Zeno Clash is a sterling example of how to make a game. Graphics, sound and gameplay merge perfectly to make this more of an experience than just a game.
A completely welcome contrast to anything you've ever played, supported by the most intense first-person fisticuffs we've seen in a game. [July 2009, p.78]
_никогда мною тема сюрреализма не была затронута, на столько близко особенно когда ты непосредственно оказываешься в нём, в мире игры. Не являясь фанатом или любителем картин, произведений на данную тему, но благодаря видеоигре Zeno Clash, этот "недореализ" на четыре часа с уверенностью - мне понравился
_попадая в мир абстракций чувствуешь недоумение, непонимание всего происходящего, что можно сказать и о сюжете, так и о окружении. С первым выигранным боем осознаёшь чётко что предстоит нам делать, ещё раз - я как человек далёк от не естественного понимания высшего искусства и картин связанных с сокрытым смыслом, драться - здорово! Вот прям с каждым ударом чувствуешь как кулак ударяется об поверхность чего то непонятного. Не капаясь в сюжете Zeno Clash достойно принимает вызов быть захватывающим Beat 'em up'ом он первого лица на движке Source.
*_I have never touched on the topic of surrealism, so close especially when you directly find yourself in it, in the world of the game. Not being a fan or lover of paintings, works on the subject, but thanks to the video game Zeno Clash, this "underrealistic" for four hours with confidence - I liked it
_getting into the world of abstractions, you feel bewilderment, misunderstanding of everything that is happening, which can be said about the plot and the environment. With the first battle won, you clearly understand what we have to do, once again - as a person, I am far from an unnatural understanding of higher art and paintings associated with hidden meanings, it's great to fight! With every blow, you feel like a fist hits the surface of something incomprehensible. Without dabbling in story, Zeno Clash rises to the challenge of being an exciting first-person Beat 'em up on the Source engine.
You'll either love it or hate it. If you can let the bizarre world and characters entice you, you will get your money's worth. Its flawed gameplay will annoy most people though. If you're open-minded, you might appreciate this unique experience. Try out the demo and decide for yourself if you want to purchase this decently-priced game.
As I walk away from my review and Zeno Clash I’m left with the feeling that as an arcade game (albeit one with vastly superior graphics), something that you would chuck a few quarters at and play for a couple of hours and then not play again for several months, it would have been OK.
Amazing otherworldly atmosphere where things are colorful, grim, supernatural and alien at the same time, everything very detailed with excellent graphics, even for today standards (Souce Engine). Audio department is not epic but goes very well with the gameplay and the pacing of the story. Combat mechanics is different and needs a little time to get used to, but it's not bad. The story is short but I personally have no problem with that, since it's very creative and not cliche like many longer games.
I picked up Zeno Clash after having already played the second game with a friend, and I can tell you, the second one is better. This entry is pretty fun, but it lacks the quality of storytelling, free-roaming mechanics and of course, 2-player coop. However, it is significantly more straightforward (and thus, shorter), and the guns can be reloaded, though they have a habit of being knocked out of your hands. They do less damage then in the second game, and the hammers are much more awkward to use. Generally it's much easier to just punch things- except for the obnoxious heavy fights, which require you to use the hammers.
Still, without having played this one (or had someone explain the premise), the second game really would not make a lot of sense, given the weirdness of not only the setting and asthetic but the morality and motivations of its characters. Collectively, the series is certainly the most unique thing to come out of the Source Engine, and worth playing. I would advise you play this entry before the second game, however.
This game was so promising, but in the end it turned out to be a massive waste of potential. It feels like there's a much bigger game in this, but for whatever reason the bulk of it was cut and never saw the light of day. The story makes no sense, and not because it's bizarre, but rather because it's missing large chunks. Like the ending. Instead, it's padded with what I assume was intended to be "weird" and "atmospheric" but just ends up being redundant and irrelevant.
Other people praise it for its gameplay, which is just about mediocre, but a game with this much potential should not have been written so poorly and ineptly. The characters are flat, boring and uninspired. Every single line of dialogue that comes out of their mouths is exposition, every single action they take serves as a plot point. None of the named characters have any personality whatsoever. This doesn't make them weird. It makes them badly written.
Visually, the game fails to deliver. There are several interesting set pieces, such as a beached whale and large walking things, but if you've seen a trailer, you've seen them all. Beyond that, it's essentially Heart of Darkness meets Another World. If you're looking for a "weird" setting and story, try either of those. Both are better written and more fun to play.
The combat is clunky, stiff, limited and very, very repetitive to the point of boredom. If you've fought one large enemy, you've fought them all. If you've fought one humanoid enemy, you've fought them all. Even Father-Mother isn't all that distinct. Weapons are slow, cumbersome and largely useless anyway, making the achievement for not using any a no-brainer. It's an interesting idea, to be sure, but it's so cumbersome it just doesn't work. If you want a game that mixes weapons and and hand-to-hand combat, try Bungie's Oni. This is just slow.
The only reason I don't give this title the lowest score I can is because I can appreciate the effort and I can appreciate the innovation. There really is a very good, very interesting game buried somewhere in Zeno Clash, but Zeno Clash itself ain't it. Contrary to people's opinions, I feel this would have been best served as a big-budget studio title, as they would have been able to spring for a decent writer, talented voice actors and actually a complete game that isn't padded to extremes and still far too short while missing any real depth.
Zeno Clash should have been more than Cadillacs and Dinosaurs, and it just isn't.
SummaryZeno 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 d...