Z.A.R.

About

Z.A.R. is a single player shooter game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Maddox Games and was released on May 1, 2015. It received neutral reviews from players.

"Z.A.R. is a 2097-set game where players, as Colonel Hermit, must combat a frenzied central computer controlling weaponized mining robots on Iberium-rich planets. Traverse expansive low-gravity terrains, engaging in intense firefights with various enemies, all set to a high-quality audio soundtrack."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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59%

Audience ScoreBased on 58 reviews

music11 positive mentions

story7 negative mentions

The game features destructible voxel terrain and a unique physics system, allowing for creative gameplay and environmental interaction.
The soundtrack is highly praised, with many players enjoying the music and adding it to their playlists.
Despite its age, the game offers a nostalgic experience for fans of retro FPS games, with straightforward gameplay and a variety of mission types.

The game suffers from frustrating mechanics, such as fall damage from jumping and a lack of health pickups, making it challenging and sometimes unfair.
Many players find the missions repetitive and the level design lacking, with some areas feeling empty and uninspired.
Controls can feel floaty and unresponsive, leading to difficulties in aiming and maneuvering, which detracts from the overall experience.

story
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
76%
17%
The game's story is often described as confusing and largely unimportant, serving mainly as a backdrop for gameplay rather than a compelling narrative. Players receive briefings before missions that outline objectives, but many find the mission design repetitive and frustrating, particularly due to the prevalence of escort missions and the lack of engaging storytelling. Overall, while the game features a variety of mission types, the execution leaves much to be desired, making the story feel secondary to the action.
- “During the 33 missions, the protagonist is sent to various planets to put an end to this destructive creation.”
- “It's hard to say that it's a better game than the average for the time, but it does have a good sense of focus and style, dropping a lot of cruft that began to appear around this time (e.g., overly elaborate mission briefings and loadout screens), and embracing cinematic cutscenes and a throbbing CD-audio soundtrack.”
- “It joined games like Rebel Moon, Terra Nova, and Terminator: Future Shock in being more about objectives and missions than just about indiscriminately shooting-- and it's not like the variety of mission types was anything close to standard at the time.”
- “The story is confusing as hell, but I mean it's probably more of an excuse for gameplay; damn is it long-winded though.”
- “Due to those strange flaws, lack of story, and $6 price tag, it's too hard to recommend, considering other retro games like Quake are free.”
- “The worst part is the mission design.”
music
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
69%
12%
19%
The music in the game is consistently praised as a standout feature, with many reviewers highlighting its quality and ability to enhance the overall experience. Described as "fantastic" and "rockin'," the soundtrack is noted for its engaging and memorable tracks, often motivating players to continue playing. Overall, the music is considered one of the game's strongest aspects, contributing significantly to its charm and appeal.
- “This game is worth buying just for the soundtrack.”
- “Best part of the game would be the music... it was the only thing egging me on to keep playing... and the graphics aren't too bad as well.”
- “R provides some solid (if simplistic) old school fun, with challenging combat, charming voxel landscapes (that can be deformed with explosions!), and a surprisingly enjoyable soundtrack.”
- “It also features a 'CD' quality soundtrack, whatever that means.”
- “It's hard to say that it's a better game than the average for the time, but it does have a good sense of focus and style, dropping a lot of cruft that began to appear around this time (e.g., overly elaborate mission briefings and loadout screens), and embracing cinematic cutscenes and a throbbing CD-audio soundtrack.”
- “The 'battle show' function lets you spectate battles between the robots with 7 scenarios to choose from while some of the badass music plays in the background.”
gameplay
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The gameplay is characterized by simple shoot-em-up mechanics and blocky graphics that evoke nostalgia, but it suffers from poor controls, repetitive levels, and frustrating game mechanics that detract from the experience. While the destructible terrain and engaging challenges offer some redeeming qualities, the overall execution feels outdated and marred by numerous annoyances, making it hard to recommend despite its potential for fun.
- “It's simple shoot-em-up gameplay, and the graphics are blocky, but the terrain design is pretty cool and you can see it's technically very well programmed.”
- “The crusty VGA visuals give it an awesome nostalgic feel to the gameplay.”
- “The challenge is engaging and rewarding, skirting by with 10 HP and a single round of ammunition left me with my adrenaline pumping in a way that felt like I was able to pull it off due to my own skill and rationing-- not game mechanics designed to keep me from losing.”
- “Terrible controls (even if they are arguably intentional), annoying game mechanics (like small bits of rock or debris from explosions causing damage long after the explosion has ended), and repetitive levels make this a game I cannot recommend.”
- “The story is confusing as hell, but I mean it's probably more of an excuse for gameplay; damn is it longwinded though.”
- “So despite doing quite a few things right, I feel like the down points really hurt the overall gameplay and while this game would have been a breath of fresh air in 1997, that was then and this is now.”
graphics
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
30%
40%
The graphics of the game evoke a nostalgic feel with their blocky, voxel design reminiscent of classic titles, appealing to fans of retro aesthetics. While some players appreciate the technical execution and terrain design, others criticize the outdated visuals compared to contemporary standards, noting that the graphics may not hold up well against more modern games. Overall, the visuals are seen as charmingly primitive, fitting for its age, but may not satisfy those seeking cutting-edge graphics.
- “The crusty VGA visuals give it an awesome nostalgic feel to the gameplay.”
- “It's simple shoot-em-up gameplay, and the graphics are blocky, but the terrain design is pretty cool and you can see it's technically very well programmed.”
- “Awesome game with awesome graphics (for its time)... I'm sorry I haven't played it back then... surely I would have loved it.”
- “Is a 21 year old game which uses primitive voxels like the old Comanche: Maximum Overkill game (which means the graphics look almost exactly the same).”
- “- graphics suck (DN3D was for around this time and was sooooo much better)”
- “-1 for the modern age you might argue the graphics are outdated - but you can play it on 800x600 which is more than decent for a game over 18 years old.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The game's atmosphere is a mixed bag; while it features a nostalgic 90s FPS setting with engaging sound design, some players find it lacking in strategic depth and excitement, leading to a dull experience overall. The intuitive gameplay mechanics can enhance immersion, but the uninspired enemy design detracts from the overall atmosphere.
- “However, its setting and its sound and atmospheric environment turn this unknown title into a reasonable 90s FPS for the entertainment of lovers of the genre.”
- “Boring enemies and atmosphere make this game a snooze.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The humor in the game is characterized by its lighthearted and brief missions, often lasting just a couple of minutes, which adds a comedic touch to the gameplay experience.
- “You're basically launched into these missions -- hilariously short ones, just a couple of minutes long.”
- “The dialogue is packed with witty one-liners that had me laughing out loud.”
- “The absurd situations you find yourself in are both unexpected and side-splitting.”