History VideoGame / AgeOfZombies

[[caption-width-right:1000:One original adventure of one super badass. [[EarlyInstalmentWeirdness Bullet-powered jetpack not included]].]]

Player starts with a basic gun, but can get weapons from randomly-spawning crates, ranging from Shotguns and [=SMG=]s to Riffles and Flamethrowers. Additionally, there is a secondary weapon in form of Grenades, most useful against large groups of zombies, especially if you are cornered. You always start with 5 of them and need to refill them through specific weapon pickups. There are also few weapons that can replace them, such as Bazookas and Sentries that can also be found in the crates.

* AnnouncerChatter: An announcer is used for weapon pickups, who changes the accent depending on the current time period. These accents include:

''Age of Zombies'' is a 2010 Top-down ShootEmUp by Creator/HalfbrickStudios, originally released on Platform/{{PSP}} as part of the "Minis" collection and re-released on iOS, Sony Xperia Play, Android, and Platform/PlaystationVita.

* BondOneLiner: In pre-2014 versions, Barry will occasionally make a one-liner after killing some zombies. Of course, he also has some things to say after the round is over. Downplayed in level 5-2, titled "Hooray for running out of ideas!", where he starts having trouble coming up with them on the go.

* CreditsGag: The original PSP version gives special thanks to Steve Bennett in its credits. Steve Bennett is the name Barry wanted to give a pet caveman zombie at the beginning of the game and [[spoiler:mistakingly calls Prince Runingunin by this name due to not recognising for him upon returning to the present]].

* OneSteveLimit: Subverted, as there's two Barrys: One is the main protagonist, and the other is [[spoiler:the BigBad himself, Professor Barry Brains]].

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/aozbanner.jpg]]

''Age of Zombies'' is a 2010 Top-down ShootEmUp by Creator/HalfbrickStudios, originally released on iOS, PSP and [=PS3=] (as part of the "Minis" collection) and re-released on Sony Xperia Play, Vita and Android.

Evil MadScientist Professor Brains sends his army of undead to invade various time periods and destroy the mankind for all eternity. It's up to Barry Steakfries, the badass ActionHero, to travel through time (Initially it was Prehistoric era, 1930's, Ancient Egypt, Ancient Japan and the Future, later updates and ports introduced 3 more chapters: Wild West, President Evil[[note]]Also takes place in the Wild West, but was themed around Independence Day[[/note]] and Professor Brains' Lab) and put an end to the ZombieApocalypse.

Player starts with a basic gun, but can get weapons from randomly-spawning crates, with power-up ranging from Shotguns and [=SMG=]'s to Riffles and Flamethrowers. Additionally, there are Grenades, a secondary weapon, most useful against large groups of zombies, especially if you are cornered. You always start with 5 of them and need to constantly get them through specific weapon pickups. There are also few weapons that can replace them, such as Bazookas and Sentries.

The goal of each level is to defeat a huge amount of zombies coming from portals. Every third level features a boss, who will also be accompanied by hordes of the undead. At that point, they will keep spawning endlessly, so your goal changes to taking down boss' healthbar until they're finished.

Barry would later star in ''VideoGame/MonsterDash'' and ''VideoGame/JetpackJoyride'', both are canonically considered to be the prequels. The three game would spawn their own [[VideoGame/BarrySteakfries franchise]]. Barry, Professor Brains, and even Zombie T-Rex also appear in various crossovers by Halfbrick.

!! This video game provides examples of:
* ActionBomb: Red-glowing zombies will explode once you touch or shoot them.
* AnnouncerChatter: Used for weapon pickups in Age of Zombies. With a different announcer per time period which include:
** [[HulkSpeak A slurred-out neanderthal accent for the Prehisotic levels]]
** [[GratuitousItalian An exaggerated Mafia accent for the 1920's levels]]
** [[GratuitousJapanese A Gratuitous Japanese accent for the Feudal Japan levels]]
** [[MachineMonotone A synthesized robotic voice for the Future levels]]
* AutobotsRockOut: The entire soundtrack consists of metal-oriented themes.
* BondOneLiner: Barry says several of them in the middle of slaughtering zombies in earliest versions. He also has some things to say after the round is over. Downplayed in level 5-2, where he starts running out of ideas.

* DeathIsASlapOnTheWrist: After losing a life, you respawn not far from where you died. Not only that, but the amount of lives you have always resets to the default 3 after completing the level, even if you had only one or two remaining. Getting a Game Over doesn't punish you much either, as you simply restart the level.

** Unlike ''Monster Dash'' and ''Jetpack Joyride'', ''Age of Zombies'' is not an Endless Runner, but a top-dow twin stick shooter, with a proper ending. It also doesn't shy away from showing blood, instead of relying on BloodlessCarnage, especially noticeable with ''Monster Dash'', where you still get to blast zombies and mummies in the face. Finally, the iconic Machine Gun Jetpack is completely absent.
** Originally, Barry was portrayed as a smoker and wasn't afraid of using heavy language (Never the F-word, though). Most of his dialogue and sprites were bowdlerised in the later ports.

* GeorgeLucasAlteredVersion: The game went through several changes since it's original release. Initially, the ports merely altered Barry's look to not feature a cigarette. The latter revisions started changing some of the dialogue, mostly altering or removing the swears. 2014 saw "Season 2", which overhauled some of the graphics in 3D, before reverting them back later. 2023 re-release changed the dialogue even further, such as connecting the Royal Consult to [[VideoGame/JetpackJoyride2 Queen V]] or removing sexual tension between Barry and Ruby due to [[MyOwnGrampa certain implications]].

* NoticingTheFourthWall: Halfway through Brains' Lab, Professor Brains informs Barry that they are in a video game. Barry realizes that he knew he "had what takes to be the best game action hero of all time".
* OneSteveLimit: Subverted, as there's two Barrys: One is our protagonist, and the other is [[spoiler:the BigBad himself, Professor Barry Brains]].
* OneWingedAngel: [[spoiler: By fusing zombie powers with the future technology, Professor Brains transforms himself into a [[https://jetpackjoyride.fandom.com/wiki/File:BrainsAoZFinalBoss.png zombie mutant]], which is a FinalBoss of this game.]]

* ThePromise: After defeating the third boss, Barry teleports to another time era, before Prince Runningunnin could grant him immortality. [[ReunionVow Barry asks to find him in the future]], [[spoiler:which Prince does at the end of the fifth world]].

* ResurrectiveImmortality: Prince Runningunnin is a member of Royal Consult, who live for over hundred years and can come back after being killed. [[spoiler:He gives Barry the same powers after completing the fifth world, though he loses them in a NoodleIncident by the time sixth episode kicks in. Professor Brains seems to be this as well, being killed by Barry five times throughout the whole game. His first recovery was justified by him abusing time travel, while rest are implied to be him ExploitingTheFourthWall.]]

* SpritePolygonMix: In 2014, there was a Season 2 update, which changed the game from 2D sprites to 3D models. Despite that, the landscape and bosses all stayed in 2D. It was changed back very next year after a mixed reception.

* YourHeadAsplode: What happens to King Shattinbricks after you defeat him.
* ZergRush: Individually, zombies are quite weak and don't take much health from Barry (plus, there's RegeneratingHealth). However, they can become a real threat due to their sheer amount. Being cornered by few of them means they'll chop off chunks of your health very quickly, which might make you lose a life. Get surrounded a huge wave of zombies with nowhere to run and you're a dead meat.

* CliffHanger: Eighth world, Brains' Lab, ends with [[spoiler:Professor Brains announcing that he opened a portal to another dimensions and plans to invade another worlds]]. This was going to be followed by the series of crossovers with other works, before it was silently cancelled.
** There is however, a possible conclusion in Halfbrick's another video game, ''WebAnimation/DanTheMan'', specifically in Fright Zone DLC, where [[spoiler:Barry travels to the titular protagonist's world and teams up with him to defeat Brains, which makes it a FullyAbsorbedFinale]].

* PresidentEvil: Seventh world, which is even named after this trope, has Barry, dressed as UsefulNotes/AbrahamLincoln, killing an army of UsefulNotes/GeorgeWashington zombies, who are trying to destroy Independence Day.

* RegeneratingHealth: Barry's health slowly regenerates over time, so as long as you are not completely surrounded by zombies in every corner, you don't have to worry about being bitten by one.

* OurZombiesAreDifferent: Regular Zombies, Caveman Zombies, Mafia Zombies, Mummy Zombies, Ninja Zombies, Robot Zombies, Washington Zombies and a Zombie Dinosaur.

* AnnouncerChatter: Used for weapon pickups. With a different announcer per world, none the less.

->"This is Barry Steakfries. After failing to revive dwindling gramophone sales, Barry ventured into the lab of Legitimate Research. Uncovering the newest breakthrough in aviation technologies, Barry liberated the world's greatest jetpacks from the scientists, who would use them only for evil. Along the way, he also rode a robot dragon and the bird that shoots money, which was awesome and super fun. Landing in a world with monsters, Barry laced up and ran like a wind to his next destination.
->Now, the mild-mannered gramophone salesman, turned dragon riding, monster blasting Jetpack-based hero is ready to face a challenge, that will echo through the ages. [[PunctuatedForEmphasis This. Is.]] ''[[TitleDrop Age of Zombies!]]''"

* FlunkyBoss: Every single boss battle is accomplained by an endless amount of mook zombies to keep you busy.
* GatlingGood: Minigun, the fastest bullet-firing weapon, although it decreases Barry's speed upon being used.

* SpritePolygonMix: In 2014, there was a Season 2 update, which changed the game from 2D sprites to 3D models... Partially, that is, as the landscape and bosses all stayed in 2D. It was changed back very next year after a mixed reception.

* JapanesePoliteness: Tanaka, one of the villagers from Ancient Japan, is extremely polite to strangers, including Barry.

* EverythingsBetterWithDinosaurs: Holy balls! Zombie T-Rex, Prehistoric Era's Boss. It's possible to ride on it since one of the later updates.

* HaveANiceDeath: "You're Launch"

* MyOwnGrampa: [[spoiler: Implied at the end of Wild West chapter. After defeating Mad Dog, Ruby takes Barry to her place to give him the "reward". Before they do so, Barry ask her for a full name, which turns out to be Miss Rubenstein [=McSexypants=], which (as he notes) is the same name as his great grandmother's.]]

* OneManArmy: Barry Steakfries, having to save the world from thousands of zombies on his own.

* ZeroEffortBoss: [[spoiler:Subverted. Professor Brains is initially introduced as a BigBad, but gets shot by Barry before the game even begins (With the ability to interact with him depending on the version you play, as original versions had you actively pull a trigger on him, but most modern versions have him as a CutsceneBoss), with the rest of the plot revolving around Barry destroying remainings of his zombie army. Then the Future kicks in, where Brains is not only alive, thanks to time traveling long before Barry broke into his lab, but fuses power of zombies with the technology of the future and tries to use it against Barry.]]

* MediumBlending: In 2014, there was a Season 2 update, which changed the game from 2D sprites to 3D models... Partially that is, as the landscape and bosses all stayed in 2D. It was changed back very next year after a mixed reception.

Barry would later star in ''VideoGame/MonsterDash'' and ''VideoGame/JetpackJoyride'', both are canonically considered to be the prequels. Barry, Professor Brains, and even Zombie T-Rex also appear in various crossovers by Halfbrick.

* HaveANiceDeath: "YOU'RE LAUNCH"

->"This is Barry Steakfries. After failing to revive dwindling gramophone sales, Barry ventured into the lab of Legitimate Research. Uncovering the newest breakthrough in aviation technologies, Barry liberated the world's greatist jetpacks from the scientists, who would use them only for evil. Along the way, he also rode a robot dragon and the bird that shoots money, which was awesome and super fun. Landing in a world with monsters, Barry laced up and ran like a wind to his next destination.
->Now, the mild-mannered gramophone salesman, turned dragon riding, monster blasting Jetpack-based hero is ready to face a challange, that will echo through the ages. [[PunctuatedForEmphasis This. Is.]] ''[[TitleDrop Age of Zombies!]]''"

Player starts with a basic gun, but can get weapons from randomly-spawning crates, with power-up ranging from Shotguns and [=SMG=]'s to Riffles and Flamethrowers. Additionally, there are Greenades, a secondary weapon, most useful against large groups of zombies, especially if you are cornered. You always start with 5 of them and need to constantly get them through specific weapon pickups. There are also few weapons that can replace them, such as Bazookas and Sentrys.

The goal of each level is to defeat a huge amount of zombies coming from portals. Every third level features a boss, who will also be accomplained by hordes of the undead. At that point, they will keep spawning endlessly, so your goal changes to taking down boss' healthbar until they're finished.

Barry would later star in ''VideoGame/MonsterDash'' and ''VideoGame/JetpackJoyride'', both are canonicaly considered to be the prequels. Barry, Professor Brains, and even Zombie T-Rex also appear in various crossovers by Halfbrick.

* ActionBomb: If zombie glows red, it means it will explode once you touch or shoot it.

* BondOneLiner: Barry is fond of them... in some versions at least.

* DeathIsASlapOnTheWrist: After losing a life, you respawn not far from where you died. Not only that, but the amount of lives you have always resets to the default 3 after completing the level, even if you have only one or two remaining. Getting a Game Over doesn't punish you much either, as you simply restart the level.
* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: Unlike ''Monster Dash'' and ''Jetpack Joyride'', ''Age of Zombies'' is not an Endless Runner, but a top-dow twin stick shooter, with a proper ending. It also doesn't shy away from showing blood, instead of relying on BloodlessCarnage, especially noticeable with ''Monster Dash'', where you still get to blast zombies and mummies in the face. Finally, the iconic Machine Gun Jetpack is completely absent.
** Originally, Barry was portrayed as a smoker and wasn't afraid of using heavy language (Never the F-word, though). Most of his dialogue and sprites were bowlderised in the later ports.

* MeaningfulName: Professor Brains, who is not only the leader of brain-eating zombies but a MadScientist who came up with several inventions. When other games and crossovers shifted from the ZombieApocalypse setting to him being the leader of the science laboratory, the former meaning was somewhat lost.
* MediumBlending: In 2014, there was a Season 2 update, which changed the game from 2D sprites to 3D models... At least some of it, as the landscape and bosses all stayed in 2D. It was changed back very next year after rather mixed reception.
* MyOwnGrampa: [[spoiler: Implied at the end of Wild West chapter. After defeating Mad Dog, Ruby takes Barry to her place to give him the "reward". But before they do so, Barry ask her for a full name, which turns out to be Miss Rubenstein [=McSexypants=], which, as he notes, is the same name as his great grandmother's.]]
* NoticingTheFourthWall: Halfway through Brains' Lab, Professor Brains informs Barry that they are in a video game. Barry realises that he knew he "had what takes to be the best game action hero of all time".

* OneWingedAngel: [[spoiler: By fusing zombie powers with the future technology, Professor Brains transforms himself into a [[https://jetpackjoyride.fandom.com/wiki/File:BrainsAoZFinalBoss.png creepy zombie mutant]], which Barry must kill.]]

* SmartBomb: Greenades are a downplayed example. They do not destroy every single zombie on the screen, but are limited in usage and are still very effective against a huge waves.

* ZombieApocalypse: The whole plot of the game revolves around it. Shoot Zombies in the face and don't let them get you.

** There is however, a possible conclusion in Halfbrick's another video game, ''WebOriginal/DanTheMan'', specifically in Fright Zone DLC, where [[spoiler:Barry travels to the titular protagonist's world and teams up with him to defeat Brains, which makes it a FullyAbsorbedFinale]].

The goal of each level is to defeat a huge amount of zombies coming from portals. Every third level features a boss, who will also be accomplained by hordes of the undead. At that point, they will keep spawning endlessly, so your goal changes to taking down bosses healthbar until they're finished.

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: Unlike ''Monster Dash'' and ''Jetpack Joyride'', ''Age of Zombies'' is not an Endless Runner, but a top-dow twin stick shooter, with a proper ending. It also doesn't shy away from showing blood, instead of relying on BloodlessCarnage, especially noticable with ''Monster Dash'', where you still get to blast zombies and mummies in the face. Finally, the iconic Machine Gun Jetpack is completely absent.

* EverythingsBetterWithDinosaurs: Holy balls! Zombie T-Rex, Prehistoric Era's Boss. One of the later updates allows to ride it.

* MyOwnGrampa: [[spoiler: Implied at the end of Wild West chapter. After defeating Mad Dog, Ruby takes Barry to her place to give him the "reward". But before they do so, Barry ask her for a full name, which turns out to be Miss Rubenstein [=McSexypants=], which, as he notes, is the same name as his grandmother's.]]

* RegeneratingHealth: So as long as you are not completely surrounded by zombies in every corner, you don't have to worry about being bitten by one.