It finally happened. The virus that every zombie survivalist fears has swept across the globe and turned the populace into the flesh eating undead. You are one of the few survivors. You have a few options, you can go it alone OR you can team up with the other survivors worldwide and fight to survive this undead world. The choice is up to you in “Please Stay Calm” brought to you buy the developers at Massive Damage Inc.

Please Stay Calm is a zompoc themed MMORPG that uses the GPS location feature of your IPhone to create a zombie survival scenario in the area you are currently located with the help of Foursquare. Search real locations for supplies or take out the zombie threat located within. Use the money and supplies you find to purchase and maintain weapons and armor. Build a “safe house” and upgrade it, giving you in game perks like bonuses to your attack and defense. Join fellow survivors to stay alive or attack them and steal their supplies. It is all part of the game in this beautifully done RPG for free on the Apple app store.

Gameplay 4/5

I am not normally a fan of these types of games but I find myself constantly playing this one. It is wonderfully done, there are a ton of features in this game so I will only cover the main ones.

The combat mini-game is not the normal pick a weapon and press attack. It has been replaced with a pick a weapon to use before it vanishes and the zombie attacks type of gameplay. The weapons pop up in the bottom of the screen at random so you have to be quick and choose wisely. The artwork is beautifully done and simple. The zombies all have unique looks and attack you in a simple animation that splatters blood across the screen. Once you have killed one it falls from view and you attack the next unlucky undead to step up. Once all the zombies are dead you collect the XP and cash and move to the next location you choose.

The supply scavenge mini game involves you dragging a flashlight around the screen and gathering boxes of supplies while avoiding the roving zombies (yes the zombies actually move!) during a set time limit, gather as much as you can in the time allotted. Once you scavenge a place that place is empty for an hour. You can set up an outpost in the places you search that gives you bonus supplies or cash on a timed schedule as well further increasing your income to buy and fix the weapons you use.

Building a “safehouse” is easy as well, you simply pick a location. However, that is only the beginning… Once created you can upgrade with the money you earn to give you in-game perks like +5 defense during attack or weapon upkeep price reduction. You also donate supplies to the safehouse to keep it up and running.

All of this is done in real world locations thanks to the in app Foursquare integration. You don’t have to have a Foursquare account to play, but if you do, during your investigating you have to option to check in at the places you really are so your friends can see. Doing so sends a message on your Foursquare telling your friends “so-and-so has checked in at … They have found however many zombies…time to clear them out!”

Sound 4/5

There is not a whole lot of sound elements in the game but the ones that are there are great. From the sounds of gun shots to impacts and blood splatter during a duel battle, to the suspenseful music during a zombie hunt or supply gathering the sound fits the gameplay.

Graphics 5/5

The graphics are dark and gritty. The zombies are all uniquely drawn yet simple and all the elements compliment each other pretty well.

Control 5/5

The controls are simple, tap and drag depending on the mini game. Most of the game is played in a series of menus however. Though there is not a lot of action to be had like in many of the other apps I have reviewed there is a certain feel to the game that makes me enjoy it more. I don’t know if it is the simplistic approach or the real world integration through Foursquare but I can’t seem to put it down… That is until I run out of in game stamina and HAVE to wait.

Replay ability 5/5

Addicting! Buyer beware!

Available on iTunes