TEM's review of Zeno Clash
(I'm about three hours into the game)
The first thing you will notice when Zeno Clash starts are the stunningly bizarre visuals and the relatively awful voice acting of the two main protagonists (unfortunately, the voice acting isn't bad to the point of being amusing). The colorful vistas and wild environments are interesting and a change from brown/gray gritty or hyper bright futuristic color schemes. I can't help but think of The Flintstones when considering the prehistoric look combined with bright, vibrant colors.
The weapon design is amazing and has a Flintstones (again) meets MacGyver feel as you fire things that look like they are last minute gun replacements made from dinosaur hide and monkey bones. The duel pistol-type guns in particular look cool and their reloading animation reminds me of using a stapler at work. The character design can be beautiful, cool, and ugly all at the same time while always being smothered in originality. They kind of reminded me of Tim Burton movie characters minus the dark gothic quality and the addition of a prehistoric cartoon feel.
The first person melee combat system is sort of fun after a brief but RAGE-inducing learning curve. Occasional audible swear-inducing anger still arises from the lock on system that keeps you from looking around and seeing that other guy punching you in the side of the face, or getting firearms knocked out of your hands when reloading causes you to move super slow. Issue one is caused by the FPS instinct to attack an enemy until they are dead (which usually is a short time in traditional FPS) and problem two stems from an established instinct to keep the guns blazing when the enemies are up close instead of putting up my dukes, the latter being a smarter move in Zeno Clash if you don't want to lose your gun(s). To avoid extreme RAGE forget all FPS rules regarding when and how to use melee or firearms; in this FPS melee has been bumped up on the food chain of combat decisions.
The game has a pervasive feel of amateurish game makers (examples being the mysterious save system and frustrating lock-on mechanic) working with the best original visual design artists around and voice actors that they pulled in off the streets. Zeno Clash is definitely worth playing due to its original visuals and game mechanics (even if the latter are a bit cranky). I can't quite say anything on character development (doesn't look good so far) or plot (there is a small hope) at this point. I predict the game will develop a small cult following thanks to the graphics and unique first person melee combat but the core combat mechanics are too different for FPS veterans and the idea of FPS in general will put off fans who might appreciate the bizarre plot/visuals/characters of the game.
I give it 3 out of 5 Dinosaur Bones for overall construction and a Must Play stamp for its originality.
