Zanzarah: The Hidden Portal

About

In Zanzarah: The Hidden Portal, players enter a magical world, filled with mythical creatures and enchanting landscapes. As the chosen hero, your mission is to catch and train these creatures, and compete in a grand tournament to save the land from dark forces. With rich storytelling, diverse creature selection, and a range of mini-games, this game offers an immersive and once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

67%

Audience ScoreBased on 534 reviews

graphics30 positive mentions

stability40 negative mentions

Zanzarah offers a unique blend of creature collecting and first-person shooter mechanics, providing a refreshing twist on the genre.
The game features a charming fantasy world with beautiful environments, engaging storylines, and a captivating soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
Many players have fond memories of the game from their childhood, highlighting its nostalgic value and replayability.

The game suffers from significant performance issues on modern systems, including laggy menus and graphical glitches that can make it nearly unplayable.
Players have reported difficulties in getting the game to run smoothly without extensive troubleshooting and the use of third-party tools like dgVoodoo.
The controls can feel clunky and unresponsive, particularly in combat, which detracts from the overall enjoyment of the gameplay.

graphics
156 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
73%
8%
The graphics of the game, while considered beautiful for its time, are largely viewed as outdated and plagued by significant issues on modern systems, particularly with NVIDIA graphics cards. Many players report severe graphical glitches, stuttering, and menu lag that can render the game nearly unplayable, necessitating user fixes to improve performance. Despite these drawbacks, some still appreciate the artistic design and nostalgic charm of the visuals, highlighting the game's immersive atmosphere and creative character designs.
- “To be spellbound by its breathtaking visuals, immersive atmosphere, and intricate character design.”
- “Graphically, other than some rare texture tearing, the game is stunning for its age and still holds up to this day.”
- “Despite early 2000's graphics, it manages to be quite pretty and many of the fairy designs are very creative and intriguing to look at.”
- “I really enjoyed the parts that were playable, it was pleasing to the eye, and the gameplay was cute, but the controls being what they are, the graphical flashes all over the screen when inside any form of building, and the overall feeling of just trying to control your fairies while fighting was just kind of a turn off for me.”
- “Unfortunately with modern graphics cards this game usually requires some user fixes in order to have a playable experience.”
- “Unplayable due to graphics glitches.”
gameplay
92 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
70%
7%
The gameplay of Zanzarah is a unique blend of creature collection and first-person shooter mechanics, reminiscent of Pokémon but set in an arena format where players control fairies in combat. While many players appreciate the charming aesthetics and engaging story, some criticize the clunky controls and technical issues that can detract from the experience. Overall, the game offers a nostalgic and creative gameplay experience, though it may feel outdated to some modern gamers.
- “I love everything about it - the story, the mechanics (which some might simplify to a Pokémon clone), collecting fairies and training them, evolving them, knowing their strengths and weaknesses which leads to on-the-fly strategies when you are facing adversaries' fairies in the arena.”
- “The gameplay consists of exploring the world of Zanzarah, collecting fairies, training them, and fighting other fairies in the arcane arenas.”
- “The gameplay of this game is much like Pokémon, but instead of just selecting a spell to use, you go into a FPS arena and you control your fairy and have to 'shoot' the enemy fairy.”
- “Normally I hate cheating in games I haven’t finished yet, but there really wasn’t anything new to experience gameplay-wise, so I don’t feel too bad about it.”
- “I really enjoyed the parts that were playable, it was pleasing to the eye, and the gameplay was cute, but the controls being what they are, the graphical flashes all over the screen when inside any form of building, and the overall feeling of just trying to control your fairies while fighting was just kind of a turn off for me.”
- “I hate giving a game with such potential a 'not recommended' rating, but the UI and gameplay are so primitive.”
story
82 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
60%
4%
The story of the game is widely praised for its engaging narrative and atmospheric world, often compared to classic creature-collecting games like Pokémon but with a more developed plot. Players appreciate the organic progression and exploration, as well as the clever writing and lore that unfolds as they interact with the environment and characters. While some mention difficulty spikes and grinding, the overall sentiment is that the story is captivating and enhances the gameplay experience.
- “Probably the best story game I have ever played; the story, the gameplay, the feel, everything is just perfect.”
- “The story is great and the world is very atmospheric and beautiful (like a fairy tale).”
- “There is a solid story which unfolds in bits and pieces as the player explores further and uncovers more of the puzzles and mysteries.”
- “It's amusing and passes a bit of time but the actual story is quite limited.”
- “Highly recommend it, even though the combat isn't as fast and the story is not as thick and well thought-out as I'm used to.”
- “By this point, I had already done 92% of the side content and was in the final area of the game, but after countless deaths to unbalanced enemies, crude platforming, and random encounters, I just wanted to get the story out of the way and started blatantly cheating.”
music
74 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
36%
4%
The music in the game is widely praised for its superb quality, calming melodies, and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with many reviewers highlighting the beautiful main theme and diverse soundtrack that immerses players in the game world. Nostalgia plays a significant role, as players fondly remember the enchanting tunes, which feature Celtic influences and are noted for their exceptional sound design, even compared to modern titles. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature that complements the game's visuals and storytelling effectively.
- “The soundtrack further enhances the enchanting atmosphere, immersing you in a realm where magic comes alive.”
- “The game features a hauntingly beautiful main theme and an overall exceptional soundtrack, with catchy creature voices and item sounds.”
- “Accompanying the visual style is excellent music that sets the tone for each zone perfectly.”
- “The only good thing about this game is the idea and maybe the music; everything else is just bad.”
- “Because the fact that the developer makes a song and dance on the store page about updating it to work with modern iterations of Windows, yet conveniently leaves out that certain modern iteration of Windows that's been around for nearly a month at the time of writing.”
- “Music filled with Celtic motifs is really enjoyable to listen to.”
stability
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
91%
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, graphical glitches, and control issues that make it nearly unplayable on modern PCs. While it runs well on the Steam Deck and can be made somewhat functional with community fixes, players express frustration that troubleshooting should not fall on consumers. Overall, the release is deemed poorly optimized for contemporary systems, leading to a disappointing experience for many.
- “The game runs great on Steam Deck, without any additional tinkering (but you have to choose one of the community control layouts or create your own, and enable gyro for better aiming).”
- “It runs great on modern PCs with a program called dgVoodoo, which deserves its own respective credit.”
- “It's surprisingly buggy, there's noticeable balancing issues, and it has that clunkiness with the controls and interface.”
- “Don't pay more than a few dollars for this game unless it gets some serious updates to fix the compatibility, because it's likely you'll spend more than two hours troubleshooting it -- and then you're stuck with a game you might not be able to play at all.”
- “But the fact of the matter is that the troubleshooting/patching work shouldn't be on you, the consumer, to fix your broken purchase.”
optimization
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
50%
19%
The game's optimization is severely lacking, resulting in significant performance issues such as stuttering, low frame rates, and graphical glitches, particularly on modern PCs running Windows 10. Players have reported needing to rely on third-party fixes and patches to make the game somewhat playable, which is frustrating given the game's potential. Overall, many reviewers express disappointment that the re-release did not address these critical optimization problems, rendering it nearly unplayable for users with updated hardware.
- “Using dgvoodoo2 (a free glide- and dx-wrapper) you can make it run smoothly on modern machines (I'm running it on Windows 10 64 bit), even in 1080p!”
- “Quite literally... sadly, the menus in the game are such a challenge to navigate because the game has not been optimized for newer PCs.”
- “There is absolutely no optimization!!!”
- “Technically speaking, this game is severely unoptimized for Windows 10 or newer hardware as of now (26/04/2019).”
- “It's a huge shame that this Steam release, which according to the store page was in 2015, was done years after the original release and the company behind this re-release of the game did a poor job making sure the game was able to be played on modern computers. To actually make this game run on my Windows 10 PC with more modern specs, I had to download tons of fan fixes and patches, something I shouldn't even have to do when I buy a game from Steam. Despite all the community fixes, I still had performance issues, graphical glitches, and the game was unplayable on modern PCs.”
grinding
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Grinding in the game is a significant aspect, particularly for players aiming to collect all fairies, which can be time-consuming and sometimes tedious. While some players find the grinding necessary and rewarding, others may view it as a chore, especially during steep difficulty spikes. Overall, the game is well-paced, allowing for progression without excessive grinding, but utilizing cheat codes can help alleviate the grind for those who prefer a quicker experience.
- “I think if you decide you want to complete the game's collection screen yourself, I would strongly recommend that when it gets to that point of grinding out levels, you use the code 'gold' typed on the keyboard during regular gameplay. That'll give you money each time you do it, so you'd be able to take the very long hours out of it.”
- “It's not an ideal solution, but it does make it much more palatable in this day and age, as grinding for levels is otherwise a chore.”
- “Of course, being a fairy collection RPG, Zanzarah requires a fair bit of grinding if you want to 'collect 'em all', but I think this is completely worth it.”
atmosphere
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
17%
17%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its breathtaking visuals, immersive soundtracks, and enchanting fairy-tale setting, creating a nostalgic and wholesome experience reminiscent of classic RPGs from the 90s and 00s. Despite its outdated graphics, players appreciate the colorful fantasy world and the engaging story, which together contribute to a relaxing and captivating ambiance. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, enhancing the gameplay and making it a worthwhile experience.
- “To be spellbound by its breathtaking visuals, immersive atmosphere, and intricate character.”
- “The story is great and the world is very atmospheric and beautiful (like a fairy tale).”
- “The atmosphere that it creates is very wholesome if you grew up with RPGs in the 90s or 00s; the devs got it bang on.”
- “It is an old game and thus the graphics and maps are as can be expected, but I absolutely love the story, collecting all the fairies, soundtrack, and the overall feel one gets from the atmosphere.”
- “Soundtrack further enhances the enchanting atmosphere, immersing you in a realm where...”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its wholesome atmosphere, particularly resonating with players who have nostalgia for RPGs from the 90s and 00s. Despite some technical issues, the emotional connection it fosters is highlighted as a significant strength, making it a memorable experience for fans of the genre.
- “This is one of the most wholesome RPGs I've played in a long time. The atmosphere it creates is very wholesome if you grew up with RPGs in the 90s or 00s; the devs got it spot on.”
- “The atmosphere that it creates is very wholesome if you grew up with RPGs in the 90s or 00s; the devs got it bang on.”
- “This is one of the most wholesome RPGs I've played in a long time. The atmosphere it creates is very wholesome if you grew up with RPGs in the 90s or 00s; the devs got it spot on.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the game visually appealing and enjoyable in parts, but issues with controls and distracting graphical effects detract from the overall experience, leading to a lack of motivation for replaying. The combination of these factors results in a diminished sense of replayability.
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game suffered due to inadequate advertising from THQ, which was impacted by financial issues, resulting in the game not receiving the attention it needed at launch.
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by a whimsical contrast between the cute heroine, Amy, and the diverse, often comical fairies she encounters, including quirky earth grunts and eccentric metal constructs. This blend of charming visuals and humorous character designs adds a lighthearted tone to the gameplay experience.
- “Playing as the cute heroine Amy, a girl from smoke-covered London suddenly teleported into a picturesque fantasy world, you capture and evolve during battles magical fairies, who range from beautiful creatures of nature, oceans, and light to funny grunts of earth, screeching metal constructs, and devil-like inhabitants of shadowy crypts.”