Get on Steam"Z" is a comedy-filled real time strategy game, available for single-player and multi-player. It boasts phenomenal gameplay with a race to capture territory and resources, and a variety of robot soldiers each with unique personalities. The game features plenty of humor through cutscenes, voice overs, and a dynamic music system, but may contain bugs. This definitive version includes 30+ minutes of movie sequences and multiple language options.
iPad
iPhone
Mac OS
PC
Phone
Windows
Android
Mobile Platform
Ms Dos
PlayStation
Sega Saturn
Super Nintendo
Tablet
Reviews
- Brings back nostalgia for fans of the original game.
- Unique gameplay focused on territory control rather than resource gathering.
- Fun and humorous cutscenes that add charm to the experience.
- Controls are clunky and poorly adapted from mobile, making gameplay frustrating.
- Pathfinding and AI behavior are significantly worse than in the original game.
- Lacks multiplayer and skirmish modes, limiting replayability.
- gameplay130 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this title is a mix of nostalgia and frustration, with many players appreciating its straightforward, territory-capturing mechanics and humorous elements, reminiscent of classic RTS games. However, issues such as poor controls, broken AI pathfinding, and various bugs detract from the overall experience, making it challenging for newcomers and veterans alike. While the core gameplay remains engaging, the lack of modern updates and optimization leaves many feeling disappointed.
“Unique gameplay.”
“I love this game, I love the cutscenes and the banter, and usually the gameplay is challenging and rewarding.”
“The overall classic gameplay is still here; fast, relentless combat and territory control requiring you to be constantly alert.”
“The controls are so frustrating, they take away from the gameplay; it's a shame really.”
“Many key features of gameplay don't even work at all.”
“After a few hours of gameplay, I'm saddened to have wasted my money.”
- story100 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 80 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The game's story is minimal and largely revolves around repetitive mission objectives, primarily involving controlling land and defeating enemies. While the comedic cutscenes and character interactions add charm, many players feel the overall narrative is lacking depth and coherence, with no significant changes from its mobile origins. The absence of expansion missions and multiplayer options further detracts from the storytelling experience, leaving it feeling somewhat underdeveloped.
“Hilarious cutscenes between missions featuring two grunts and the commander of allied forces breathe in a lot of extra charm, along with other finer details. For example, on one of the maps, the two grunts from the cutscenes are enjoying their time off sunbathing on loungers and sipping cocktails... right amidst an ongoing battle.”
“It was well-balanced with a terrific and comedic plot and varied units with different strengths and weaknesses in a rock-paper-scissors system.”
“There is not much of a story to talk about, but the atmosphere of the game is quite endearing with robots commenting on the action or talking to the player, along with very nice and bright graphics, and many cutscenes.”
“The worst part of the story I learned today - these devs have taken the terribly ported Android title, and ported it 'back' into Windows, and with nearly no changes from the mobile title at all.”
“There is little to no story and the game can be brutal and unforgiving with not a big chance of a comeback once you fall back but it is still a bunch of fun.”
“The game has no story to talk about and the variation is in how the map looks, how much harder your enemies are, and what units you can train.”
- graphics90 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are a mix of nostalgia and frustration, with many players appreciating the old-school pixel art while also noting issues like low resolution, blurriness, and inconsistent animations. While some find the visuals charming and fitting for a retro title, others criticize the lack of modern updates and the cumbersome control mechanics that detract from the experience. Overall, the graphics evoke a sense of classic gaming, but they may not meet the expectations of players accustomed to contemporary standards.
“The pixel graphics hold up quite nicely and the chaotic energy of the game is still alive and well.”
“Now I finally tried the Steam version and I'm happy to report that it's just as fun as I imagined back in the days :) great comedy humor, nice cartoonish graphics and very catchy gameplay that keeps you playing until it's done.”
“Z was an overwhelmingly mind-blowing game when it was out in 1996 with its unique tactic mechanic, stylish graphics, and hilarious humor.”
“The graphics are extremely blurry due to some filter, scrolling is inverted compared to the old game, the AI has been made worse, the map covers half the screen and actually obscures your units so that you can't click them.”
“Among few problems - outdated graphics, slow scrolling, and when you turn the music off you also get no sound in video cutscenes.”
“No widescreen support, low resolution graphics.”
- humor88 mentions
- 98 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The game is widely praised for its humor, featuring hilarious cutscenes and quirky dialogue that add charm and nostalgia, particularly for players familiar with its 90s aesthetic. Many reviews highlight the comedic interactions between characters and the absurdity of scenarios, such as soldiers sunbathing during battles, which contribute to its unique and entertaining gameplay. While some note that the humor may not resonate with everyone, it remains a defining aspect that enhances the overall experience.
“Hilarious cutscenes between missions featuring two grunts and the commander of allied forces breathe in a lot of extra charm, along with other finer details. For example, on one of the maps, the two grunts from the cutscenes are enjoying their time off sunbathing on loungers and sipping cocktails... right amidst an ongoing battle.”
“This game shines with the hilarious cutscenes that became almost legendary.”
“Now I finally tried the Steam version and I'm happy to report that it's just as fun as I imagined back in the days :) Great comedy humor, nice cartoonish graphics, and very catchy gameplay that keeps you playing until it's done.”
“Not funny, not what Z is about.”
- music44 mentions
- 7 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with players noting that the volume is excessively loud and cannot be adjusted separately from sound effects. Many have pointed out that some original tracks are missing, and the remaining music is often repetitive and poorly balanced, making it difficult to enjoy cutscenes. Overall, the lack of audio options and the intrusive nature of the music detract significantly from the gaming experience.
“Whether battering your foe to smithereens or suffering sustained losses, the music adjusts tone and tempo.”
“Even the music tells you so!”
“The only other game that immediately comes to mind with contextual music cues based on how you're doing is Red Alert 3.”
“The music volume is a bit too high from the start, and as this is a mobile port, you can't even adjust volume levels of sound and music separately.”
“For the rest of the in-game music, the MIDI tracks seem out of balance, as if the melody was too low and the rest too loud.”
“Can't recommend it; the CGI cutscenes have dated over the years, but the music is too loud to understand what they are saying in them.”
- stability22 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous reports of bugs affecting controls, pathfinding, and AI functionality. Users have noted that while the core gameplay remains enjoyable, the overall experience is marred by persistent glitches and a poorly executed port, leading to a frustrating experience for many players.
“Broken pathfinding, broken AI, missing audio samples, buggy controls, the list goes on.”
“Selecting units is buggy as hell.”
“Because of this it is very buggy and the controls are totally broken.”
- monetization10 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as a blatant cash grab, with reviewers expressing disappointment over its lazy porting and lack of genuine effort to enhance the original title. Many feel that the developers prioritize nostalgia and mobile compatibility over quality, leading to a product that fails to meet the expectations of the gaming community. Overall, the sentiment is that purchasing the remake only supports developers who are perceived as unresponsive and focused on profit rather than player satisfaction.
“Buy the remake and you are only supporting cash grabbing devs who only seem to care about mobile compatibility and ride along on a string of broken promises and non-communication with the PC community.”
“It looks like a very lazy port on a technical level, a cynical cash grab.”
“It was a rough port intended solely as a cash grab and would not have satisfied anyone who knew what they were trying to do in the game.”
- replayability8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The game has limited replayability, with users rating it around 2 out of 5. While a recent update has improved its playability somewhat, it still lacks significant incentives for repeated playthroughs.
“Replayability: 2/5”
“- Limited replayability”
“Replayability: 2/5”
- optimization8 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is severely lacking, with users noting poor performance and a crude porting that fails to adapt to modern hardware. Many express frustration over broken commands and inadequate translations, questioning the value of purchasing a game that runs better on older systems or through emulators. While it may appeal to retro enthusiasts, the overall experience is marred by significant optimization issues.
“This game is at least 20 years old and has been optimized for the newer hardware.”
“The performance is incredibly bad.”
“The game is a crude porting with no optimizations for PC, commands are broken, translations are bad. Why should I spend so much for a broken game I already own, which still works (better) with DOSBox and is even available as open source?”
“Z is an old school RTS (real-time strategy) title which can still be fun if you're 'retro-affine' and have no problem with old graphics and one or two gameplay slips (like a non-optimized control setup).”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is largely centered around the intense strategic gameplay, where players experience a sense of urgency and determination as they command their robots to conquer territories and defeat enemies. The act of capturing flags and controlling bases evokes feelings of achievement and progression, enhancing the overall emotional engagement with the game's competitive elements.
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is described as endearing and vibrant, featuring humorous robots with distinct AI personalities that engage with the player. The cute 90s graphics and numerous cutscenes contribute to a charming and lively experience, despite the lack of a substantial storyline.
“There is not much of a story to talk about, but the atmosphere of the game is quite endearing with robots commenting on the action or talking to the player (also with each type of robot having their own AI, from stupid to clever, reflected in their in-game decisions), very nice and bright graphics, and many cutscenes.”
“Great atmosphere, funny robots, cute 90s graphics.”
- character development2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight that the game features unique character designs, which contribute to a distinct and memorable character development experience. However, there is no further elaboration on the depth or progression of the characters themselves.
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, primarily due to poor pathfinding mechanics that complicate troop management and require excessive skill to navigate effectively.
“This demands more skill in effectively commanding your troops, which can be very tedious and aggravating due to the poor pathfinding implemented in the game.”
“Grinding in this game feels like a never-ending chore, with little reward for the time invested.”
“The repetitive nature of grinding makes it hard to stay engaged, as the gameplay becomes monotonous and uninspired.”
