A timer is not something I will absolutely need, but there is a possibility it will be used in order to make sure that people don't get all the time in the world. The timer could be used to display how much longer the player has to finish playing.
Sound effects will play a major part in Infected because it will help keep the attention of the player. This will be something used several times with several different sounds in this game.
A preloader may be needed because if the game is not completely downloaded to the user then it would not function properly. The preloader will make sure that the enemies and everything is loaded before the player is playing.
Collision detection will be one hundred percent needed for the game. If you hit an enemy the program will have to be able to tell. The enemies will have to die and make them disappear using collision detection.
Score keeping can be used in this game but it will not be required. Score keeping could be used for killing stuff, killing bad things gives points and killing good things subtracts them.
Special effects are neat but will definately be used in Infected. Special Effects would be used as a way to show a death animation for both you and enemies.
There may be a use for a scrolling background in my game because the game is going to need a way to move the character; by which I could use a scrolling background to make it appear as if the character is moving. The movement could be either the enemies or the background.
Moving on a path could help in the making of Infected because it involves enemies moving separately. Sound, visuals, and collision detection are necessary in this game and I'm sure I will find a place for moving on a path.