Slave Zero X, Worth to Buy?

We find ourselves in an era where the revival of dormant franchises is not an uncommon sight among developers. However, there's one game that emerged over two decades ago, originally debuting on PC and the Sega Dreamcast, that might be considered particularly obscure—Slave Zero. For some of you watching this video, it's quite possible that you weren't even born when this game first graced the gaming scene. Despite its age, developer Poppy Works and publisher Zigurat, the current rights holders, have decided to breathe new life into Slave Zero with the release of Slave Zero X. The burning question: does this revival manage to captivate in 2024, or is it a collection of rusty nuts and bolts that should have stayed in the past? Let's dive into our full review.

Traveling back to 1999, Slave Zero made its debut, receiving mixed to negative reviews. Fast forward to today, and the game has gained a small cult following. A Steam port allowed us to revisit the original for historical context before delving into Slave Zero X. The game, a third-person mech shooter, offered decent visuals for its time but failed to stand out among better titles like the Armored Core franchise. Hindered by being on the Dreamcast, a system discontinued in 2001, and PC compatibility issues, Slave Zero remained a one-off instead of evolving into a franchise.

Now, in 2024, Slave Zero makes a return as a 2.5D action brawler named Slave Zero X, set five years before the original. Players assume the role of Show, bound to an alien-like armor with a personality called X. The mission? Topple the evil Sovereign Con and battle through soldiers and monstrous creatures known as slaves. As the narrative unfolds, Show's armor, X, starts to assert control over him, leading to some strange conversations and flirtations between Show and another character, Isamu. The story, veering into anime craziness, might not be everyone's cup of tea. Flat voice performances and a muddy script do little to elevate the narrative, but the easily skippable cutscenes help players get back to the action swiftly.

As for the gameplay, Slave Zero X feels like a blend of classic Neo Geo fighting games and '90s arcade brawlers. It presents a seemingly complex combat engine with timed parries, slides, and special attacks, which quickly devolves into a button-mashing fest. Players can execute both light and heavy attacks, combining them with directional inputs for different attack styles. While combos can be satisfying, the game's attempt to emulate a classic fighter feels forced and unnecessary. The introduction of multiple complex systems at the start, instead of a gradual introduction, adds to the overall confusion.

Slave Zero X offers a unique blend of gameplay elements from classic fighters, but the combination doesn't always gel well, resulting in a tedious and boring core gameplay loop. The game encourages button mashing, especially during encounters where enemies can employ cheap hit combinations. The dodge mechanic, while effective at times, occasionally feels clunky, getting players stuck on enemies. The implementation of the parry system requires precision that often feels beyond the player's control or poorly executed. The game throws numerous systems at players from the beginning, making it unnecessarily complicated.

Despite its gameplay shortcomings, Slave Zero X shines in its visual design. The mix of 2D sprites over 3D backgrounds creates a visually appealing aesthetic. Impressive lighting, wonderful animations, and awesome character designs showcase the developers' dedication to the game's look. While backgrounds and enemies become repetitive, the attention to detail in design is evident. The game's soundtrack, with a '90s electronic vibe, complements the setting, even if it might not be everyone's musical taste.

Performance-wise, Slave Zero X ran smoothly on PC, with no noticeable drops or slowdowns on a 4070 GPU. However, a late-game bug where entering an elevator caused the game to break entirely needs addressing. On the handheld, the game maintained a smooth 60fps with occasional instances of slowdown, a minor issue compared to the PC version.

Slave Zero X is an unusual product, offering a prequel with little connection to its 25-year-old predecessor. While the visual and audio design impresses, the tedious and elongated core gameplay loop, lackluster level designs, and a dearth of secrets make the overall experience unremarkable. It's challenging to identify the target audience for this product, as it fails to satisfy both brawler and fighting game fans.