I want everybody reading this to watch the above video. It will take just over a minute of your time. This is a game called Zeno Clash, which I had never heard of until now. Apparently, you play as Ghat, who uses a "unique fighting system," to explore Source-powered environments. It's being developed by ACE Team and will be released on PC.
Usually, we fluff up our video sharing posts with a little commentary on how good/bad the game looks, how we're "intrigued" or will "keep your posted," or whatever. I'm not doing it this time. Just watch the video. All I will say is that I am prepared to do terrible things to play this.
Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize.
Likes
PS2, iPod Touch, Silent Hill 2, Metal Gear Solid, Dynasty Warriors 3
Meet the rest of the team
Wow. The art style reminds me of what might happen if Sacrifice made hot love with Oddworld Stranger's Wrath, then had a baby whose first act was to take a hot crap on Spore. Works for me!
Jim, I feel like I need to give you favors under the table for showing me this. I will join you in the terrible things that must be done to play this. THAT WAS FUCKING AWESOME! That creatures voice gave me a warm fuzzy feeling inside.
Ummm, I think I am going to join VWGTI in asking, are you joking? That doesn't intrigue me in any way.
Yeah it's creepy, but that demon voice that sounds like 2-3 people saying the same thing at the same time is always creepy, but I got over that when I was 12 years old and I heard it in some cartoon coming the evil bad dude before voltron shoved his sword up his ass.
Humanoid creatures that look mutated/modified horribly? What if I didn't buy a LE copy of the Hellraiser movies?(Forgive me, I think you know what I mean, that's the only series I could think of on short notice) Is that supposed to make me look past the fact this game looks like something from 1995?
The "unique fighting" looks like a FPS with an option to HtH people, is that something I should be going crazy over as a gamer? Instead of mouseclicking and stabbing someone with a knife, I mouse click THEN HIT W and they go flying!!!!!!!! That's hardly anything to go crazy over.
If it's a joke, you got me good, I thought you guys really were excited about that video.
Ummm, I think I am going to join VWGTI in asking, are you joking? That doesn't intrigue me in any way.
Yeah it's creepy, but that demon voice that sounds like 2-3 people saying the same thing at the same time is always creepy, but I got over that when I was 12 years old and I heard it in some cartoon coming the evil bad dude before voltron shoved his sword up his ass.
Humanoid creatures that look mutated/modified horribly? What if I didn't buy a LE copy of the Hellraiser movies?(Forgive me, I think you know what I mean, that's the only series I could think of on short notice) Is that supposed to make me look past the fact this game looks like something from 1995?
The "unique fighting" looks like a FPS with an option to HtH people, is that something I should be going crazy over as a gamer? Instead of mouseclicking and stabbing someone with a knife, I mouse click THEN HIT W and they go flying!!!!!!!! That's hardly anything to go crazy over.
If it's a joke, you got me good, I thought you guys really were excited about that video.
I'm not so sure about the actual game per se, but a line like that - never mind the voice, just the line - issuing from something that is definitely not human is probably one of the most unsettling things I've heard in a while. Grotesquely fascinating.
So I did a little research on this game. The developers Ace Team are based in Chile - this is actually the first time I've ever seen a video game developed by a south american studio.
This explains quite a few things: Why it's on the pc, why the graphics aren't as bleeding edge as some of the graphics whores might like it and it also explains why this game won't be a blockbuster. Bear with me, I'll explain that last point.
Developing for a console is expensive, you gota pay the console manifacturer quite a lot of money to get a devkit. A south american studio doesn't have the money for it.
It's their first game and chances are, that they don't have too big a talent and know how pool to draw from. In america, japan and western europe you've got a lot of experienced artists and developers, it's rather easy to stay on the cutting edge. It gets harder the less experience you've got to draw from in you immediate vicinity.
Also it's odd. It's something most western developers (and publishers) wouldn't even try, because they know their market and have long lost any will to take the risks they took during the late 90s and early 2000s. Which was the golden age of PC gaming.
I guess this game won't adhere to too many gaming conventions and will freely mix alll manners of different kinds of gameplay just for the sake of it. Something western developers aren't doing anymore. Because we've all read too many lectures and seen too many power point presentations about how games are supposed to be made.
The game will be frustrating in places, will have a lot of odd glitches and we'll want to kill the guy who designed the UI.
That's just pure speculation on my part. But from all the experience I've had playing eastern european pc games, I think that at least some of these assumptions will be true.
Anyway, I'll watch this from now on - if only because I love pc games and miss that golden age...
Oddworld Strangers Wrath with combat from Condemned in a pastel shaded fantasy world. I am sure this will be as popular as Ozzy's black skies. It looks nowhere near as good as the games it imitates.
"Source powered" is a powerful selling point for your's truly, though I think it looks more like Fable or Oblivion than what I'd except from a Source powered game.
I'm perfectly OK with that, though. I'm solidly in the opinion that any prettiness beyond Max Payne 2 or Morrowind perhaps is just extra unnecessary fluff. What this implies to me however from the trailer is a game not unlike Morrowind or Oblivion, a FPS Fantasy RPG, and that REALLY gets me going. I'll be watching with interest.
Source runs on pretty dated hardware people, some of you might be able to run it. I found some really cool screenshots over at gs. Game looks super creepy and I'm definately gonna keep an eye out for it.
Destructoid is an open discussion community. You don't need to "audition" to post a comment - just speak your mind. We respect differing opinions on the site, so have at it. Be smart, funny, insightful, clueless, or cute -- but back it up with substance. Keep your cool, keep it fun. We only ask that you act respectfully and above all: don't be a troll and ruin it for everyone else. Don't bring down gamers or we'll, you know, gently shoot you in the face and stuff you into a flaming mailbox. Each comment is your opportuntity to make this community awesomer. Is that even a word?
Avoiding the banhammer only requires common sense: spamming, trolling, racism, NSFW stuff, and other forms of sucking will not be tolerated. If anyone is griefing please report abuse. Be good. Don't suck!
Contest:
2:30 PM on 02.06.2008
| 
Great Find. Who is this Ace Team?
And ditto on the characters, I love weird shit.
DO WANT!
I can see the Fable and Oddworld comparisons.
Do wants!
Yeah it's creepy, but that demon voice that sounds like 2-3 people saying the same thing at the same time is always creepy, but I got over that when I was 12 years old and I heard it in some cartoon coming the evil bad dude before voltron shoved his sword up his ass.
Humanoid creatures that look mutated/modified horribly? What if I didn't buy a LE copy of the Hellraiser movies?(Forgive me, I think you know what I mean, that's the only series I could think of on short notice) Is that supposed to make me look past the fact this game looks like something from 1995?
The "unique fighting" looks like a FPS with an option to HtH people, is that something I should be going crazy over as a gamer? Instead of mouseclicking and stabbing someone with a knife, I mouse click THEN HIT W and they go flying!!!!!!!! That's hardly anything to go crazy over.
If it's a joke, you got me good, I thought you guys really were excited about that video.
Yeah it's creepy, but that demon voice that sounds like 2-3 people saying the same thing at the same time is always creepy, but I got over that when I was 12 years old and I heard it in some cartoon coming the evil bad dude before voltron shoved his sword up his ass.
Humanoid creatures that look mutated/modified horribly? What if I didn't buy a LE copy of the Hellraiser movies?(Forgive me, I think you know what I mean, that's the only series I could think of on short notice) Is that supposed to make me look past the fact this game looks like something from 1995?
The "unique fighting" looks like a FPS with an option to HtH people, is that something I should be going crazy over as a gamer? Instead of mouseclicking and stabbing someone with a knife, I mouse click THEN HIT W and they go flying!!!!!!!! That's hardly anything to go crazy over.
If it's a joke, you got me good, I thought you guys really were excited about that video.
Art style is awesome. Looks like an interesting and unique universe and seems like there could be some decent gameplay to back it all up.
Horray!
I have seen the video four times now....you guys got me good, Istill don't see it.
One of the landscapes reminded me of City of Lost Children. I'll be interested to learn more about this 'unique fighting system'.
It's okay, it's not your fault :)
I'm interested, but not pay-$50-bucks-for-it interested.
$30, and I'm sold. The imagination, art style, and subtle hints of a murderous prodigal son story won me over immediately.
I didn't find this scary or creepy in any way. Somewhat interesting, but the Jericho ads were much creepier than this.
This explains quite a few things: Why it's on the pc, why the graphics aren't as bleeding edge as some of the graphics whores might like it and it also explains why this game won't be a blockbuster. Bear with me, I'll explain that last point.
Developing for a console is expensive, you gota pay the console manifacturer quite a lot of money to get a devkit. A south american studio doesn't have the money for it.
It's their first game and chances are, that they don't have too big a talent and know how pool to draw from. In america, japan and western europe you've got a lot of experienced artists and developers, it's rather easy to stay on the cutting edge. It gets harder the less experience you've got to draw from in you immediate vicinity.
Also it's odd. It's something most western developers (and publishers) wouldn't even try, because they know their market and have long lost any will to take the risks they took during the late 90s and early 2000s. Which was the golden age of PC gaming.
I guess this game won't adhere to too many gaming conventions and will freely mix alll manners of different kinds of gameplay just for the sake of it. Something western developers aren't doing anymore. Because we've all read too many lectures and seen too many power point presentations about how games are supposed to be made.
The game will be frustrating in places, will have a lot of odd glitches and we'll want to kill the guy who designed the UI.
That's just pure speculation on my part. But from all the experience I've had playing eastern european pc games, I think that at least some of these assumptions will be true.
Anyway, I'll watch this from now on - if only because I love pc games and miss that golden age...
I'm perfectly OK with that, though. I'm solidly in the opinion that any prettiness beyond Max Payne 2 or Morrowind perhaps is just extra unnecessary fluff. What this implies to me however from the trailer is a game not unlike Morrowind or Oblivion, a FPS Fantasy RPG, and that REALLY gets me going. I'll be watching with interest.
http://www.gamespot.com/pc/action/zenoclash/images.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=tabs&tag=tabs;images
that should do it...sorry bout that
Congrats to the dudes who are making this though, a small mod team just had their audience multiplied by 256312 because of Destructoid.