Zeno Clash II has a storyline that continues from the first release in the series and features a Prologue Tutorial for new players to learn how to play the game and to learn about the events that have already transpired. The protagonist of the original game, Ghat, returns in Zeno Clash II with some new fighting skills and a new motive to free the strange world of Zenozoik from the clutches of the powerful golem, Kax-Teh, who was accidentally brought into the world by Ghat in the previous game. Ghat will be teaming up with an equally skilled fighter named Rimat, as the two set aside their differences to fight together against a common enemy. The game is packed with plenty of missions that work the player towards an overarching end goal and a rewarding ending for a fun title.
Zeno Clash II has been called a first-person brawler by the development team behind the game, and the new release definitely owns up to the title. Though there are some melee weapons but even fewer firearms littered around the world of Zenozoik, combat is primarily executed in hand-to-hand combat. The game features a complex battle system that allows players to control each fist as well as perform different dodges, strafes and blocks to counter incoming enemy attacks. More damage is dealt for hitting an enemy's vulnerable areas, typically a punch to the face, and special attacks can be executed as well to send enemies flying backwards. Every action performed in combat will drain a certain amount of stamina from a meter that players must carefully manage during battles. It all works pretty well, and the game seems to control a lot better with a controller in hand than the earlier release on PC.
Characters can progress in the game by searching for hidden totems scattered around the game world. A variety of skills and passive abilities can then be acquired with RPG-like elements to beef up characters in combat. Later in the game, better items and trinkets can be found and equipped for a variety of effects in combat that will add additional benefits in combat. When playing solo or in a cooperative session, additional allies can be summoned to the battle to fight alongside Ghat when outnumbered. Companion AI isn't the most intelligent, but it's always better to give the enemy more targets to take out before heading after Ghat if nothing else. The game doesn't give much penalization for death in the game though and allows players to come back with replenished health and items after being knocked out, so the difficulty of the game definitely isn't too harsh.
The aesthetics presented in the game have been improved in Zeno Clash II from the first game. The title is now built on Unreal Engine 3 and features some impressive high definition details that make the bubbles escaping from the top of trees and walking tongue creatures look especially nice this time around. Most of the game's voice actors do a good job of representing the bizarre characters they portray in the game, and there are plenty of creepy sound effects that will send chills up players' spines. Fighting in the game is a blast thanks to precise controls that allow for a variety of combination attacks with tight controls on the console's gamepad. There are even some great tunes on the Zeno Clash II that help round out a great presentation.
Zeno Clash II makes many advancements for the series and presents both a great sequel for longtime fans of the series and a great jumping off point for newcomers including a tutorial that pieces together important parts of the game's storyline. The strange narrative, characters and environments aren't for everyone, and the unique gameplay that offers plenty of melee combat from the first-person perspective is a rare treat but not something every gamer will be looking for in a new game. Still, there is something to say about a title that offers everything out of ordinary for a crowded first-person genre and still manages to be a really entertaining downloadable game that can be picked up for a good price. Players looking for a fun new game to play that is far from the ordinary should look no further than Zeno Clash II.
Zeno Clash II is now available for PlayStation Network, Xbox LIVE Arcade and Steam and can be purchased for $14.99 or 1200 Microsoft Points. Zeno Clash II is rated T by the ESRB for Violence, Blood, Partial Nudity, Mild Language & Use of Alcohol. For more information on the game, check out the official Zeno Clash II website.
Game Features:
Game Information:
Developer: ACE Team
Publisher: Atlus USA
Platforms: PlayStation Network, Xbox LIVE Arcade (reviewed) & Steam
Release Date: July 24, 2013 (PSN and XBLA) & April 30, 2013 (Steam)
