I wasn't sure about purchasing Zeno Clash when it was originally mentioned on Steam, but they were offering it for half the retail price for one day only and I only had about an hour to decide before the offer ended, so couldn't resist. I'm always up for buying a game if it looks interesting, and my oh my did Zeno Clash look interesting. A 3D world looking from first person perspective, populated with weird and wonderful creatures, and gorgeously textured landscapes. It was billed as a mixture of beat em up and shooter, so intriqued I watched a low resolution trailer and was impressed enought to purchase it. I don't particularily like beat em ups, but this one had so many positive things that I decided to ignore my usual aversion to such games.
The following is Steams take on the game:
Zeno Clash is an action/fighting game set in a punk fantasy world. The game is played from a first person perspective and the combat is generally up close and brutal.
Experience a deep storyline set in a fantastic world. Play the role of Ghat, a man banished by his own brothers and forced to begin a desperate journey past the forbidden desert and to the end of the world.
Nominated in 'Excellence in Visual Art' at the Independent Games Festival, the original visuals, which make full use of the Source engine features, breathe new air in the fantasy game genre. The new close combat mechanics are also a deviation from traditional action in the first-person genre that will feel fresh for new and veteran players.
Engaging melee combat in first person
The new melee combat system allows players to perform a variety of movements like deflect & elude combos, knockback finisher punches and punishing grab attacks. Learn new attacks as the game progresses and confronts you with more formidable foes.
Fantastic visuals powered by the Source enginePlayers will be immersed in a fantastic world, beautiful and disturbing at the same time. The unprecedented art style brings a fresh new approach to the first person genre. The surreal environments and characters will keep players wanting to discover more.
Survival mode challenges:
Jump right into the action in engaging unlockable "tower challenges". The player must overcome enemy waves to progress through the tower levels. The game will rate the player in different categories like speed and performance. A leaderboards system will rank you against your friends, so the challenge never ends.
Deep storyline:
Players will play the role of Ghat; the son of a impressive hermaphrodite creature called Father-Mother, whose children form the most powerful clan in the city of Halstedom. Ghat must escape from his family and start an incredible journey with his female companion Deadra, who will aid him in the dangerous lands of Zenozoik.
Bizarre weapons:
The game features an unusual arsenal of eccentric weapons that are built from scraps and junk. Hammers and clubs will be the most effective when fighting heavy characters that can only be brought down with extreme force.
Game requirements:
Minimum:
Operating System: Microsoft® Windows® XP / Vista / Vista64
Processor: Intel® Pentium® 4 3.0 GHz
Memory: 1 GB RAM
Hard Disk Space: At least 3 GB of free space Video Card: 128 MB, Shader model 2.0, ATI 9600, NVidia 6600 or better
Sound Card: DirectX® 9.0c compatible
DirectX®: DirectX® 9.0c, DirectX® 10
Recommended:
Operating System: Microsoft® Windows® XP / Vista / Vista64
Processor: Intel® core 2 duo 2.4GHz
Memory: 1 GB RAM
Hard Disk Space: At least 3 GB of free space Video Card: Shader model 3.0, NVidia 7600, ATI X1600 or better
Sound Card: DirectX® 9.0c compatible
DirectX®: DirectX® 9.0c, DirectX® 10
Controller: Supported
You can see some videos via the Zeno Clash home site and I've taken some images from my first 15 minutes of game play. It was finally made available today after waiting several weeks:
Video:
Images
and my screen captures:
as a slideshow:
all on one page:
http://s109.photobucket.com/albums/n61/Whiterabbit_01/Zeno%20Clash/?albumview=grid
The cost $20 or £14.99 though I got it for £7.49p.
It's available only on Steam or Fileplanets Direct to Drive (though I think you still can only play it via steam. It was made available several hours ago for the first time. And I'm facinated by the visuals.
Verdict:
If you hate Beat 'Em ups and first person shooters, you'll probably hate this. If you love colorful and interesting worlds, gorgeous graphics, fantasy and the first two categories, you'll love it. I've never played a game like this 'ever'. I love all but the beat em up part - which actually is a big part of the game - well, it is at the beginning as all I've done since starting it is fight with several humanoids and several animals and done some tutorials that include punching and kicking, but did get to fire a weird looking rifle and throw a home made bomb made out of a skull. Still, so far I'm really pleased with the game and don't regret ordering it without even playing it. In fact I'd definitely have payed the full price as well because compared to other games that I've paid £30 ($42) for, it's a bargain. It costs little more than the price of one and a half arcade games, but as a lot more to offer than most arcade games. If you have some spare cash and don't mind taking a risk I'd go for it.
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Steam have another offer on, this time for an arcade game called Plants vs Zombies; it's a type of tower defence game and is released on the 5th May. If you pre-order it now on steam you can get another arcade game called Heavy Weapon Deluxe for free, that usually costs the same price as Plants vs Zombies (£6.99 or nearly $10):
Video:
Plants vs Zombies:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8N-wm_qYFm8
Heavy Weapons deluxe:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIEEWnUrIsI&feature=related
Have a great week folks. :)
