When you first launch
Pet Zombies, you will need to create your first zombie. You can choose from a jock, scientist, clown, prom queen, cook, waitress, nerd, or a granny. After that, you will be given 4 choices of zombie damage and 4 clothing options so that you can create the most fashion-conscious zombie around. Don't worry about being stuck with your choices. If you decide you don't like the zombie that you have, you can change which one it is at any time and still keep the level that they are in the lab. It's quite handy, but a bit unrealistic. Of course, no one is going for realism in this game. After creating your zombie, you will automatically start off in the Care area of the game on the first playroom. Here you will take care of your zombie, feed it, and play with it. The more you do with your zombie, the quicker they level up. Leveling up unlocks different foods, new toys, playrooms, and new zombies and cages. You can create a second zombie as soon as you unlock a new cage. Of course, everything that you unlock to buy will still need to be purchased with Zombucks.
To earn Zombucks, you'll need to play the mini-games in the Play area. At first, there is only one mini-game to play, Zombie Launch. In it, you will use a giant slingshot to launch your zombie as far into the sky as you can. If you get it high enough, you can even turn it into a comet. You unlock the second mini-game when you get your zombie to level 9. Once you unlock the rest of the mini-games, you'll have Backyard Bullseye where you can throw trash at a bullseye that your zombie moves around. You can also just hit your zombie with the trash if you want. Then there's Stomach Pumpin' which is a lot like the game Operation where you have to remove objects from your zombie's stomach without touching the lining. You want to remove as much as you can before the stomach acid hits the top. Next is Dumpster Dive where your zombie will throw stuff out of the dumpster and you want to catch the money and brains, but avoid the trash. Finally there is Luck of the Dead, which is a slot machine. Strange combinations, like 2 arms and a tombstone are winners on these reels. It took me 5 hours and 39 minutes of playing to finally get all the mini-games unlocked, and that was after I figured out that you can quickly level your zombie with the voodoo doll. Back in the Lab, you can customize your zombie and completely change out zombies if you want. You also create new zombies here. Finally, there is the Shop where you can buy food, toys, tools, and more.
