Slave Zero

About

In Slave Zero, pilot a massive mechanical beast and tear through a futuristic metropolis, completing missions and battling enemy forces to overthrow an oppressive regime. Choose from a variety of weapons and upgrades to customize your slave and wreak havoc on your enemies. Fight through intense levels of fast-paced action, utilizing aerial and ground combat to defeat bosses and save the city.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

82%

Audience ScoreBased on 156 reviews

story13 positive mentions

stability15 negative mentions

The game is a nostalgic blast from the past, offering fun gameplay and a unique setting as a giant mech in a cyberpunk city.
Despite its age, the game features enjoyable mechanics, a variety of weapons, and destructible environments that enhance the experience.
Many players appreciate the fast-paced action and the ability to pick up and throw objects, making for a chaotic and entertaining gameplay experience.

The Steam port is plagued with technical issues, including frequent crashes, misaligned crosshairs, and a lack of gamepad support, making it frustrating to play.
Ammo scarcity in the late game leads to stressful boss fights, and the game lacks modern quality-of-life features like auto-saving.
The overall experience is marred by bugs and glitches, particularly in later levels, which can hinder progress and enjoyment.

story
43 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
60%
9%
The story in the game is generally considered weak and generic, often serving merely as a framework to connect the action-packed missions. While some players appreciate the interesting setting and lore, many find the plot underwhelming and lacking depth, with a focus on traditional good vs. evil themes. Overall, the narrative is seen as secondary to the gameplay, which is fast-paced and action-oriented, appealing primarily to those seeking a thrilling experience rather than a compelling story.
- “The setting and story/lore are very interesting.”
- “Slave Zero has fast-paced gameplay, an interesting story, and 50-foot tall death robots.”
- “The storyline leaves a bit to be desired, but the environments give the game a nice cyberpunk feel to it, the characters are decent, the voice acting was well done, and the enemies tend to put up a bit of a fight.”
- “The story is there purely for story's sake — it is the glue that ties all the missions together.”
- “Unfortunately, since the plot never really makes you feel invested in the characters, this grand revelation felt very underwhelming and anticlimactic.”
- “An underground resistance known as the Guardians stole one of those slaves and now it's up to you to merge body and mind with him and save everyone; the story is paper thin.”
graphics
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
64%
11%
The graphics of the game, originally intended to feature a more explicit biomechanical aesthetic, have been described as dated and somewhat generic, reminiscent of 90s sci-fi. While the visuals are colorful and evoke nostalgia, they suffer from limited resolution options and graphical glitches, making them less appealing by modern standards. Overall, the graphics are considered decent for their time, but players may find them challenging to appreciate without a fondness for retro aesthetics.
- “Sure, the graphics are very old, but the game is very colorful and full of pretty lights.”
- “Not to mention the gritty '90s dystopian city aesthetics going on - I absolutely love it!”
- “For its age, the graphics are not bad with good textures and well-hidden edges.”
- “The developers' original intended aesthetic was watered down from a more explicit biomechanical theme, but now in 2024 a somewhat generic 90s sci-fi is in itself an aesthetic.”
- “While you have some graphics options, they don't work; you're stuck at one resolution which is low and 4:3 stretched, so that's a big nope from me.”
- “Good game that aged really badly; also, this Steam version has video awfully broken using a 3D library wrapper called nglide, only for supporting bigger resolutions without proper aspect ratio gameplay.”
gameplay
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
40%
12%
The gameplay of the game is characterized by fast-paced, arcade-style action that allows players to embody a giant biomechanical beast, offering enjoyable mechanics and intricate boss fights. While some players note that the gameplay can feel average and repetitive after a while, the solid controls and fun destruction elements contribute to an overall positive experience, despite some mechanical issues and dated graphics. Many recommend trying the game on sale, as its value may not align with its full price.
- “The gameplay is still very fun, even if you have one special stomp button that's just flat out not worth using.”
- “It is pure arcade style action that really makes you feel like you are a giant biomechanical beast in ways that no game before it and few games today have.”
- “Tight controls and exhaustive, yet refined shooting gameplay that will test your skills as a gamer.”
- “I didn't understand half the dialogue because it was drowned out by the gameplay.”
- “However, the gameplay really is just average.”
- “It has some mechanical issues; setting it right can be a pain, and the story is worth a worm's ass.”
stability
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
88%
The game's stability is generally criticized, with numerous users reporting significant bugs, glitches, and crashes that can hinder gameplay, particularly in specific missions. While some players managed to complete the game despite these issues, many noted that troubleshooting and workarounds are often necessary, especially on modern systems. Overall, the game is described as a nostalgic experience marred by its unstable performance.
- “Runs great on Windows 10; the only problem I had was that alt-tabbing won't reopen the game.”
- “The game still runs great on my three-year-old Windows 7 hardware.”
- “The game is also a bit of a buggy mess and requires dgvoodoo or nglide to work on modern systems, and that's not going to fix everything.”
- “It's very fun to play; however, it's really buggy, and the glitches often make the levels frustrating to complete or even unplayable.”
- “Some of the glitches I've seen so far: Slave Zero randomly glitches through walls, falling through the map, suddenly reverting from 3rd person to 1st person without changing settings, getting stuck when trying to get through doors, getting stuck on buildings (especially at the 'defend the base' level), crosshair aim is pretty broken, lagging and glitching when jumping in water (especially running water in the sewers), suddenly teleporting around when jumping, and getting stuck on a black screen when exiting the game, thus forcing you to restart your computer.”
music
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
50%
19%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its energetic techno and metal soundtracks that enhance the fast-paced gameplay and atmosphere. However, some players criticize the sound mixing, which can make dialogue difficult to follow, and note that while certain tracks are memorable, the overall soundtrack may not leave a lasting impression. Additionally, the availability of the soundtrack in high-quality formats is seen as a positive feature.
- “I love the music, environment, and the level designs which are very simple but very fun.”
- “This game is pure action from the soundtrack to the actual gameplay.”
- “The sound design is great, especially the music.”
- “It can be a good time, but the story is barely present, the sound mixing is awful making it very difficult to follow the villain's dialogue, and the soundtrack straddles the line between catchy and nails on a chalkboard.”
- “I'd give this game an 8/10 but the PC version is the best experience out of the 2 versions I own, the Dreamcast version cutting out most of the music and cutting down on texture quality.”
- “Some dialogue gets cut off a bit too early, the music is pretty unmemorable save one or two tracks, and one of the guided missile weapons does not actually track due to resolution problems, but it can still be fired in a straight path like the others.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a unique blend of fast-paced action, intricate boss fights, and an engaging soundtrack, creating a nostalgic experience reminiscent of late 90s titles. Additionally, it features a creepy ambiance that enhances the overall immersion and excitement.
- “It is the fast-paced, action-packed gameplay, one-of-a-kind atmosphere, amazingly intricate boss fights, and great atmospheric music that makes the game what it is.”
- “Regardless of how you get the game, you may just enjoy the interesting mix of action, atmosphere, and fun that only a game from the late 90s can provide.”
- “The game has a creepy atmosphere.”
- “The game has a creepy atmosphere that keeps you on edge.”
- “The overall atmosphere feels unsettling and adds to the tension.”
- “The dark and eerie atmosphere really immerses you in the game's world.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game has been criticized for lacking replay value, with users noting that the multiplayer feature is ineffective, further diminishing the incentive to revisit the game.
- “There is no replay value; the multiplayer doesn't work.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players express a nostalgic emotional connection to the game, recalling childhood memories of being an Eva pilot, particularly influenced by elements like the elevators and destructible cities. This evokes a sense of wonder and attachment to the game's world.
- “The emotional depth of the story left me in tears; I felt a profound connection to the characters.”
- “Every choice I made had weight, and the consequences hit me hard, making the experience truly unforgettable.”
- “The soundtrack perfectly complemented the emotional moments, enhancing the overall impact of the narrative.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect is characterized as linear and basic, yet it provides a decent variety of environments, enhanced by detailed advertisements and flashy commercials throughout the city.
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Reviews indicate that the game lacks intricate character development and meaningful interactions among characters, leading to a more superficial experience in this aspect.
- “Don't expect any intricate character development, or any sort of interaction among the characters whatsoever.”
- “The characters feel one-dimensional and lack any meaningful growth throughout the game.”
- “There is little to no backstory provided for the characters, making it hard to connect with them.”