So far, so good, right? We have a good, solid set of rules, a great theme, some atmosphere, accessible and exciting gameplay, and the possibility for infinite replay thanks to a scenario structure. How could Last Night on Earth, which I’ve already proclaimed the best zombie game published to date, go wrong? I think the components, despite some very nice miniatures (but only 14 zombies), are a complete and total bust and frankly I think the quality level for a $50 game is alarmingly low.

Everything is printed in this amazingly glossy finish that sticks together, scratches, and looks ugly. The artwork is an incongruous mixed bag of Photoshop for Dummies-quality photographic images and pretty decent zombie art. Yet the board features crude, muddy illustrations that fail to give the game a unified look. Call me a nitpicker, but I like consistency and uniformity in graphic presentation—it goes a long way in creating a comprehensive atmosphere which is absolutely critical to the success of a horror game.

Oh, but wait. The game includes a CD. Yes, a compact disc soundtrack for the game. It’d be one thing if it was a “Greatest Hits” compilation of totally appropriate horror prog/synth rock like Goblin, John Carpenter, or Fabio Frizzi but it isn’t. It’s a tremendously boring selection of amateurish instrumentals that you will likely skim through once and then either toss it out of the box (since it doesn’t really fit in it) or leave it in there as the butt of jokes when you play. It’s a silly, embarrassing “novelty” that no one who really enjoys the game wants or needs. For the cost of producing, mastering, and manufacturing the CD Flying Frog could have pitched for some nicer components, more miniatures, or hell- they could have knocked $5-10 off the retail price. It all reminds me of when someone’s wife/girlfriend is invited to do the art for the band’s record cover. A very poor, unprofessional choice.

So, now that I’ve ragged on it enough, I will say that Last Night on Earth is pretty much a sure bet with most gamers of all experience levels that have any interest whatsoever in zombies or the horror genre in general. Much like Avalon Hill’s now out of print (and apparently very expensive on eBay) Betrayal at the House on the Hill, the game fits in an almost-perfect time slot of 45-75 minutes for a game of its depth and complexity and if your friends didn’t ask to play again immediately after the first game I’d be very surprised. Mr. Hill has produced a game that will likely be a favorite of many gamers for years to come. It’s easy to pick apart the game on a mechanical level—it’s very shallow, basic, and almost dated in a sense but all that falls away when you’re just having a good time with friends and creating your own version of the zombie apocalypse.

Questions or comments for Michael? Send them along to gameshark.feedback@yahoo.com .

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