Zeno Clash: Ultimate Edition Review

Despite the ability of contemporary consoles to articulate any kind of imagined world – from a post-apocalyptic landscape to a medieval countryside, most of our games reflect familiar settings. Typically, processing power is used to reproduce actual cities or engineer meticulously detailed physics models, rather than producing an artificial location removed from our reality. Whereas most titles strive for real-world recreation, Zeno Clash: Ultimate Edition delivers a healthy serving of other-worldly inspiration, allowing players to explore a delightfully unfamiliar landscape.

Those anticipating a lucid storyline will have to leave their expectations at the title screen – Zeno Clash plays with temporal rules, offering more flashbacks than a Tarantino film. While most pertinent aspects of the game- from the identity of the two main protagonists to why nearly every creature want to kill the player, are revealed during the title’s seven hour campaign, many more are left for interpretation. Zeno Clash clearly has its own warped sense of logic, compelling acquiescence from participants.

Fortunately, the game’s robust mechanics effortlessly allow players to become immersed in Zeno’s curious realm. Recalling the first-person fisticuffs of Breakdown and the Condemned series, gamers are given a powerful arsenal of melee moves along with an imaginative arsenal. While using the right thumbstick to navigate, the controller’s triggers can be used to unleash a devastating selection of punches, combos, and kicks. Defensively, player may use the ‘A’ button to block or evade, and even counter with a precise key press. Except for the regrettable decision of having a single button function as both ‘pick up’ and ‘lock on’, the title’s controls are nearly spotless, allowing players to release a rewarding rivulet of ass-kicking. It’s gratifying that Zeno’s controls are solid, as the game’s enraged enemies don’t follow fundamental brawler protocol, instead attacking players with simultaneous strikes.

Beyond the hand-to-hand skill-set, the game’s protagonist can also pick up a variety of imaginative weapons- from duel fish guns, grenade lobbers, and bone clubs. Skillfully, the developers have prevented the armaments from diminishing the energy of fisticuffs- a single hit from an antagonist will send the weapon flying, forcing players to rely on their tussle techniques. While I typically prefer ranged combat over bare-knuckled close-quarters battling in games, Zeno Clash forges a solid alliance between the two offensive measures.

Visually, Zeno Clash comes close to matching the fidelity and diversity of the disk-based title. Players will encounter a wide variety of imaginatively designed creatures, from beaked birdmen to globe-headed tree people (although there is some enemy repetition). Each of the game’s environments are equally as creative, lending the game a fantastic unearthly appearance.

While Zeno Clash: Ultimate Edition’s 1200 Microsoft Point ($15 USD) price may initially seem a bit steep, realize that the title is one of the best downloadable first-person action games available for the system.  I can easily recommend the game to any action aficionado who hasn’t already played the PC version. Fatigued players seeks a inventive gaming experience, should definitely give the demo a try.