Zapitalism
- February 12, 2020
- LavaMind
Get on SteamZapitalism, the classic business strategy game from the 1990s, is now live on Steam! NOTE: Works on all versions of Windows and all versions of Mac up to Big Sur. It does NOT work for Apple Silicon Macs. Zapitalism is a sophisticated retail strategy game, where your goal is to take a small store and grow it into a retail juggernaut. Manage your shelf space wisely, build megastores, buy up bests…
Reviews
- The game is nostalgic and brings back childhood memories, providing a fun experience for both old fans and new players.
- It offers an entertaining and educational gameplay experience, with potential for learning economics and strategy.
- The core concept and variety of scenarios have potential, making it enjoyable for those who appreciate classic business simulation games.
- The Steam version is criticized for being a rough and lazy port, with sound issues, buggy animations, and a lack of modern features like online multiplayer.
- The graphics and user interface feel outdated, lacking the polish expected from a modern release.
- There are significant technical issues, including clunky performance and a lack of options for logging into old accounts or accessing previous purchases.
- graphics4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The graphics have received mixed feedback, with some users finding them lackluster and noting a lack of user interface feedback, while others appreciate the interesting visuals and engaging stories. Minor issues such as occasional animated graphics glitches and slight spelling errors were mentioned, but they do not significantly detract from the overall experience.
“The combination of cool stories, interesting graphics, and the array of various potential scenarios has certainly picked up my interest in playing the game again on my new computer.”
“The graphics are lackluster, and the user interface is lacking in feedback (hover effects on selectable items, click confirmations, etc).”
“The only issues I have within the game are a few minor spelling/grammar mistakes, the fact that some of the animated graphics no longer play (although that's only a minor visual issue), and the fact that the sound occasionally glitches a little bit.”
“A very slight graphical glitch every so often but hardly noticeable and doesn't affect gameplay.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, users report that the game's stability is somewhat lacking, with issues such as buggy video animations and occasional sound glitches. While there are minor spelling and grammar mistakes, these do not significantly detract from the experience.
“The sound is dodgy, and the video animations are buggy.”
“The only issues I have within the game are a few minor spelling and grammar mistakes, the fact that some of the animated graphics no longer play (although that's only a minor visual issue), and the sound occasionally glitches a little bit.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users have noted that the game's optimization is lacking, with slow performance and monotonous tutorials contributing to a less engaging experience.
“The tutorials are monotonous, and the performance is slow.”
- story1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The story aspect is highlighted as engaging and intriguing, inviting players to immerse themselves in a captivating narrative.
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviewers express concern that the monetization strategies in Lavamind's games, such as Gazillionaire and Zapitalism, appear to prioritize profit over preserving the integrity of classic games, indicating a potential cash grab mentality.
“However, there are many sound issues with the current iteration of Lavamind's games (Gazillionaire and Zapitalism), which suggest they are more focused on a cash grab than preserving games from decades ago.”
“The monetization strategy feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without constantly being bombarded by ads and in-game purchases.”
“It seems like the developers prioritize profit over player experience, as essential features are locked behind paywalls.”
