Reminds Me of Slaine....

[ThryllSeekyr]

Then again what doesn't!!!!!

Whilst browsing through STEAM, I found this interesting looking game
called "ZENO CLASH".

A independant game made by a bunch of people called the ACE Team. Based in Chile, South America.

Gameplay Screenshot....



A action adventure, thats a different variant on the first person shooter type of game. Discribed as a cross between Dark Messiah and Double Dragon --Quoting it's Wikipdeia Entry--. After playing the demo --Linked Below-- I was bewildered and impresed with the alternative combat system. That allows you to punch, kick --if you mouse look down--, punch three times, and punch really really hard all withthe mouse controller. You can do speical attacks like grab and punch or throw, block and doge using the keyboard movement keys and mouse controller combined. My only complaint is that no jump or leaping ability is included as you forsce to remain on ground running in and hitting or dodging. It's quite disconcerting but strange fun once you get used to it. There's Lock-on opponent button function which might be awkard to use if your fighing more than one opponent. Better to just turn and hit while continulously moving around to avoid being hit yourself.

Gameplay video....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gX0jxT03x3U

I still haven't managed to beat the first three opponents you need to beat up in the beginning. As you will naturally get hit by the other two while trying to take down one of them. The fighting sequences always start with a "Stree-Fighter" styled loading screen which might prove to be annoying after playing for a while. Even if the loading time is instantaneous. While the fighting is suffuciently gory--with blood smeared hands--, it's not actualley body dismembering. A mere step away from from what might be almost appropiate for a kid in their early teens.

The in game graphics have a surrealistic quality thats almost photo-real and dream like at the same time. Perhaps just a touch bit childish and still a lure for adult such as myself.

Like I said above... It does remind of Slaine. Perhaps because I want it to. But it's based  around tribal society of people and the leading character that you get to control even looks abit like him. Right down to the slightly spikey looking hair, and metallic looking arm bands, other Celtic barbarian looking apparel. Probably the most normal looking character in this game apart from his sister. The other members
of his tribe, his family, being his brothers or sisters. Siblings that all seem to have some odd birth defects and then there are the beast folk who live in the wilds. --Isn't this just alike the Beast or Shoggey folk, or Formorians featured in Slaine, but perhaps just alittle sociable.-- Nearhuman bodies,defromed and sometimes possessing the beastial head and often limbs of a animal. All to do with their philosphy of worshipping chaos. All having the same parent. The Mother-Father. A hermaphadite. --Some being that have been hinted at in Slaine's history--.

But that just my comparison and wishful thinking. Just compare this concept artwork below that Simon Davis Slaine vs the Shoggey Beast painting. A Star-Scan, he did for the Meg earlier this year....



Play Demo....

http://www.bigdownload.com/games/zeno-clash/pc/zeno-clash-demo/

Zeno Clash Wiki....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeno_Clash

At fifteen to twenty dollars (AUD). Why not buy this game. Which can only purchased through STEAM. Sure, try the demo before you buy. If I had the specs for the graphics card needed. I would be buying this game myself, but as I am borrowing my father's computer to play the demo. I might wait abit.

Zeno Clash, Official Website....

http://www.zenoclash.com/

[ThryllSeekyr]

Embarrassing when this happens, but I guess I was asking for it when I put finger to button.

After completing the demo, I realised it's really a glorified fighting game linked togther by cut scenes that moive the story along.

The only time thegame move about freely is when your fighting or about to. Where you are stuck in a inclosed area that is cleverly disguised to look bigger than it reaally is. This might be a tribal encampment, a forest clearing, & another forest clearing closeby where the main character Ghat is imprisoned in a wooden cage. Each area is fully enclosed by buildings, fallen and carefully arranged logs and tree branches, and other unpassable terrain.

Unlike other fighting games, the combat seems different, It's strictly kick-boxing ior just normal boxing where your allowed to kick. It seems that way, just bar knuckle fightiung with element of bobbing n weaving.

There are weapons, like pistols, and something like a crossbow that fires pellets that do non-lethal damage. Their only adavantage being that they can be used from distance, but they really need to be fired continuelously and reloaded alot before your target is within melee distance at which point you can disarmed. There's also a hand held club which breaks after alot of use. Which it did after knocking him out. I fought this ogre like opponent who has amazing reach and was quite fast for such a big fellow. Knocking a rangeed or melee weapon out of their hand or having the same done to you happens quite alot in this game. I think it adds another level of realism where you get penalised for letting someone get closer enough to do.this.

Not a bad fighting game, but not quite what I expected before playing. Though the trailer and teaser do hint at more depth in gameplay.

It could be a bargain at just twenty dollars (AUD).

Concerning the art, and I might say here if you haven't read it already.This game has won some award for their artistic flare.

It was this piece of concept art that I thought might have been done by the same artist as the Slaine artist who painted the other picture below it.



Which reminds me of this piece of Slaine artwork somebody had submitted onto the messageboard quite a long while ago. This could be Wooley's and yet I don't think so. There was another two artists here that drew and coloured just as well, but their styles was little different.



Anyway, ithough both of these look similer in art style and might have bee drawn and painted by the same artist.