By Aileene-Bjork Novascotia, Staff writer

While I’m a big fan of “Valve’s Left 4 Dead series”, it’s surprising to know that it’s actually not the first zombie game on Valve’s famous Source engine.  

 That honor goes to “2007’s Zombie Panic! Source”, which aims to scratch a different itch all together for zombie fans. It’s for people who not only love to kill zombies, but also love the media that’s influenced the genre, and therefore, it harnesses a sweet-and-sour flavor that might be old but still worth shambling back to taste. 

 A match on “Zombie Panic! Source” follows a human team avoiding becoming chow for the contagious patient zero called the “Carrier” on the zombie team. Should a human die or become infected, they join the Carrier in eating the brains of the living. The round ends when humans prevail or if everybody becomes zombies. 

 No matter what team you are on, “Zombie Panic! Source” is a multiplayer game that demands teamwork. Otherwise, it’s difficult to make progress individually, regardless of if you’re playing objective or survival mode. 

 Playing as a human is the most fun side of the equation. Not only can you use a wide variety of guns and melee weapons, but the human side showcases the innovative genius of “Zombie Panic! Source”. There are some surprisingly fun features that no other game really has, which says a lot for a 19 year old Half-Life 2 mod. 

 Thanks to the abilities of “Valve’s Source engine”, “Zombie Panic! Source’s” barricade system is fun because of the realistic physics. If it isn’t bolted down, you can holster your weapon and shove anything like tables, bookshelves, lockers, or refrigerators in the zombies’ paths.  

 This grants much-needed breathing room and gives the zombies an obstacle, allowing you to shoot them while they’re trying to get through, and in these moments, it feels like you’re in a classic zombie flick. 

Similarly, you can board entrances or passageways to slow zombies down. It’s a more versatile option since you can do this anywhere with a flat surface with a hammer and boards. 

On the other hand, “Zombie Panic! Source” makes all items have weight that slows your movement. This notion incentivizes dropping supplies to share with your teammates, so the round is fun for the whole family. Should you find yourself in dire straits, you also have the option to panic, which drops everything in your inventory but gives you a sudden speed boost to escape sticky situations. 

Meanwhile, zombie gameplay is simple but more challenging. Zombies can claw, use night-vision, and sprint (for a few seconds), but that’s as far as special abilities go.  

It takes strategy to succeed as a zombie, and can sometimes feel like an uphill battle if you’re alone as the Carrier. However, it feels satisfying to hunt along your rotting brethren once you’ve infected a few players. 

In terms of aesthetics, “Zombie Panic! Source” mixes campiness and survival horror while paying homage to its clear inspirations. 

All of the official maps are well-designed and carry a different theme. A few examples are “Cinema,” which forces you to survive in a theater playing several real zombie films; “Aquatica,” a map that sends you through an underwater laboratory; and “Thrillville,” a decrepit, abandoned theme park with plenty of attractions and interesting buildings. No matter how dark or flashy the environment is, every map feels like something horrible has happened in these locations. 

Both the humans and zombies feel right at home in these settings due to the balance of seriousness and goofiness. A human character might start a round with a one-liner like, “This place is too quiet,” but a zombie might mutter “Your grave awaits…” in a manner akin to talking zombies from Return of the Living Dead. 

 With all that’s going for it, it’s a shame that “Zombie Panic! Source’s” player counts have hit an all-time low, especially since it’s a multiplayer-only game. Titans in the zombie genre like “Left 4 Dead 2”, “Project Zomboid”, and “No More Room in Hell” are fun, but they don’t capture the action, awe, and brain-eating madness that “Zombie Panic!” 

  Source is manifested from its ‘70s and ‘80s zombie movie influences. Therefore, if you want something less serious, more flexible, and more competitive, “Zombie Panic! Source” is a classic worth revisiting for free on Steam.