Review - Zeno Clash

Zeno Clash

ACE Team

Windows (Reviewed), XBLA

Action, FPS, Fighting, Brawler

April 21, 2009

The Preamble

In the downtime between GTA V and Pokemon X/Y, which I'm still working my way through, I was able to play a couple smaller games. 

I knew Zeno Clash was going to be weird, but I didn't expect the weirdness to enchant me as much as it did. While the game isn't perfect by any stretch, it explores some new areas in FPS mechanics that we don't see very often, and blows your mind with one of the strangest stories I've ever experienced in the the medium of video games.

The Overview

Zeno Clash is an FPS brawler where you play as a Ghat, making your way through the world of Zenozoik. The game is designed in a very linear way, but it works for this kind of game, as it is very similar to the campaign of a fighting game. 

As you make your way through the Zenozoik, you encounter groups of enemies that you must defeat in order to move the next area. The combat consists of a mixture of fist fighting, ranged weapon, and blunt weapon combat, all from the first person perspective.

As Ghat, you are a child of the great Father-Mother, which is a bizarre, bird-like, hermaphroditic single parent who has raised all of the children of the community and stands as the apex of the group. We learn early on that Ghat has discovered a dark secret of Father-Mother, and decides to leave the village and community as a result. 

Father-Mother

The story then unfolds as you play from Ghat's perspective, fighting your way through the villagers, the Corwid of the Free (an especially strange group that live out in the forest), and countless other Zenozoik oddities. With the help of some flashbacks, and the discovery of an ancient character called Golem that helps you in your journey, you unravel the real secret that Father-Mother is hiding. 

Golem

The Good

• The story and world surrounding the characters is completely bonkers. I can't think of another game that makes me feel like I'm watching a David Lynch film as much as this one. I loved it. The creativity of the designers really shines in this game.

• The game looks really good. With great support from the nearly 10 year old Source engine and wonderful creative design by the developers, the game holds up against the test of time on a visual level. 

• Sure the world is cool, but possibly the most impressive part of this game is the mechanic they put front and center, the fighting! Hands down the best FPS hand-to-hand combat I've encountered in a game. The attacks are weighty, combo-ing feels amazing, and timing is crucial.

The Bad

• It's hard to criticize a small budget indie game like this one too much, but if I have to, I will complain about the length. This is short game; I finished it in about 3.5 hours. That being said, there is a sequel out now for those that are hungry for more.

• Even though linearity makes sense for a game like this, I think adding some non-linear gameplay for the player would have done nothing but add to the enjoyment to the game.

The Conclusion

Zeno Clash is a creative indie marvel that I think anyone with an appreciation for something staunchly outside of the box will enjoy. It sells for ten bucks on Steam normally, which might be a bit steep for a three hour game, but it goes on sale often, and I would highly encourage people to take a look when it does. 

Review - Dust: An Elysian Tail

Dust: An Elysian Tail

Humble Hearts

PC (reviewed), Xbox Live Arcade

Action, Adventure, RPG, Platformer

August 15, 2012 (XBLA)
May 24, 2013 (PC)

The Preamble

Here's one I left off of my "I'm Back!" post. Which is strange since it's actually the one I finished most recently. At any rate, after so much shooting (Last of Us, Metro: Last Light, Saints Row: The Third) I needed some RPG goodness, and why not throw some platforming in there.

Dust: An Elysian Tale is an action-RPG, originally released back in August 2012 as a Xbox Live Arcade exclusive. I heard loads of good things at the time, but for one reason or another, didn't get a chance to play. Luckily, the developers have been hard at work porting it to PC, which was released in May of this year.

The Overview

Dust: An Elysian Tail takes place in a world called Falana, inhabited by a plethora of anthropomorphic animals and monsters. You awake as Dust, a blue animal (fox?) out in the middle of the forest, accompanied by a living, floating sword, as well as a small wombat by the name of Fidget. Dust has no recollection of who he is, how he got here, and what his purpose is. So, of course, your quest leads you along that path of self discovery and unraveling of the past.

It's not a bad story, but it's nothing extraordinary. The mix of the strange anthropomorphic creatures and, at times, obnoxious voice acting, makes for a fairly cringe worthy storytelling experience. On the upside, the combat is pretty fun, at least for a while. And the developers kept it kid friendly, so gamers of all ages will be able to safely enjoy the game.

As for the game itself, Dust is a mix of action RPG, beat-em-up, and metroidvania all clumped up into a single game. While the RPG elements lack a bit, and the combat can get old after a while, it's still a well made game in a lot of respects.

The Good

• The game is really beautiful. Vibrant colors and fluid animations make for one of the more aesthetically pleasing indie experiences I've had in quite some time.

• There's a surprising amount of content. I spent 15 hours with the game and didn't really even near 100% completion. There's a lot to explore, and many hidden treasures to find.

• While the voices got on my nerves a bit, the writing and voicing overall is well done. It's not the most compelling or unpredictable of stories, but it's also not bad. Assuming it's aimed at a somewhat younger audience, which I think it is, I was impressed by the story arc.

The Bad

• While the gameplay elements that are present are good, there simply isn't enough here to keep you interested for the entire game. You learn a few abilities initially that end up being your bread and butter for the entire game. 

• While new abilities are unlocked throughout the game, they are purely used for accessing different areas of the map (e.g. sliding, climbing walls, etc). There isn't a single modification to the combat mechanics after the first 30 minutes of the game, making combat extremely repetitive.

• The RPG elements are very weak. Outside of the levels and stats, there's no skill progression and loot is extremely basic. If they could have added some combat skills to learn as you go, it would have improved this game a ton. I mentioned above that there's a lot of exploration and treasure to find, which is true, but the treasure is almost entirely gold and food (to restore health), which makes the hunt far less interesting. Where are the phat lootz!?

This is about the extent of character customization.

• I allude to it in The Good, but the voice acting leaves something to be desired, to say the least. Some of the voices are fine, but others are annoying almost at a Claptrap level. This is a good example of a time to go the Nintendo route, and make the characters mumble, with accompanied text for the player to read.

Fidget... One of the most obnoxious characters I've encountered in a while.

The Conclusion

If you're looking for a game with exceptional art, Dust is a game you should check out. If you're looking for a unique action RPG experience, that will keep you engaged for the entire game, I would look elsewhere. The game has a ton of potential, but falls flat in too many aspects. Hopefully we'll see some improvement if sequel comes along.