Arizona Sunshine’s Dog Mode Is Already My Favorite Way To Play Zombie Games

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Arizona Sunshine has been a popular title for Vertigo Games and Jaywalkers Interactive since its release in 2016, becoming a well-known VR game and receiving both a sequel and a remastered version. Now, the creators are adapting the game for traditional third-person play, a move that could potentially make it feel generic. However, they’ve added features that enhance the intense, action-packed horror gameplay and introduce a brand new character to play as.

I recently played the new Arizona Sunshine at Summer Game Fest. It’s a pretty standard zombie shooter with lots of weapons. But the multiplayer mode is where things get really interesting! You can play as Buddy, a dog, who can run through zombies, bite them apart, and even bring ammo back to your teammate. It’s a surprisingly fun and unique addition to the zombie genre, and exactly the kind of fresh gameplay it needed.

Arizona Sunshine’s Dog Mode Is My New Favorite Way To Play A Zombie Game

Adapting the virtual reality game Arizona Sunshine into a traditional third-person shooter required some adjustments, but the addition of a multiplayer mode where another player controls the player’s dog was a surprisingly brilliant move. In the game, the player is accompanied by Buddy, a dog who’s a fun and helpful companion. Buddy can’t be harmed by zombies and acts as a useful teammate, attacking enemies or fetching items when instructed.

This small addition to the game is really helpful when you’re facing tons of zombies, giving you an extra ally in tough situations. You can also play with a friend, either as another version of your character or as Buddy, a dog. During a recent game demo, I definitely chose to play as Buddy! It’s surprisingly enjoyable running around as a dog during the zombie apocalypse, especially racing to find enemies and take them down.

Fortunately, animals in this game can’t become zombies, so Buddy the dog can safely attack them without turning into one himself. You can also use Buddy’s abilities to reach areas your human character can’t, letting him find useful items or open new routes. Even before adding Buddy, Vertigo Games and Jaywalkers Interactive had created a fun zombie game, though it wasn’t entirely original. Playing as Buddy adds a humorous and distinct element to the already lighthearted experience.

Buddy The Dog Highlights How Developers Can Make Zombie Games Feel Fresh

There are a lot of zombie games available today. They’re often used as simple enemies in action games, quick scares in horror games, or even for laughs in more lighthearted titles. Because of this, it’s tough for a new zombie game to feel unique. Arizona Sunshine initially gained popularity by bringing the zombie experience to virtual reality, but switching to a traditional third-person view might have made it feel just like every other game.

Honestly, keeping the game funny and feeling fresh was tough, especially since stuff like Dead Rising already did a lot of the same things with humor and gameplay. Throwing in multiplayer helped, but that’s pretty standard these days. What really stood out to me was being able to play as Buddy the dog! That’s the kind of quirky, unexpected choice that totally fits the vibe of Arizona Sunshine, and it instantly made the game feel special. I loved it!

The game changes how you play, making you rethink your strategy against the zombies. Instead of just trying to survive yourself, you’re focused on protecting a human companion – a really enjoyable twist that I’d love to see in a longer, full-length campaign. Even in its current form, this unique approach is delightfully silly and genuinely fun. After playing it for a bit, I’m eager to experience more of Arizona Sunshine’s dog mode.

Arizona Sunshine will be released on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC later this year.

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2026-06-12 22:11