keep your crypto safe and offline with the leading hardware wallet provider. Not your keys, not your crypto! 
[Binance](https://www.binance.com/?ref=18699956): My first choice of centralised exchange, featuring a wide variety of crypto and savings products. 
[Kucoin](https://www.kucoin.com?rcode=8ubh6b): My second choice in exchanges, many tokens listed here that you can't get on Binance! 
[FTX](https://ftx.com/#a=31870381): Regulated US-based exchange with some pretty interesting and useful discounts on trading and withdrawal fees for FTT holders. Decent fiat on-ramp as well!
[MXC](https://www.mxcio.co/auth/signup?inviteCode=17QyS): Listings of lots of interesting tokens that are usually only available on DEXs. Avoid high gas prices!
[Coinbase](https://www.coinbase.com/join/58034401fb82d963dcd35ef4): If you need a regulated and safe environment to trade, this is the first exchange for most newcomers!
[Crypto.com](https://platinum.crypto.com/r/8h7zt7rzh8): Mixed feelings, but they have the BEST looking VISA debit card in existence! Seriously, it is beautiful!
[CoinList](https://coinlist.co/clt?referral_code=4CA9XD): Access to early investor and crowdsale of vetted and reserached projects.
[Cointracking](https://cointracking.info?ref=S596141): Automated or manual tracking of crypto for accounting and taxation reports. 
[Stoic](https://stoic.onelink.me/kRF6/b7cb8d88): A USD maximisation bot trading on Binance using long-term long strategies, powered by the AI/human system of Cindicator. 
[StakeDAO](https://stakedao.org/r/cryptobengy): Decentralised pooled staking of PoS assets. 

 <a href="https://shop.ledger.com/pages/ledger-nano-x?r=7db72b914099"><img width=728 height=90 src="http://www.ledgerwallet.com/affiliate/image/728/90"></a>


# <center>Splinterlands (aka the best blockchain game out there!)</center>
<center><a href="https://splinterlands.io?ref=bengy"><img src=https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/steemmonsters/guQaRL9o-120splinterlands202400.png><br/></a></center>


# <center>[Humble Bundle](https://www.humblebundle.com/monthly?refc=Zio8ho)</center>

Have you heard of [Humble Bundle](https://www.humblebundle.com/monthly?refc=Zio8ho)? It's a place to get some really great deals on Games, e-books and comic bundles. However, if you sign up for a [Humble Bundle](https://www.humblebundle.com/monthly?refc=Zio8ho) Subscription (12 USD per month) you get some really nice bonuses!

1. A 100+ USD bundle of games delivered direct to you each month, redeemable on Steam, Uplay or direct download (depending on the game). This includes recent Triple A games! 
2. Access to the [Humble Bundle](https://www.humblebundle.com/monthly?refc=Zio8ho) "Trove", a list of 60 games (and growing...) which are free to play as long as you remain a subscriber!
3. Additional Discounts on the [Humble Bundle](https://www.humblebundle.com/monthly?refc=Zio8ho) store, with the choice of supporting charities, [Humble Bundle](https://www.humblebundle.com/monthly?refc=Zio8ho) or developers in whatever percentage that you wish!

[Humble Bundle](https://www.humblebundle.com/monthly?refc=Zio8ho) Subscriptions, it's a no brainer for the dedicated gamer!






</div>




<center><a href="https://peakd.com/@bengy"><img src=https://images.hive.blog/0x0/https://steemitimages.com/0x0/https://images.hive.blog/0x0/https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/bengy/IxCcXN5m-upgoats-bengy-gen-1.png><br/></a></center>


<center><sub>Upgoats by ryivhnn
Account banner by jimramones</sub></center>






<center><a href="https://peakd.com/@classical-radio"><img src=https://steemitimages.com/DQmeoERDzqJXs2uwJ3BQjuKvTEQf4jjhCxuAr6pt87qkGr5/Classical_Music_smaller.png><br/></a></center>


<center><sub>The classical music community (Subscribe at [Steempeak](https://steempeak.com/c/hive-193961/created) and [Peakd](https://peakd.com/c/hive-193961/created)) at #classical-music and [Discord](https://discord.gg/ppVmmgt). Follow our community accounts @classical-music and @classical-radio. Community Logo by ivan.atman</sub></center>



</div>