Zero Hour
- September 9, 2024
- M7 Productions
- 6h median play time
Get on Steam"Zero Hour" is a real-time strategy game that takes place in a post-apocalyptic world. Players must build and manage their base, gather resources, and command their troops to defeat the enemy. The game features tactical combat, destructible environments, and a variety of units and structures to build and upgrade.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- gameplay1,270 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Zero Hour" is characterized by its slow-paced, tactical approach, reminiscent of classic titles like "SWAT 4" and "Rainbow Six." While many players appreciate the emphasis on strategy and teamwork, they also note significant issues such as clunky mechanics, bugs, and a lack of polish that detracts from the overall experience. Despite these drawbacks, the game offers unique mechanics and engaging gunplay, making it a promising option for fans of the tactical shooter genre, especially in cooperative play.
“The gameplay is so real, but you need a good team behind you to clear a house.”
“Zero Hour's focus on tactical, methodical gameplay is where the game truly shines.”
“The attention to detail in both the maps and the gameplay mechanics is outstanding, creating a tense and strategic atmosphere.”
“The gameplay feels clunky and uninspired, lacking the intensity and depth that define successful tactical shooters.”
“This does not reserve the positive reviews it has been getting, for a 1.0, 90% of the game is buggy... the animations are horrible, the gameplay feels stale, half the guns aren't even done right, there's only a few voicelines and the ragdolls are terrible.”
“The mechanics are janky and all the missions are the same pretty much just with different stories and maps.”
- story856 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 79 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its lack of depth and coherence, with many players noting that the missions feel disconnected and lack a compelling narrative. While there are brief story introductions before missions, they often feel like placeholders, and the overall experience is described as repetitive and lacking in engaging storytelling elements. Players suggest that the game would benefit from a more developed narrative and better AI to enhance the immersion and enjoyment of the missions.
“The story behind each map and each mission is intriguing.”
“The compelling storyline, stunning visuals, and captivating gameplay mechanics make this an unforgettable journey that will leave players eager for more.”
“The co-op missions are fun and challenging, so if you don't care for multiplayer then you can play with your friends through those missions.”
“The overall story is a mess and a lot of levels have no clear reasoning behind them other than 'the militia is here because of terrorism.'”
“They call it 'story' mode, but there is no story to speak of, except a short description before any mission of what is happening, but it adds nothing to the game in my opinion.”
“The 'story mode', which features an AI team, lacks a story, and the teammate AI is absolutely terrible.”
- graphics626 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that they feel dated and reminiscent of older titles, often comparing them to games from the Xbox 360 era. While some appreciate the decent visuals and lighting effects, others criticize the overall quality, stating that it lacks polish and can appear grainy or low-budget. Overall, the consensus suggests that while the graphics are not the game's strongest aspect, they are serviceable for its price point, with potential for improvement in future updates.
“The graphics are impressive and often feel incredibly lifelike.”
“Great gun physics and amazing graphics.”
“The graphics, guns, and gameplay are really good.”
“The graphics are equal to a game on Xbox 360.”
“The graphics and animations feel like a very low-budget game.”
“The graphics are lackluster and dated, failing to create an immersive environment for players.”
- stability351 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 97 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a significant concern among users, with many describing it as "buggy" and "unpolished," even in its 1.0 release. Players report frequent glitches, particularly with AI behavior and multiplayer connectivity, which detracts from the overall experience. While some acknowledge the game's potential and enjoy its core mechanics, the overwhelming consensus is that it requires substantial improvements and bug fixes to reach a satisfactory level of stability.
“It runs great.”
“This game has sooooo much potential, has all the usual early access bugs but runs great 95% of the time.”
“Game runs great, gameplay is fun and makes you actually play tactically.”
“Even in release v1.0, it's still pretty much buggy like the beta.”
“This game is a buggy mess that is not worth your money.”
“The game is buggy and its gameplay is bothersome, but it is a fun game to play with friends if you want a semi-serious vibe.”
- optimization216 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 34 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players reporting poor performance, frequent crashes, and significant frame rate drops even on high-end hardware. Users have noted that the game feels unoptimized compared to similar titles, with issues persisting across various maps and settings. While some players have experienced decent performance, the general consensus is that substantial improvements are needed to enhance the overall gameplay experience.
“The game is pretty well optimized and I believe the new update will add some more optimization.”
“Very optimized game, good graphics.”
“This game is decently optimized; I have an AMD FX 4100, a GTX 750 Ti, and DDR3 RAM, and even with this 2011 PC, it still runs decently well.”
“Very very bad optimization, like seriously compare Ready or Not graphics to this game, Ready or Not is a lot better but I have 100fps on ultra in Ready or Not while here I only have like 30 fps on medium lmao, I have RTX 4060 Ti and AMD Ryzen 5 3600 with 16 GB of RAM.”
“Frequent crashes, stuttering frame rates, and long loading times plague the experience, detracting further from any enjoyment that could be derived from the game.”
“The game is not optimized the best, but it is still in early access at the moment.”
- humor89 mentions
- 99 % positive mentions
- -2 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is frequently highlighted as a major draw, with players enjoying the chaotic and often absurd moments that arise during gameplay, especially when playing with friends. Many reviews mention funny voice lines, unexpected glitches, and comical interactions, such as friendly fire incidents and AI behavior, which contribute to a lighthearted atmosphere despite the game's tactical nature. Overall, the humor is described as a blend of intentional comedic elements and the unintentional hilarity that comes from bugs and gameplay mishaps, making it a fun experience, particularly in multiplayer settings.
“This game is both stressful and hilarious at the same time; one minute you're yelling and having fun messing around, and then the next is trying to solo clear an entire city when all your teammates die. The voice lines can be funny and kind of immersion-breaking.”
“Hahahahaha, very funny, especially when my friend's head suddenly gets full of lead from a 12-gauge shotgun that was somehow in my hands.”
“It's pretty hilarious that my highly trained comrades and I, for some reason, can't vault over low obstacles like couches pushed in front of doorways, yet can jump through certain windows.”
“Pew pew pew splat hehe funny... splat me dead, very not funny.”
“The jokes fell flat and felt forced, lacking any real wit.”
“I expected a lot of laughs, but the humor was stale and unoriginal.”
- atmosphere73 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its intensity, detail, and immersive qualities, creating a gripping experience that enhances both gameplay and storytelling. Players appreciate the realistic environments, strategic tension, and effective sound design, which contribute to a sense of urgency and suspense during missions. While some technical aspects and graphics may need improvement, the overall atmosphere is considered a standout feature that elevates the game above its competitors.
“The detailed environments and intense firefights create a gripping atmosphere, though the steep learning curve and occasional technical issues might be challenging for some.”
“The atmosphere is outstanding, the gunplay is so good, and the inertia movement takes some time to get used to, but it works really well with the type of game they are trying to make.”
“The staging of the levels is perfect to ensure the suspense and authenticity of the operations they portray and provide the atmosphere that makes you genuinely feel a part of the action.”
“This game is a quarter of the price, but it gets old pretty fast due to the lack of atmosphere from the mediocre graphics and lack of music.”
“Not polished in all areas, but that often adds to the eerie, after-hours atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere in the game is really tense and sometimes scary; the sounds are great and the animations have majorly improved since I started playing.”
- grinding61 mentions
- 5 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 41 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, often requiring excessive effort to progress or unlock content. While some appreciate the skill-based gameplay that allows for diverse weapon use without the need for grinding to unlock them, many express frustration with the repetitive nature of missions and the cumbersome AI mechanics. Overall, the consensus is that grinding can detract from the enjoyment of the game, making it feel more like a chore than a rewarding experience.
“It is a game of pure skill, meaning any weapon can be used, and there is no grinding to unlock weapons or attachments.”
“A bit grindy sometimes.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“On some of the maps, the AI aren't evenly spread out; instead, they're all bunched up together, which makes those missions very tedious to S-rank. Plus, the way it works getting the AI to surrender is garbage.”
“Every aspect of the game is some combination of buggy, needlessly tedious, and awkward, whether it be the UI, online functionality, the controls, the AI, the broken English writing. You name it, something's a bit off about it.”
“It gets pretty tedious when you have to change the frag grenade into a NVG/flashbang and customize a gun every single game.”
- music57 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising the atmospheric score that enhances gameplay and emotional moments, while others criticize the loudness and repetitiveness of certain tracks, particularly in menus. Some players find the soundtrack to be exceptional and fitting for the game's tactical nature, while others prefer to turn it off to improve the overall experience. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's ambiance, though adjustments to volume settings are often recommended.
“Complementing the visuals is an exceptional musical score that perfectly captures the essence of every moment, enhancing the emotional impact of the narrative and heightening the tension during intense gameplay sequences.”
“The soundtrack also slaps, smooth as hell.”
“Love the map design, the weapon models, the reload animations are gorgeous, the tactical gameplay, music (especially the hotel trouble lobby one) and I could go on for so long.”
“The music and environment feel tense.”
“Shitty music, shitty gunplay, shitty scenes before the start of the mission, AI always set to max, also the gun sounds are not right at all. This is coming from someone with experience with some of these weapon systems.”
“Low tick servers, spongy movement, no progression or anything to work towards, tight maps with loud unmuteable music, bullets don't do damage, frequent crashes and freezes.”
- replayability54 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game offers a mix of replayability, particularly in multiplayer modes and co-op play, with varied maps and randomized elements that enhance the experience. While many players find the game infinitely replayable and enjoyable, some criticize the limited single-player content and repetitive bot missions, which can detract from overall replay value. Overall, the game shows potential for high replayability, especially with ongoing updates and community engagement.
“Plenty of map variety and a good amount of replayability if you are trying to get a high score on each mission.”
“The randomized elements of each mission do lead to quite a lot of replayability and additional challenge each time you fail.”
“Where Zero Hour truly shines is the co-op vs. AI; there is an endless amount of replayability in the missions due to AI being able to hide in closets, under beds, ready to pounce on you and your team the second you kick that door in.”
“Zero Hour's single-player campaign may feel limited in terms of content and replayability.”
“This game has so many bugs and has low game replay value.”
“The game in my opinion also lacks replayability.”
- monetization50 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 6 % neutral mentions
- 88 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn mixed reactions, with some players expressing frustration over the presence of DLC and microtransactions for cosmetic items in an early access title that they feel is not yet fully developed. While some appreciate the absence of intrusive ads, others criticize the game's pricing and the perceived cash grab mentality behind selling additional content before the game is polished. Overall, players are hopeful for future updates and improvements, but many believe that the current monetization strategy is premature given the game's state.
“Which is my personal advice for monetization is let us create our own character and you can sell some necklaces, gloves, and other items to me at least.”
“No microtransactions.”
“Compared to 'Ready or Not', this game has bones but absolutely no flesh to it. If I want to play solo with AI, it's impossible as the teammate AI is extremely brain dead. Since this was under $10, I'll keep the game and hope for better development, but if the price was higher, I would be asking for a refund as this game has been in development for 3 years. I expect it to be more, not even looked at PvP stuff and they have the courage to sell DLC/microtransactions for gun skins?”
“Releasing DLC for an early access game... release your fucking game before you cash grab, you morons.”
“The game has practically no players, the sound design is absolute garbage, AI isn't smart, gunplay feels awful, movement is clunky, ads feel off, reload animations look weird, but the map design is okay.”
“I wish there was more marketing/advertising.”
- emotional20 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by players' personal connections, with some experiencing positive flashbacks to their service and others feeling heart-wrenching moments during gameplay. The game's music and visuals enhance its emotional impact, although frustrations with gameplay mechanics and server issues contribute to feelings of disappointment and "emotional damage." Overall, while the game evokes strong feelings, it also faces criticism for its technical shortcomings and dwindling player base.
“Playing Zero Hour often triggered flashbacks to my time in the service, but in a positive, heartwarming way.”
“Complementing the visuals is an exceptional musical score that perfectly captures the essence of every moment, enhancing the emotional impact of the narrative and heightening the tension during intense gameplay sequences.”
“This game makes me cry. 10/10 would cry again.”
- character development2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is praised for its depth, featuring a diverse cast with unique personalities and backgrounds. However, players express a desire for enhanced mechanics and skills that could further enrich character progression, drawing comparisons to other titles like Rainbow Six and Tarkov. Overall, while the foundation is strong, there is potential for improvement in gameplay mechanics to better support character growth.
“The character development is top-notch, with a diverse cast of supporting characters, each with their own distinct personalities and backgrounds.”
“I would love a game similar to Rainbow Six but focused more on character development like Tarkov has; I think it would go really far.”
“The character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful progression, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
“I was disappointed by the lack of depth in character arcs; they felt one-dimensional and predictable.”
“The game offers little in terms of character growth, leaving players with a sense of stagnation throughout the experience.”
