Zeno Clash – The Review!

By: Xander

On: April 22nd, 2009

Punching people in the face is really quite fun.

10/10

Alright, so it’s not really quite that simple, but there’s no denying how satisfying the combat system is in this game. Zeno Clash combines the immersive and brutal combat of Breakdown with an intuitive control scheme. Light punches are your left mouse button, with strong punches on your right with space blocking and arrow keys as movement. What’s interesting about this system though is that you’re not completely stuck on a direct course with your enemy, what I mean is that you do have a slight independent movement of your head whilst you’re fighting. You can combine this with the block to either dodge or parry, and to lock onto another enemy in combat, you simply have to look at the targer and press E, which you can do whilst you’re still dealing damage to the enemy in front of you. You can even do this to be aware of who is around you, if you’re preparing to throw your opponent in their direction. It’s simple, it’s satisfying and it’s very very fun.

Something that really makes the game shine is the fantastic style throughout. Much like a Guillermo Del Toro film the creators have really nailed a look that is equal parts fantastic and cool yet at the same time quite horrible and unsettling. Nothing personifies this more than one of your main groups of adversaries in the game, ‘The Corwids’, who are people who live according to their own desires, but who are also completely insane. As stated about one individual, ‘He wanted to become invisible, so he tears out the eyes of everyone around him’. Indeed the first one you meet appears to have two large pieces of metal stabbed into his ears whilst he’s smashing his face into a tree. ‘Father-Mother’ too, a character prominent in the early trailers, is a unique and disturbing presence. The engine really carries this style well, and if you’ve played other source engine games you should roughly know what to expect from your rig when it comes to this game. The environments are gorgeous, and really unlike anything else on Steam at the moment. If anything it sometimes echoes adventure game classic The Neverhood although a much more realistic version. Some areas can be a little more bland than others, but when the game shines it really shines.

That said, though the environment you see is very interesting and well crafted you really don’t have much of a sense of what lies outside the areas you physically playthrough. Completion of one level will lead you straight to another through either a cut-scene or simply a fade-to-black, leaving you no clear indictation of just how far the characters have travelled. Given how bizarre and fantastic the world is I’d like to know a lot more about how it actually operates. Instead it all feels somewhat disjointed, which actually I would have to say about many aspects of the game. As great as the production values are in terms of graphics and style, the voice acting really leaves a lot to be desired. Aside from ‘The Hunter’ who appeared in the pre-release comic the rest of the cast are really quite plain. They’re in no way offensive, but their delivery fails to really bring the script to life, which is equally hampered by a script that fails to bring most of the characters to life. Visually they’re beautifully realised but outside of that they do lack a bit of personality.

There’s just a lot of things that don’t quite work right. The weapons can be quite fun, but they’re slightly over-powered where the ‘Fish guns’ are concerned and then not all that useful in too many situations if you’re stuck with one of the other weapons. The heavy enemies should be the most exciting fights, but instead once you figure out their pattern they’re actually the easiest to battle against. ‘E’ is used to lock-on and pick-up weapons, which is still I choice I simply don’t get, and the accuracy required to pick up can be frustrating when all you want to do is eat some fruit. Also during one level, an enemy is introduced that appears to be a major encounter, but dies incredibly simply and is never seen again, leaving the entire section it resides as 45 seconds of walking.

I suppose this is where I want to talk about the story too, which I’ll try not to spoil but if you really want you can just skip past the section. It was actually quite interesting for a while, but the main story thread actually turned out to be no where near as exciting as it had built up to be for me, and I have absolutely no idea what to say about the ending. If something is up to interpretation that’s fine, but in this case I really didn’t have any clues on how to interpret it. I was just- haha, okay. I’m really not going to try and explain myself. It’s something you really have to experience for yourself to quite figure out my dumbfoundedness. It’s an interesting story and it definitely kept me hooked for the most part but whether they just weren’t able to tell it very well or there was some other complication it didn’t really satisfy as well as the game does in other areas.

Ulimately though, what I think is important to note is that whilst I have a number of criticisms of the game a number of them I can think of having complained about a lot of other games in the past that have been full mainstream productions. ’Assassin’s Creed’ with the ending, ‘Breakdown’ for the bastard-with-the-gun-attacking-whilst-I’m-fighting-someone moments or the sometimes brutally hard battles. And when it succeeds, it does so really well. The world of Zeno Clash is a far more interesting one than presented in many other games, and regarding ‘Breakdown’ this game actually surpasses it where multi-person melee is concerned and whilst tough it was never impossible to get through a section. The enemy designs are so great in an era of faceless clone soldiers that every time I found the guy with a head shaped like a thumb I just had to let him disarm me so I could really enjoy our fight.

It’s a strange game. There’s certainly a number of flaws but the main gameplay mechanics behind it all are just so fun you can’t help but enjoy it. The fact that it actually invites comparison between itself and major mainstream titles is a measure of its own worth. I can fault the game on a number of issues, but it would never be because it didn’t try hard enough. If anything it was the scope of its ambitions that gives the game its most annoying grievances and its most gratifying and enjoyable triumphs.

Its not perfect, but if in its flawed state this title still averages out to ‘pretty bloody good’, you can definitely call it a success.

Posted in Action, Fighters, FPS, Windows

neenoneenonee

Breakdown sucked! This has a much more interested look, but if it’s anything like that game (which of course, it is somewhat) I’ll have to pass.
Dumari

Breakdown was a good idea executed poorly, if you Weren’t attracted to that idea at all you won’t like this game. However, this game is a work of art and you’re missing out.

My only major criticism of the game is that you fight the same bosses/minibosses over and over and over and literally fight the last boss twice in a few minutes and it’s the exact same fight it just ends with a different cutscene.
http://dusanvf.com Dusan Vlahovic

I’m so proud of my fellow countrymen for making this awesome game! It shows that if you’re passionate and talented you can make almost anything, good job guys!
http://0xdeadc0de.org Eclipse

i totally agree for the environments, they’re quite cool but very disjointed and too small. Still the game is very good :) I really hope the next one will feature true “fps style” levels, even if linear, but seriously, this game needed bigger playable levels, even without all that cutscenes
Super anon

@Dumari: The second Father-Mother encounter doesn’t give you any healing items though, and he/she gets help from his/her minions as well. But you’re right, the game does start to feel a bit repetitive about halfway through. But I don’t mind, since punching the shit out of an anthropomorphic, four-titted pig warrior doesn’t seem to get old even after doing it for the hundredth time in this game :D
Tenderfoot

Just finished the game. I enjoyed it. I just took the lock-on/pick-up button as “its not a good idea to pick something up when there’s a dude right there.”
Don Andy

My thoughts exactly (the review that is), good job, Xander!
http://gangles.ca/ Matthew Gallant

The ‘E’ key use was really frustrating. There really should have been one key for locking on / changing targets / unlocking, and another for picking up weapons / eating fruit.

It’s a minor problem in an excellent, inventive game though!
sinoth

I agree about the locking on. Too often I tried to pick up a weapon on the ground but would instead lock on to an enemy near me. Extremely frustrating. Also, the part about the ending is spot on. The story was minimal but engaging, and the end felt like it dropped the ball. Half disappointment, and half really weird. Still, a great indie title worth buying.
N’toch

I didn’t like Breakdown at all and but I liked the look of this. The thing is, I still didn’t like the game but I really liked the original look of it. Good graphics for an indie game. Unfortunately the gameplay wasn’t my cup of tea.

I think the best first person melee game would have to go to Condemned: Criminal Origins, and even the sequel had excellent gameplay (even if the story drifted off a little). Those are by far the best melee FPSes to date though and I haven’t come across anything even close since.

This is a great effort though and is especially good looking for an indie.
El Moppo

I waaaaan’ it! :D :]
judgespear

Does this game have deathmatch? It should. That would be awesome.
Masna

Xander sure likes the word whilst, doesn’t he?
Bob Dylan

I regret buying this game. First person melee against multiple opponents doesn’t work. This game seems to require more hardware than it puts to valid use. And it uses steam.

Use steam, and you’re not indy. If you’re not indy, fuck you.
Armyofnone

Awesome. Bought it, played it, loved it, glad to have supported it.
Will Vale

I bought this yesterday and have enjoyed it a whole lot so far. And it’s nice to see Breakdown mentioned – I thought it was really influential on e.g. Mirror’s Edge, but it doesn’t get much credit.

FWIW I think Breakdown is a pretty good game. It’s graphically bland at the start, but worth persevering with as it involves some breathtaking setpieces (first person climbing with vertigo!) and some neat storytelling. The boss fights are generally much too hard though.
PoV

Choice of screen shot, wow. :)
plvhx

“The fact that it actually invites comparison between itself and major mainstream titles is a measure of its own worth.”
no.

Also, “whilst whilst whilst whilst whilst”
lol.

i never really imagined something like this would come along. fans of fantasy in the vein of virconium and china mieville rejoice! it’s a damn fine game.
Xander

Technically there were six whilsts. Haha, damn I really didn’t notice that.
Cliftor

*Use steam, and youâ€™re not indy. If youâ€™re not indy, fuck you.*

http://store.steampowered.com/app/24420/
http://www.dg-studio.blogspot.com momogi

the games looks funny. like fps but with no gun.
michael

whilst
Anonymous

Freak punchan gaem!
omigosh

This isn’t exactly innovative or revolutionary but I do like the style of graphics (about the only thing original about the game). I think my problem is, as someone mentioned before, this type of game has been done, and it’s been done better, whoever mentioned Condemned was damn right! Loved that fucking game, and scary as hell too!
http://www.radiator.debacle.us Campaignjunkie

The visuals were gorgeous… The actual level design though?

It could’ve been so much more creative and interesting – more vertical elements, more interactivity, less of the annoying shooting gallery bits. (One of the few FPS’s that has “obligatory shooting bits” as a gimmick)

And it’s infuriating when a “barrier” is a 6 inch tall plank of wood.

And the ending… Not much of a resolution for anyone, really.

But hey! RUBIK’S CUBE = AWESOME.
Saturn2888

Ultimately <- you had a typo. Great review. I've actually been asking about the ending because I didn't get it either. It looked like a setup for a sequel of a larger game.
Alex

The lack of depth in the characters really works for this game and the ending is great and no children ever turned into pigs overnight where I’M from
plvhx

@michael, etc.
yes, I pointed that out. congratulations on proving your trolling abilities are equatable to a spambot.

@omigosh
have you PLAYED the game?
Guy

Lol, you get to beat up girls? O_O
Winterous

Breakdown was a GREAT game, with very very clunky combat.
Ok, so it’s a game based around combat, but that didn’t stop it being an amazing experience.

The first time I walked into that area with the broken corridor leading into the desert, I SHAT FUCKING BRICKS!
And the fact that your flesh disappeared just added to the awesome!

But yes, fighting in hand-to-hand was kinda crap, especially when you were against a wall and actually couldn’t escape being knocked down over and over till you died.
And ESPECIALLY against multiple enemies.

All in all, I think you’ve convinced me to at least try this game.
I’ll probably download it (yes yes illegally, but isn’t that what the internet is about?), and if I like it enough, I’ll buy it.
poop

you beat up tons of girls
the anger

TITTY PUNCHER
http://www.dyson-game.com Alex May

Winterous seems like an all round healthy chap

http://www.myspace.com/winterous

Great poem bro

http://winterous.deviantart.com/art/Number-12-78720282
http://www.dyson-game.com Alex May

I only wish to find again,
The light that I once was,
Once graceful, kind and full of love,
Such kindness was my cause.
But then I went to hell and back,
Returning with a taint,
For Lucifer hath darkened me,
No longer I’m a saint.
omigosh

@Winterous:

I really hated Breakdown. Couldn’t stand the game… even though I bought it for $7 bucks brand new and realized it was shovelware… I still couldn’t like it even for that price.

@plvhx:

Got, played it, liked the graphics, just didn’t like the game.
Why are you so sensitive and touchy, everyone has their own opinion. You can like it, it’s alright, I sure don’t mind but don’t cry and get all pissy if someone doesn’t like it.
Marmot

I kinda don’t get it… what’s with all the ambiguous, open-for-interpretation endings, all of a sudden? Is that a new trait of the independently produced games? First Braid, now Zeno Clash… I’d like an ending that is a BIT more defined :/
Also, Xander, the review is very good, but if the game is not perfect, then why the 10/10 mark? :P
gcoleman

What you talkin’ about whilst?
sinoth

Hi Marmot, and welcome to the wonderful world of the Internet! You’ll find that sometimes it’s hard to tell what kind of emotion is being conveyed using text alone. It is possible that Xander wrote the 10/10 remark in jest, to highlight the fact that he really likes punching people in the face. Next time, try to examine the context of a comment if it confuses you and you may read it in a completely new light. Happy internetting!
WhilstSource

http://www.tigsource.com/articles/search?q=whilst

It’s not just limited to this article. Better start catching yourself doing this, Xander. Just a heads up.

Although maybe it’s not such a bad habit after all, hmm… I dunno. Actually, yeah, it probably is.

Hope it’s not contagious though. I’d hate to keep saying “whilst” whilst commenting on things whilst I use the internet. Wait a second..
WhilstSource

Whilst Whilst Whilst Whilst Whilst.

ah crap…
Smithy

Like one of those old timey SNES beat-em-up games turned 3d. A reimagining of a genre that died out a long time ago. I find something about that quite refreshing.

Repeating enemies and disjointed scenes have always been a trademark of beat-em-ups. Remember the Snes double dragon? You start out in a casino-filled town (vegas?) Go to an airport, fight a bunch of burly suits (airport security?) and end up in china for some reason, where everybody everywhere hates you and wants to beat you up. Disjointed, but fun.

The one major gripe I have with this game is the lock on system. I could never stand that trend in games in general. It started with auto-aim but then got out of hand, games started coming out that aim, that lock onto an enemy in such a way that they stay perfectly centered and the screen pans with them. It’s a mechanic that basically allows games to play themselves.

In most games that have it you can choose not to use it, but in this one…

You run at someone, elbow them in the face, and when they go down you planned on running to the other one and fighting him.

But that’s not what happens. Instead, you end up locked onto the guy you just passed and knocked over, who is on the ground, and the guy you were planning on crushing a bit while his friend is out is now standing behind you, severely punching you in the back of the head. It’s a major annoyance. Sure, you can unlock, but that doesn’t make up for the fact that you’re’ suddenly against your wishes turned around. I know how to line up a punch, damnit! I don’t need the game to aim for me!

And here’s another thing that bothers me: that fucking troll guy! You know the one. The giant Sesame Street puppet with the red, spiked hair, pumpkin head, and giant smile? I can’t stand him. I can’t stand the way he talks. I can’t stand the way he looks. I get immense pleasure from breaking his face, but that all vanishes when he gets back up again, smiling, and talks with his cocky, kiddish voice as if nothing happened because he doesn’t remember you were just knocking his teeth out. Hate that guy!

Also, the protagonist looks a lot like David Byrne from certain angles, especially when it shows his face in the ‘vs’ picture. Once I noticed that, I couldn’t get past it and I started to feel like I was playing as David Byrne in a crazy, 80s music video and I was attacking a bunch of people for some reason.

Now I’m getting off track. Overall I’d say this is a great beat-em-up, despite the lock on flaw.
Person what enjoys indie games

I’ve seen other posts from people who hate the red-headed guy on different sites.
Bad Sector

I finished this game after 5.5 hours. Its on the short side, but this is a major example of quality over quantity. Yes it could have a couple of extra stuff, like more destructible environments and a key to drop your weapon would help but these are minor things when compared to the awesomeness that flows from this game.

Really, the only reason for someone to not get this game is that he doesn’t know about its existence. Which should be fixed ASAP. I’ll do my part by wearing a Zeno Clash t-shirt… if there was one.

I think i’ll make a new topic in ACE’s forums.
breakdown rocked

guys, breakdown was hella awsome…..nuff said
whilstomatic

whilst one or two people may have liked Breakdown, I think it’s safe to say that 99% of the people who played it whilst owning other more better games, hated it. whilst this wasn’t the only melee FPS ever out, it certainly was one of the whilst worst. There was also a small handful of pseudo 2d/3d melee combat games released on the Neo Geo. whilst that was an extremely expensive system at the time it was also a hard-core gaming-whilst-masturbating machine. whilst it wasn’t the only system to have tried it’s hand at the 3D first person (whilst only kinda 3D) Melee combat game, it was a huge advance in the gaming industry, meanwhile, whilst Doom had already come out on PC by this time, people are quick to forget that whilst they already owned Doom on PC (or one of it’s many whilst incarnations on a console) they already had THE greatest FPS whilst also being the greatest First Person Melee game. That’s right, whilst you were all blabbing on about what’s good and what’s not, you’ve already forgotten the greatest First person melee game of our (and all) time! There’s nothing like punching a demon (with spiked knuckles) whilst watching that fucking thing explode in into a pile of goop… whilst.
Soulja Boy

Ain’t no point to the game, you just run around punching big titty elephants an’ shit!
Soulja Boy

whooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOP
Soulja Man

Yeah! What Soulja Boy said! WOOORRD! It would be totally different if we could go around suckin on those big elephant titties instead of punchin em but this game won’t allow it us hip hop gangstas can’t appreciate it!

Phareal Biotch!
The ‘whislt-ee’ fanatic indie philosopher

Whilst this game can be repetitive, and story and characters do not get to grow in your inner soul, it is well-done. Whilst art design is appreciated and stages are ok, maybe a little more exploration for indie fans woulda made it better, specially if it is of the sort of an immanent experience that transcends the usual bourgeoise life of an american youngster. Whilst futuristic design influenced by punk fantasy is ok, maybe small touches of greek classical combined with Bauhaus for buildings coulda given the game the much desired state’o’the-art level. Gameplay’s fine, game’s fun whilst not awe-inspiring. And the ending! The ending has inspired me to write a Philosophical Tractactus entitled “De Rerum Imaginatio”. I stood there watching the ending whilst thinking: “whilst I am not sure if I am the butterfly or an indie game any longer, I can say I’ve enjoyed this crap. This is called the transformation of things”.
Whilst this game is good, it is also bad. All of ya, remember this Whilst-ee philosopher’s true piece of whilstee wisdom: “Whilst-ee philosopher: See how the minnows come out and dart around where they please! That’s what fish really enjoy!”
Indie-fan: “You’re not a fish â€” how do you know what fish enjoy?”
Whilst-ee philospher: “You’re not me, so how do you know I don’t know what fish enjoy?”
See ya in a whilst.
ps. (yes, I haven’t had anything better to do for the past 15 minutes XD).
toastie

I vote for cropping that screenshot and making it the banner.