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Zeno Clash

EMAIL PRINT pc

8.6 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 40 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 119 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: ACE Team

Developer: ACE Team

Genre(s): Action, Fighting

Players: 1

ESRB Rating: RP (Rating Pending)

Release Date: April 21, 2009

Summary

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. [Steam]

Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central

Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

AceGamez

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.

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HellBored

Zeno Clash is what a future cult favourite looks like. With a wickedly brutal melee engine, and some jaw-dropping visual design, this gorgeously demented indie brawler is short but sweet.

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FiringSquad

Zeno Clash is a welcome game from the veteran mod team of ACE. We honestly can’t wait to see what this team can accomplish in the future, especially with their focus on creativity in design and game play.

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Cheat Code Central

A combination of exciting, refreshing gameplay and the incredibly outlandish setting and characters really make Zeno Clash a standout game.

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GamerNode

A game with solid enough gameplay carried to a higher level by its aesthetic appeal and novel world design, this is a great game for people looking for true originality in gaming.

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Multiplayer.it

Zeno Clash is an atypical budget game, it's absolutely a good game with beautiful visuals and above all is very amusing to play. His close quarter combat system is so well devised that makes you scream I want more! after the game over screen.

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MEGamers

The game treads on unfamiliar territory yet is fun. ACE Team bring us some more exploration, maybe some puzzles and varied challenges with more achievements in the sequel. Check it out!

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PC Gamer

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]

IGN

Zeno Clash sticks with you long after you play it, and that's a compliment many games aspire to have associated with them.

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Computer Games Online RO

Overall, I smell Hexen, I’m sniffing Undying and there’s a distinctive scent of The Time Machine, with the one note that Zeno Clash is very, very far away from the potential it could reach.

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Eurogamer

A fantastically involving and solid fighting game, enhanced by being set in one of the most imaginative and beautiful universes in the medium.

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Boomtown

Not since Escape from Butcher Bay have I see melee combat so superbly integrated into a first-person game, and so it's clear that ACE Team has put their heart and soul into bringing Zeno Clash to life.

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Giant Bomb

If you're a fan of first-person action and truly offbeat, unpredictable games, head to your nearest Steam client and check this one out. I'd love to see what ACE Team can do with a bigger budget next time around.

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Eurogamer Spain

Zeno Clash is not very long, but it also ain't easy, which makes it perfect to unload some adrenaline without sacrificing a good plot.

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Total PC Gaming

A rare and gripping indy experience that pulls no punches.

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Play Magazine

The bizarre and unique world of Zenozoik separates Zeno Clash from so many other games that some minor faults still make it worth checking out. It doesn’t hurt that the mechanics of combat are excellent and stand out on their own.

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Edge Magazine

This is melee done right, set in an astonishing world, brimming with imagination. [July 2009, p.101]

games(TM)

It might not be the longest or most polished game you'll ever play, but for half the cost of a regular PC release, you'll be treated to more charm, ingenuity and bravery than most full-price releases can muster. [July 2009, p.128]

Gameplayer Sweden

Zeno Clash is not just a fantastic beat 'em up from a first-person perspective, it also delivers one of the most unique and attractive worlds you'll ever experience. The great action, controls and graphical design makes up for the pretty standard story and voice acting. I mean, who doesn't love a hermaphroditic giant man-bird?

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LEVEL (Czech Republic)

And now for something completely different... Unique fiction is really distinctive unlike the rest of games production. If you want to try an original action game, Zeno Clash will be your favorite. [May 2009]

AtomicGamer

The game might not be worth the purchase for those that aren't terribly interested in first-person melee combat, but for anyone that's looking for that - or at the very least an imaginative, slightly crazy game world to beat people up in - then this is a fine choice to make.

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PC Games (Germany)

Outstanding visual design, a unique fantasy setting and intense first person combat are reason enough to pick up this exceptional action game. I only wished there was some kind of exploration and puzzle elements to it. And if the short play time of about 5 hours turns you off, think of the fair price - it is a pretty good deal after all.

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PC Zone UK

Other than a rubbish level in which you twat statues on the head with a stick you won't find many more issues. [Aug 2009, p.70]

ImpulseGamer

Simple at the beginning, and darn hair ripping harder near the end. But a odd breath of originality in a predictable land scape of first person games, well worth a go especially for the price of admission.

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PC Format

A bizarre, original and often compelling first-person action adventure - Zeno Clash is worth a crack. [July 2009, p.94]

3DJuegos

Zeno Clash demonstrates why often the most Bizarre projects can only be developed by independent companies. No “major” could ever do something like this, and that’s because we are talking about one of the most suggestive and atypical titles of recent times.

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9Lives

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.

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GameZone

It's more complicated than it needs to be with the lock-on function of fighting enemies. It is an adventure, it is a fighter, it's a FPS - it is the Shamwow!

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Thunderbolt

Zeno Clash is a marvel, channeling yesterday’s hardcore brawlers whilst maintaining modern sensibilities.

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Everyeye.it

Zeno Clash is not a perfect game, but it has got some qualities that will let you help to download that from Steam or Direct2Drive. It is essentially hybrid, between FPS and Beat'em up. The visual aspect is impressive and the story is well built. The system control is defective and the game is short, so we can't suggest you to buy it blind, but to try the demo and make your choice.

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Game Positive

Despite the initial weirdness and a few flaws, Zeno Clash is a unique take on first-person fighting that anyone with an open mind will likely enjoy.

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Game Over Online

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.

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Destructoid

While I would have liked to see a bit more emphasis on the melee combat and less on shooting, I think you’ll still find that most battles give you a bit of a rush and are enjoyable to play, particularly the unique boss battles.

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DarkZero

It’s a pleasant romp through a funky world that might be a touch too exotic for narrow-minded audiences, but the gameplay is entirely accessible. For a fresh world to vent your frustrations and fulfill your violent fantasies in, Zeno Clash is the way to go.

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Gamer.nl

Zeno Clash is a very strange game with a lot of atmosphere. It's hard to describe how the game presents itself; you'll have to see it to understand it. Because of its modest price tag, this is definitely worth checking out for everyone who appreciates an action packed and strange experience or someone who is looking for something original. It's only a shame it's such a short experience.

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GameStar

Zeno Clash offers a really good combat system, good AI and a real innovative design. But instead of seeing more of the world, you're back in the arena after taking a few steps. The story raises more questions than it answers. In the end, it's just a few hours of mandatory boxing.

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GameSpot

Zeno Clash is surreal and relentlessly bizarre, but sheer weirdness takes this first-person brawler only so far.

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Gamers' Temple

It's for people who are looking for a rudimentary exercise in radical thought and hobbled game design. If that's you, then you'll love Zeno Clash.

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Absolute Games

Crazy-looking landscapes, unusual color combinations and grotesque characters fill the odd world of Zenozoic. All this stuff could have made for a cool screen saver. Unfortunately, they crammed it into an action title. The result is a short, sluggish, boring game which loves to show off its novelty instead of entertaining the player.

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The Onion (A.V. Club)

A brilliant brawler buried in a mediocre shooter.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 8.6 (out of 10) based on 119 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

M W gave it a9:
Even if Zeno Clash did not have the brilliant combat system, I would have had no regrets buying it simply because of the beautiful, awe-inspiring environments that are experienced through the whole game. Combined with a fantastic combat system and excellent musical score, Zeno Clash is an unforgettable experience.

Jared J gave it a0:
Highly over rated. It's disgusting, no story and increadibly boring gameplay. Try time and time again I try to bring myself to complete this game but I can't because it's so boring. I'm a shooter gamer and when I saw this had weapons I bought it. I was furious with it. It's no fun if you always have unlimited ammo and never get to use them because you have to fight hand to hand. Stay away from this, even if it's free.

R B gave it a9:
Excellent game, truly unique and beautiful whilst also being brilliant to play. pros: very VERY fun, looks great, story is great, characters are great, very original, gameplay never gets boring cons: voice acting isn't very good, some characters feel a bit pointless (a woman follows you from the start and does nothing at all for the whole game) the biggest downfall is that it is very short, you have some challenges in the challenge tower to get into, and some achievements to do in the main game, but they don't last long- it is a very replayable game, but it is too short. btw, people complaining about the lock on- you can turn it off in the options! lol oh and to slore- you say they are reusing the same models for enemies, its because they are the same enemies! have you not noticed that they seem to know who you are? they are the same characters. I really don't know how you can say the characters look bad at all, they are the most imaginative and beautiful characters i have EVER seen in a game.

j h gave it a7:
A great brawler, though succinct. I bought it at a Steam sale for $10, completed it (according to Steam), in 3.5 hours. I felt the storyline and art design were both above average, but not something that would push it into classic status. I think it perfectly fits the definition of a 7.0 game. I don't think most people will be interested enough to complete the challenges included in the recent DLC. Good, but not awesome or anything.

Harvey D gave it a7:
Let's get this out of the way now, so people don't get confused: Zeno Clash is a Half-Life 2 MOD. That's what it is, and anyone expecting a full-blown original gameplay masterpiece is going to be more than a little disappointed. About the only new gameplay mechanic you will find in this game is a melee system that rarely gets used to its full potential. In fact what little gameplay elements the game seeks to exemplify are muddled by poor, and occasionally, frugal level design. The game is deserving of one accolade, however, and that is the plethora of props and characters meshes produced by the team. It's just a shame that those same characters do not add any value to game; they remain hollowed peons of a supposedly story-driven game. It is a damn shame, because when I got a chance to play this game at GDC and spoke to its creators, I was getting the impression that there were going to be evolving themes and motifs about perseverance. Instead the game's story randomly spurs the aid of a "Demigod" of sorts to draw a close to the story. From the lack of growth to the poor gameplay mechanics, it seems that the game falls prey to the ambitions of a group of individuals who halfway through production, realized they did not know the rudimentary rules of proper game design. But, in all truth, I would have rated this game closer to a 7.5. In the end it's a heavily stylized mod, but it never really pushes its identity past being more than just a mod.

slore theslore gave it a2:
This game was really bad. If you took all the free models you could find around the interbutts, passed them through your G.I. tract, and then defecated; you'd have this game. You fight a giant androgynous chicken man for the games end boss. I am not making a joke; that is serious. I think the pubes that created this load had a lot of connections. You can tell by all the fake reviews they paid for. There are so many other real independent games that are actually amazing why even bother with this steamy turd? You will by screaming at your screen after the stupid auto lock on feature gets you killed the the millionth time. You will be laughing at how crappy the characters look, (tweaked poser models they found around the net.) You will be wondering how many times they will reuse the same exact character that you just killed over, and over, and over again. This game wanted to be Alice; it was not Alice. It was crap.

Kyle D gave it a7:
Quite good. Bizarre, interesting world. I think the combat system is quite repetitive. I enjoyed the game, but it was missing something, but I just don't know what.

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