It's been discussed in many of forums.
Mechanically, it is quite sound, establishing a clear benefit for melee weapons and drawback for ranged weapons.
Thematically, the best explanation I've heard is that you have to make a headshot to kill a zombie. You hit them anywhere else and your bullets have no effect. Not so with people--if you shoot someone anywhere, you wound them, and a human body can only take so many bullets before it stops moving.
If you're bothered by the theme, think about it this way. You fire wildly with your uzi into a crowd of zombies that's just surrounded your friend, who's already limping from a bite to the leg. That first "miss" actually lodged itself into a zombie's chest; no effect. The second shot "hit," passing clean through another zombie's arm and straight into your friend's gut. DOH! The zombie's fine, but your friend goes down in shock. He won't be getting back up. Your next "hit" blows another zombie's head off, though. Ta da. You've thematically explained the mechanic.
Mechanically, it is quite sound, establishing a clear benefit for melee weapons and drawback for ranged weapons.
Thematically, the best explanation I've heard is that you have to make a headshot to kill a zombie. You hit them anywhere else and your bullets have no effect. Not so with people--if you shoot someone anywhere, you wound them, and a human body can only take so many bullets before it stops moving.
If you're bothered by the theme, think about it this way. You fire wildly with your uzi into a crowd of zombies that's just surrounded your friend, who's already limping from a bite to the leg. That first "miss" actually lodged itself into a zombie's chest; no effect. The second shot "hit," passing clean through another zombie's arm and straight into your friend's gut. DOH! The zombie's fine, but your friend goes down in shock. He won't be getting back up. Your next "hit" blows another zombie's head off, though. Ta da. You've thematically explained the mechanic.