izigame.me

This is absolutely 100% one of my favorite games of all time. I haven't felt this way playing a game for the first time since I ran into one of those 'special games' like UNDERTALE or Secret of Mana, one of those stories that stays with you forever.

This game isn't groundbreaking and never-before-seen. In fact, its story is incredibly old, one of the oldest archetypes - Lone Wolf and Cub. But it does everything so well that it is a new and to-be beloved entry in the long history of story-telling.

The gameplay is a fantastic evolution of the nu-brawler that they started in Zeno Clash; it was a smart idea to transfer to mostly Third-person and use First-person for special moves and abilities. It feels much less cramped and allows the enemies to be more aggressive and animated. You can see this in-game, when you use the special FPS mode, the enemies revert to a kind of Zeno Clash AI where they stand their ground more and move slower. It's to simulate Psuedo going super-speed but still, you can tell it's because the regular gameplay in first person would be overwhelming. Good game choice.

I love the world and the art direction, it's the craziest it's ever been. Everything looks more polished; and while our resident Zenos are perhaps less disgusting than they are in Zeno Clash, they are by-far and above more strange and uniquely animated, including brand new Titan sized denizens and multi-limbed mutants of the Zenozoik lands. Things are a bit smaller than the sprawling cities of Zeno clash, it's meant to make everything feel more personal and more claustrophobic. A contrast between the more untamed wilds, which should offer greater freedom, and the crushing responsibility and burdens of our heroes.

The gameplay is fun, everything is punchy and powerful. It feels good to beat the crap out of everything, which is what you'll be doing for hours as the game is quite a bit longer than you might expect. A lot of games like this, even the first Zeno Clash, are maybe 3-6 hours at most, with Zeno Clash 2 being 6-8. This game is about 12-20 hours minimum, unless you know exactly where to go and who is a mandatory fight. I recommend exploring the world, or you'll miss out. Seriously, take your time, please!

The special moves are interesting, and there's only maybe two moves that aren't worth using with most builds if only because they're too slow. The teleport and projectile are so good though you have to force yourself not to use them. I also think it was a smart idea making your first move, Spin Kick, one of the most useful in the entire game. If you don't like a move but wish you did, be sure to upgrade it with figurines. Some moves change or gain a power spike with enough upgrades!

The RPG mechanics are interesting but aren't as in depth as something like a Souls game or etc. I went for a perfectly balanced build and felt very powerful by the end-game of both my first playthrough and NG+. Both of them were fantastic times and I wish I could experience it all again. I rushed through the last 20% of the game my first playthrough because I REALLY REALLY wanted to see the ending and I just couldn't wait anymore, but I used NG+ to 100% the game, as you can see in my achievements. I regret nothing and it was a grand experience.

The game's voice acting is top notch; all the characters sound as crazy and unique as you'd expect from a Zeno Clash title. The VAs aren't slacking at all, the emotional weight of the story is crushing if you let yourself get invested. The depth of Psuedo and the boy's voice acting cannot be understated. Psuedo perfectly encapsulates that one Uncle or Father you had that was hard to relate with and came off as rough and intimidating, but you know he loves you and would do anything for you. The Boy is a charming and lovable - and especially BELIEVABLE - child. Listening to his cries of pain desperate pleas and Psuedo's utter helplessness during the Music Machine Event broke my heart to pieces and the ending speeches will stay with me forever.

There's a charm to the enemies being the same cadre of mercenaries the entire game; it both shows in-universe the unbelievably stubborn nature and physical resilience of the Zenos. It doesn't really get old either because the game isn't hiding the fact that it's the same guys every time; they bring new tactics, wait in ambush, try to hide their numbers, etc. But you just keep rolling them over.

While Psuedo isn't as powerful as other Zenos for one reason or another, he's certainly not weak. Most of the Aggressive Finishers outright kill the wildlife with his bare hands. Seeing the sentient goobers get beaten into the dirt and then come back for more later with bruises on their faces is both hysterical and intimidating. Nobody in this world knows when to quit, and that's admirable in some weird way. I do wish that the outcast was more difficult, considering his importance and the bitchin' theme tune that plays during the fight.

Some people might feel that the last boss gauntlet might be a little easy, especially if you explored everything at Night Time and got all that bonus XP. But NG+ really gives their AI and stats a needed boost and will provide even the biggest grinder a satisfying conclusion. Sorry, Elden Ringers, this game doesn't have %-based damage and health - you CAN outscale the content if you're determined enough.

I saw some reviews complaining about the Dice Game you can play with your enemies. I understand if it's not your thing but some reviews complain about it being mandatory. That's not true at all; the game makes you play dice maybe 4 times the entire game and two of them don't even matter. All the other dice games are YOUR choice explicitly. The dice game is very fun and even though I played it as much as possible, I was drowning in Artifacts. Don't be afraid to use them; there's never a bad time to blind all your enemies with fog and watch them kill each other.

However, speaking of music. It's ALL amazing and it's ALL on spotify and youtube and they deserve a listen. Especially since in game, if you're in the flow of combat, you'll kill the boss long before the songs are over. Psuedo's two themes especially convey such power and motivation that you can't help but feel bad for your opponent.

It is
UTTERLY CRIMINAL
that all the Zeno Clash games - but especially this one - have had difficult sales. Maybe it's the marketing, maybe it's the audiences that aren't open-minded enough to play as funny worm-guy Bruce Lee but don't let yourself miss out. Do yourself a favor and play Clash: Artifacts of Chaos today because there IS NO other game like it right now.

ACE TEAM try so hard with every title and they make beautiful rough gems that are underappreciated every time. I can't wait to see what they make next and it will be a complete tragedy for gaming as a whole if they ever stop.

Play the game, it's worth the money even if it's not on sale. You'll get at least a dollar an hour, and that's better than any movie, that's for sure. Don't let this one slide by.