Zack Zero

51%
Game Brain Score Based on 171 reviews
  • graphics
  • gameplay
  • story
Zack Zero Game Cover
Good ol' retro-style platformer with the highlights coming through level design and array of wacky enemy-types.
Starting at $2.94Buy now
Get on Steam

In Zack Zero, play as a hero with a powerful experimental suit, using fire, ice, and rock abilities to save your kidnapped love from the evil Zulrog. Explore diverse scenarios, level up to 20, and find hidden objects, while competing against friends with the online ranking system. With over 30 characters and 5 bosses, engaging animated comic storylines, and 10 unique skills, this 2D platformer offers a modern twist on classic games.

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 3
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

51%
Audience ScoreBased on 171 reviews
graphics34 positive mentions
gameplay14 negative mentions
  • The game features great graphics and a fun art style that appeals to fans of retro platformers.
  • The gameplay is enjoyable with various powers that add a layer of strategy to the platforming experience.
  • It's a decent game for casual play, especially for younger audiences or those looking for a simple platformer.
  • The game is plagued by numerous bugs and glitches that can hinder the overall experience.
  • Controls are inconsistent and often frustrating, especially when using a keyboard instead of a controller.
  • The storyline and character development are weak, making the game feel generic and unoriginal.
  • graphics60 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the vibrant colors and character designs reminiscent of Saturday morning cartoons, while others report technical issues such as low framerate and graphical glitches. Despite these drawbacks, many find the visuals appealing and suitable for a casual gaming experience, though some feel the overall execution lacks innovation. Overall, the graphics are generally considered decent, but marred by bugs and performance issues.

    • “The visuals are quite good and the character designs are reminiscent of a Saturday morning cartoon.”
    • “Graphic is full of vibrant color and the background levels are detailed enough - something that must be appreciated.”
    • “The gameplay is fun, the graphics are great, and the music is gorgeous!”
    • “The loading screen and the related graphics are pretty much dull and out of resolution.”
    • “Edit: forgot to mention that the game stuttered in many places and had low framerate issues regularly for seemingly no reason, not like this is a graphically intense game.”
    • “There are too many bugs at the moment and the Steam overlay causes graphic glitches (ATI cards).”
  • gameplay40 mentions

    The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players citing significant bugs and clunky mechanics that detract from the experience. While some appreciate the fun and variety offered by power morphs and the art style, others find the gameplay repetitive and lacking in challenge, leading to a generally mediocre reception. Overall, it seems to appeal primarily to fans of platformers, despite its shortcomings.

    • “The gameplay is fun, the graphics are great, and the music is gorgeous!”
    • “Interesting suit mechanics keep the game fresh, and the art style is really enjoyable to take in while playing.”
    • “+fluid gameplay, no lag, no jitters unless you're in contact with enemies”
    • “The game is loaded with bugs and plagued by clunky, counterintuitive gameplay mechanics.”
    • “Simplistic linear game with nothing new to offer in either visuals, mechanics, or challenge.”
    • “The game got horrible gameplay, as in the second worst I've ever seen.”
  • story34 mentions

    The story in the game is widely criticized for being uninspired, linear, and overly simplistic, often likened to a low-budget children's animation. While some players find humor in its cheesiness, many agree that the narrative detracts from the overall experience, with weak dialogue and a lack of depth. Despite these shortcomings, the gameplay remains enjoyable, appealing to those seeking nostalgic platforming rather than a compelling storyline.

    • “Actually a fun platformer with a story (speech, some videos).”
    • “A beautiful game and great story, however the controls have a bit of laggy response at times when things get really active on screen.”
    • “If you're looking for some deep story it won't be here but the gameplay is fun and it has some replay value.”
    • “Hit detection is awful, the controls are inconsistent (sometimes I can double jump, sometimes not, sometimes I can grab ledges, not always), the recycled enemies are absolutely dull, the level design is pointless ("puzzles" consisted of moving obvious blocks onto obvious platforms), the story is absolutely atrocious and uninspired, the pseudo-3D gimmick (you and enemies could move into the foreground and background) worked against me half the time as I couldn't hit enemies who were hitting me, the dialogue is straight out of an underfunded kid's animation movie, not to mention the "cinematic" and dull soundtrack... ugh.”
    • “The narration/storytelling is quite weak.”
    • “But frankly I find the narration, storyline (to save this thing and that?) and voice acting a bit cheesy.”
  • stability14 mentions

    The game's stability is a mixed bag, with some users reporting no issues, while others experience numerous glitches and bugs, particularly on ATI video cards. Common problems include falling through the environment, getting stuck, and graphical issues, which can lead to unwinnable save points. Overall, while some players find the bugs manageable, many express frustration with the game's instability.

    • “There's so many bugs and glitches; while walking, you'll suddenly fall off a cliff or get stuck inside a wall or a boulder. It happened to me like 5 times, and that's just in the first stage, which is very short. Imagine the longer stages.”
    • “The worst part of the game, though, is that there are a lot of glitches and bugs. You can find yourself saved to an unwinnable save point, stuck in the back/foreground, or just have the textures go haywire on you.”
    • “There are too many bugs at the moment, and the Steam overlay causes graphic glitches (ATI cards).”
  • music10 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed feedback, with some players praising it as "gorgeous" and "pretty good," while others criticize the overall soundtrack as "dull" and "uninspired." Despite technical issues affecting sound, the music stands out positively for many players, contributing to the game's aesthetic appeal.

    • “Good graphics and soundtrack.”
    • “Oh, and the music is pretty good too.”
    • “The gameplay is fun, the graphics are great, and the music is gorgeous!”
    • “Was actually excited to play this but I have a bug where regular game sounds die after 30 seconds of play, all that's left is ambient noise and music.”
    • “Hit detection is awful, the controls are inconsistent (sometimes I can double jump, sometimes not, sometimes I can grab ledges, not always), the recycled enemies are absolutely dull, the level design is pointless ("puzzles" consisted of moving obvious blocks onto obvious platforms), the story is absolutely atrocious and uninspired, the pseudo-3D gimmick (you and enemies could move into the foreground and background) worked against me half the time as I couldn't hit enemies who were hitting me, the dialogue is straight out of an underfunded kid's animation movie, not to mention the "cinematic" and dull soundtrack... ugh.”
  • humor6 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as delightful and entertaining, often stemming from its absurdity and lightheartedness, particularly in its whimsical enemies and vibrant environments. While the storyline is criticized for being weak, this lack of depth is ironically seen as a source of humor, contributing to the overall fun experience.

    • “The plot is flimsier than dollar store toilet paper, but that's what makes it funny.”
    • “It's just amazing, it's funny, there is action, lovely enemies (if you like crocodiles), a fabulous environment, and you can control the elements!”
  • replayability4 mentions

    The game offers good replay value primarily due to its enjoyable gameplay, though it lacks a deep narrative. Players can expect to return for the fun mechanics rather than a compelling story.

    • “Good replay value.”
    • “If you're looking for a deep story, it won't be here, but the gameplay is fun and it has some replay value.”
    • “Good replay value.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    Users report experiencing stuttering issues while playing the game, particularly on systems with an R9 280 graphics card and an AMD 6350 processor, indicating potential optimization challenges.

    • “I experience significant stuttering issues while playing with an R9 280 and AMD 6350.”
    • “I encounter frequent stuttering problems on my setup with an R9 280 and AMD 6350.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Character development is criticized for its simplistic and immature writing, with designs that mirror a juvenile aesthetic, leading to a lack of depth and sophistication in the characters.

    • “It feels like it was written by a grade schooler, and the character designs reflect a lot of those same sensibilities.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect to be illogical and tedious, particularly criticizing the cumbersome process of changing layouts.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

80% average critic score

Buy Zack Zero

Play time

5hMedian play time
5hAverage play time
5-5hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Similar Games