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Zool Redimensioned
Released On: Aug 18, 2021
65
4.7
All Platforms
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 12 Critic Reviews
65
8% Positive
1 Review
1 Review
83% Mixed
10 Reviews
10 Reviews
8% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 12 Critic Reviews
65
8% Positive
1 Review
1 Review
83% Mixed
10 Reviews
10 Reviews
8% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
Zool Redimensioned is a great reinvention of a forgotten cult classic of the Amiga era. With fast paced gameplay and plenty of secrets to discover, it can give you a lot to do. However whilst the art style might be nostalgic, enemies and obstacles can be easily obscured and the levels can be hard to navigate at times.
If there is any love for the original, pick this up immediately. A fine job has been done creating a really playable title for 2021, without losing any of the charm of the original. The camera change is a stroke of genius and makes life so much easier leading to a more enjoyable experience all round. The issue isn't with the remaster, but the source material. Zool Redimensioned is sadly a bit of a product of its time, and isn't going to draw any new fans with its difficulty and confusing design choices. Sadly, for most this Ninja isn't going to resonate with younger players looking for the next plumber killer. For the rest, though, you have a greater remaster than you could ever have hoped for, let alone what the star of the Amiga may deserve.
Zool Redimensioned isn't bad or badly done, but it lacks the original enthusiasm.
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By Damiano Gerli on November 11, 2021 in Reviews
Bad News For Hedgehogs!
HIGH It’s somewhat nice to see Zool back in his original form…
LOW …which reminds me it wasn’t that great to start with.
WTF The bleeding banana will haunt my dreams for years to come.
Back in 1992, the release of the original Sonic The Hedegehog drastically changed the gaming landscape. Suddenly, every software house wanted to work on a fast-paced 2D platformer and create its own mascot — an issue that especially preoccupied developers for home computers like the Commodore Amiga. Following this trend, Gremlin Graphics released the original version of Zool in 1992.
The titular ninja from the Nth Dimension crash-lands on an unfamiliar planet and will have to get through various obstacles to escape. While it may be a title that some gamers of a certain age may feel a bit of nostalgia for, the original Zool (along with a conversion for every console imaginable at the time) reveals just how important the level design was in making the Sonic games so memorable and appreciated. Unfortunately, Zool just doesn’t stack up.
As it’s now 2021, Zool has received a facelift. This version is the original platformer with a difficulty rebalance, a CRT graphics filter for added fidelity to the original and a zoomed-out view to allow the player see more of the screen. Overall, these changes make Zool a more approachable experience than it used to be, but they do not improve it on a fundamental level.
Each level in Zool lasts no more than a couple of minutes, and it’s time usually spent jumping from platform to platform or finding one’s way through the lower sections that require defeating enemies by shooting or jumping/gliding into them. This is a simple flavor of 2D platforming that feels inherently ’90s, and no filter can change that. Also, the end-of-stage bosses are pretty forgettable, some of which I defeated on my first try.
Redimensioned comes in two flavors which mainly act as difficulty — the original experience and the Ultimate Ninja mode. I would recommend most ’90s players to try the latter, as I finished the original with 15 lives to spare and never had a problem in most levels.
After completing seven stages and thirty-something levels, the Zool Redimensioned experience is basically over and done with. The changes made to ths version were well thought-out, but they do little to hide the fact that the original material was just an okay-at-best ’90s platformer and the intervening years haven’t done it any favors in terms of game design or graphics. Those who have nostalgia for it should check it out — all others should give it a pass.
Zool Redimensioned brings back a 90's classic in a slightly tweaked version that makes it friendlier to modern standards. Fast-paced 2d platforming and intricate level design in a fun game that is some steps behind of the best in the genre today, but its attractive price makes it an option to consider. For an extra dose of nostalgia, it includes the original Genesis/Mega Drive version, only for the brave.
Though a noble effort, the transition to HD has probably done more harm than good. Challenging gameplay has been replaced with a virtual walk in the park, devoid of damn near any difficulty. If you're looking to relive gaming's past, this one may be better found in the original.
Zool Redimensioned is a valiant attempt to remaster a cult, old-school platformer in the 21st century, but the source material left the devs at Sumo Digital Academy very little to work with. Baffling design choices, a lack of any hook to keep you interested, and controls that never feel quite as satisfying as other platformers I’ve played mean I can’t see this version of the game gaining a cult following like it did in the ’90s.
User Score
Generally Unfavorable
Based on 14 User Ratings
4.7
43% Positive
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
14% Mixed
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
43% Negative
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
User Score
Generally Unfavorable
Based on 14 User Ratings
4.7
43% Positive
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
14% Mixed
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
43% Negative
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
There are no user reviews yet. Be the first to add a review.
Summary Originally released by Gremlin Graphics in 1992 on the Amiga to critical acclaim, iconic gaming mascot Zool returns in Zool Redimensioned! This brand-new reimagining of the classic action platforming adventure has been rebuilt from the ground up for modern audiences. Help Zool jump, spin and shoot his way across eight alien worlds, taki...
Platforms:
- PC
- PlayStation 4
Initial Release Date: Aug 18, 2021
Developer:
- Sumo Digital
Publisher: Secret Mode
Genres:
