Zeno Clash: Ultimate Edition Review
Inventive control mechanics and bizarre art direction are all it takes to knock me out. I have the lumps to prove it.
Developer: Ace Team Publisher: Atlus Platforms: XBox360, PC
Call me a sucker for “something new”, and I’ll agree with you completely; so it is no surprise that I really enjoy, Altus published, Zeno Clash: Ultimate Edition on XBLA. Like nothing else on the download market, this “trippy” adventure following protagonist, Ghat, as he fights his was thru Zenozoik — yes, really; Zenozoik — is a bundle of ass-kickin’ fun. Attempting to explain what’s going on in Zeno Clash is not important. What is more important is why you should make this a purchased title for your hardware.
DICE is to first-person platforming, as Ace Team is to first-person brawling. The familiar perspective feels wonderfully refreshing, when weaved with mechanics traditionally left out of FPS games. These hand-top-hand fighting mechanics work so well, I’ll be surprised if their aren’t more games, in the future, using them. Every element of “throwing-down”, from pacing to stamina and reflexes, play a role in every intense moment of Zeno Clash. I guess I should note that there is shooting also, but shooting guns is not what you come to Zenozoik to do. Just ask the sliding V.S screens.
Along side a lengthy story-mode comes Tower Challenge and Zeno Rush game options. Tower Challenge allows up to two players to climb levels of a tower while fighting off enemies on their way to the top, and is indeed a true challenge. Zeno Rush plays like speed-run with a hammer bonus. Either mode you choose to play, expect to throw tons of upper-cuts in the process.
Not many games “bleed” originality quite like Zeno Clash. That, to me, is the staple of a game I want to play. To many games lack the creative and inventive juices their packages promise to present. To many developers are afraid to stand by a vision, especially if that vision is reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland on 3 more tabs of acid. I commend both Ace Team and Atlus for bringing that bizarre vision to XBLA in a package well worth its weight in gold.
Do yourself a favor tonight, and purchase Zeno Clash: Ultimate Edition. It’s not Modern Warfare 2, nor is it Halo. It’s better. It’s originality meets the “balls” to stray away from traditional game mechanics. When you just don’t feel like icing a few lumps, take it to Zenozoik and drop some Beak-nosed freaks. (A)
