This is a sub-page of Zombieville (1997).
Given the game's very rough development, a lot of details were not polished or play-tested (for special / unusual conditions) before release.
Alpha Version Mention#
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If one inspects the LVL.ZOM file with NotePad++ or a hex editor, there is a mention of "Alpha 1.4". It is heavily speculated that due to Zombieville being released with bugs and unhandled conditions, it was released in an alpha state, and this string may back that theory up. |
However, according to several developers (who wished to remain anonymous), Zombieville was not released in an alpha state, and can be completed in its entirety. Instead, there were simply not enough resources to properly complete the game before it was released, leaving a lot of unhandled situations, such as being able to kill essential NPCs without finishing their conversations. Instead, this "Alpha Version 1.4" may refer to the custom save file system.
Using https://filext.com/file-extension/ZOM to analyze the file will show plenty of .ANM file references, such as items, characters, world environments, etc., as well as references to four ANM files which appear to go unused:
- FORR_N45.ANM
- PACMAN.ANM
- SAUCER.ANM
- SPIDER.ANM
The last three may be easter eggs or well-hidden secrets.
Rachel Moving Towards You#
If you walk past the drunkard, there's a succubus named Rachel that will kill you unless you have the blessed musket balls. However, if you shoot the drunkard, Rachel will chase after you. She's either invulnerable or she has a ton of health, as none of your weapons appear to do any damage. If she catches you, she instantly zombifies Matt Black and ends the game. |
Unusual Game Over Arrest#
There's an unusual game over that involves getting inexplicably arrested by Buckmaster (who isn't zombified at the time) who kills Matt by throwing him into a prison cell and breaking his neck. Tou can also get the same cutscene if you choose certain speech options while conversing with the Sheriff inside his office, resulting in the Sheriff saying "Newspaper man, are you? I ain't got the time to fool around with you. Move back into the cell -- now! Move!" |
Forests Are Fading#
Agnes' brother Clyde is on the 2nd floor of the Bedlam Base. When you speak with him, he has several dialogue options that reference unused content: for example, he mentions Sgt. Joe Yamatsu, who is supposed to be in the graveyard but goes unused (his unused voice lines can be heard here: Unused Matt & Joe Voice Lines). When talking with Clyde, you will get a mention of "Know Forests are Fading" without any explanation that the player neds to visit the cathedral and click on a particular pew. If you click on the said pew without having spoken to Cylde, the cursor will disappear as if you're starting a cutscene then immediately reappear. |
Gas Station Cutscene#
A casual player may never see a particular cutscene at the Gas Station, as the player is never given a reason to blow up the Gas Station or to even go to the Gas Station after visiting the Farmhouse, unless the player decides to shoot zombified Dean, which serves no purpose. The player may have been intended to blow up the Gas Station with the Jerry Can & Lighter originally, but in the final release the Missile Launcher is used instead. Note: Dean on the video thumbnail is from a pre-release version. |
Audio Abnormalities#
- The music may play a "twang" sounding when saving and reloading while certain MIDI tones are playing.
- Saving and loading rapidly may cause the music to stop entirely. Restarting the game will fix this.
- The music may get stuck on a note while using zombie antidote until the animation of Matt's face ends.
NPC Abnormalities#
- When returning to the Bedlam Base after getting Rusty's pass, Colonel Martinez, Sgt. Price, and PFC Janise will have disappeared.
- When Colonel Martinez asks Matt if he's able to go get help from the security office, both options will make Matt agree, despite neither option ("Lie" or "Tell The Truth") reflecting that.
- If you choose to wait at the Bedlam's cage, Colonel Martinez will speak with Sgt. Price's voice for the first part of her dialogue.
- Picking up the same weapon multiple times will inexplicably increase your maximum ammo capacity.
- The General dual-wields two M16s, but drops them plus an additional M60 as well when killed. (This odd weapon drop scenario can be seen in this YouTube video at the 2:27:43 mark.)
- When you receive Ms. Agne's shed key, she'll walk towards the farmhouse's door and step inside. She doesn't close the farmhouse door and can be seen by the player. Right clicking the door says it's closed and locked.
- When arriving at the city, Deputy Buckmaster tells you that he will impound your Humvee. Buckmaster will be gone when you return with Rusty's pass and you can take the Humvee without issue. In fact, when you first meet Buckmaster after visiting the Farmhouse, you can take the Humvee and leave right away despite being told it's impounded.
- Unlike most characters that are meant to be zombified, you are given no option to give an antidote to the Sheriff.
- If you talk to Richard inside the City Diner, he'll say that the zombies are not inside the diner. This causes zombies to immediately appear as well as triggering the waitress as hostile, resulting in an unwinnable fight.
- If you grab the water pistol from the General Store and tell the priest to give you holy water, he will become hostile and zombies will spawn in. ( The water pistol serves no other purpose except to trigger some funny dialogue options.)
- In the game's files, there's no English text for the Dairy, only German, Spanish, French, and Italian.
- Despite indications they're taking damages, zombies are invincible while spawning.
- If you choose to give The General weapon, the game will imply one is taken from your inventory, but that isn't the case.
- Killing Margie will make her give up an M16, M16 ammo, and an MP5. The MP5, which is nearly identical to the M16, appears nowhere else in the game.
- If you talk to Margie before visiting the Warehouse, choose to go on foot, head to the Warehouse, then threaten Rusty and kill him, Margie won't turn into a zombie. Returning to the Garage will spawn her there, with her conversations reset. If you save and reload at this point, she will shoot you a single time.