ZeroRanger

About

ZeroRanger is a single player and multiplayer arcade shooter game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by system_erasure and was released on September 28, 2018. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

"ZeroRanger" is a challenging 2D shoot'em up game with single-player and local co-op modes. As one of two remaining fighters, you must battle against the alien invasion force "GREEN ORANGE" and uncover the mysteries of your enemy. The game features 8 distinct colors, 4 stages, 2 playable characters, and various customization options. Demo available at . Follow the developer on and Twitter for updates.

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96%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,665 reviews

music333 positive mentions

grinding16 negative mentions

ZeroRanger features a unique and engaging gameplay experience that balances accessibility for newcomers with challenging mechanics for veterans.
The game boasts a stunning visual aesthetic with a limited color palette that enhances clarity and style, alongside an outstanding soundtrack that elevates the overall experience.
The narrative is cleverly woven into the gameplay, providing a compelling story that encourages players to explore and discover its secrets.

The final boss deletes your save file if you fail, which can be frustrating and discouraging for players who have invested significant time into the game.
The difficulty spikes significantly in the later stages, which may overwhelm new players and detract from the overall enjoyment.
Some players may find the lack of a traditional practice mode or difficulty settings limiting, as it can make mastering the game feel more like a grind.

music
519 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
35%
1%
The music in this game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its exceptional quality and ability to enhance the gameplay experience. The soundtrack is described as a "banger," featuring catchy, well-composed tracks that perfectly complement the game's fast-paced action and emotional moments. Overall, the music is considered a standout element, elevating the game's atmosphere and making it a memorable experience for players.
- “The soundtrack is absolutely spectacular and full of bangers that will make you buy an OST immediately after playing.”
- “The music is a perfect complement to the Evangelion and Gurren Lagann vibe.”
- “The music is phenomenal, there's something about the style that is just hypnotic.”
- “The unequivocally disappointing aspect of this game to me was the music.”
- “The music fits the game well but I don't remember there being any bangers in there.”
- “The music is so-so to decent, but with no real hits that I'll be humming down the line.”
gameplay
352 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
61%
1%
The gameplay of Zeroranger is widely praised for its tight controls, engaging mechanics, and seamless integration of narrative elements, making it both accessible for newcomers and challenging for veterans. Players appreciate the unique scoring system, diverse weapon options, and the way the game encourages mastery through its design, while the stunning visuals and exceptional soundtrack enhance the overall experience. However, some critiques highlight issues with late-game mechanics that can lead to frustration, particularly regarding save management and difficulty spikes.
- “The gameplay is tight, the music goes hard, and the way the game challenges your expectations is genius.”
- “Zeroranger combines the ease of console gaming and the gameplay density of arcade gaming in one smooth package.”
- “The gameplay is incredibly fun and engaging, mainly due to its weapons and combo system, where you are forced to choose between one of two weapons, both of which are extremely helpful and versatile in their own ways.”
- “However, I really cannot agree with the consensus on this game being in any way approachable for someone who is inexperienced with, or even just not very talented at, this style of gameplay.”
- “But the actual gameplay here is bogged down by severe balance issues, a lack of explanation for fundamental mechanics, baffling choices for how the last boss is handled, and a wealth of unlockable content that can only be reached after beating a last boss that will cause most players to give up and quit in frustration.”
- “The final boss of this game changes combat mechanics entirely, and if you have the audacity to not immediately know what they are without having them explained and die, your save is deleted permanently and is unrecoverable.”
story
327 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
64%
3%
The story of Zeroranger is a standout feature in the shmup genre, weaving a compelling narrative that combines themes of reincarnation and personal growth with engaging gameplay. Players appreciate its unique storytelling approach, which is delivered through minimal dialogue and visual cues, creating a sense of mystery and depth that encourages exploration. While some find the plot complex and challenging to piece together, many agree that it enhances the overall experience, making it a memorable and emotionally resonant journey.
- “I've never played a shmup with such a compelling story, and it still retains some of the best gameplay aspects of the genre.”
- “The story goes into some interesting places and has some fun meta-elements.”
- “Zeroranger perfectly exemplifies why storytelling in a video game is so unique from other mediums of storytelling.”
- “The story is drip-fed in increments, which builds interest in the curious player, but doesn't stand in the way of diving back into the core gameplay loop.”
- “If the reviews I read didn't make me think it was more story-driven than it is and that there were consistent checkpoints, I would not have bought the game.”
- “The story is very hard to talk about because the game doesn't really give it to you; you have to fight a boss in a special way to get any story during the true final boss of the game.”
graphics
201 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
44%
1%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their unique two-tone aesthetic, primarily using a striking green and orange palette that evokes a retro arcade feel while maintaining a modern polish. Reviewers highlight the beautiful pixel art, fluid animations, and cohesive design that enhance the gameplay experience, complemented by an exceptional soundtrack that further immerses players in the game's world. Overall, the visuals are described as both charming and innovative, successfully blending nostalgia with contemporary game design elements.
- “The presentation is very faithful to the retro arcade cabinet style it's going for, including 3-button controls, vertical aspect ratio, and scanlines, for a cohesive look that also sets its own visual identity with a unique, dichromatic green and orange aesthetic.”
- “Zeroranger’s art style is one of the best implementations of an artificially limited color palette I’ve seen in recent years.”
- “The graphics are gorgeous, and while it can be a little confusing to differentiate your shot from the enemy's, it's not that bad.”
- “The graphics are relatively simple but use a unique color scheme I don't think I've seen in other games.”
- “Visuals are fairly clear despite the highly limited palette, though there were a few times I lost track of my ship after getting hit during chaotic fights.”
- “Don't let the seemingly simple graphical style fool you, this is an incredibly tight game made with a lot of passion.”
replayability
43 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
44%
7%
The game boasts exceptional replayability, driven by its diverse weapon and ship combinations, hidden secrets, and multiple playstyles that encourage players to explore different strategies. Many reviewers highlight the engaging gameplay, captivating soundtrack, and the challenge of high score chasing as key factors that enhance its replay value. Overall, players find that the game's depth and variety make it a compelling experience worth revisiting.
- “Not only does this mean you have a ton of weapon choices to use to fit your own preferences, it also gives you the chance to try out each stage with a vastly different playstyle, which is amazing for replayability.”
- “With multiple ship and weapon combinations, along with alternate gaming modes, there is quite a bit of replay value.”
- “The weapons system allows you to try multiple combinations, which, along with the hidden bonuses and other secrets, increases replay value even after you've finished the main game.”
- “The game has a single achievement for finishing the content, and it doesn't demand absolute mastery over the game, which is fantastic since it offers quite a bit of replayability.”
- “Its low price and endless replay value for that high score kept me going at it for a while.”
- “For a game that can be finished in around ten minutes, it definitely offers a lot of replayability, as it has customizable weapon sets and multiple possible endings.”
emotional
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its impactful storytelling and the ability to evoke deep feelings, often surprising players with its heartfelt moments despite being a shoot-'em-up. Reviewers note that the game successfully combines challenging gameplay with emotional weight, leading to experiences that resonate on a personal level, making it a standout in its genre. Many express that it transcends typical expectations for shmups, delivering a profound emotional journey that leaves a lasting impression.
- “Mixes emotional, impactful storytelling with nail-biting and insanely well-designed shoot 'em up gameplay, and packs it to boot with a staggering amount of references that celebrate the entire genre; a joy to play over and over.”
- “An emotional experience and a beautiful masterpiece.”
- “It even manages to be emotionally engaging, something shmups rarely even attempt, let alone succeed at.”
grinding
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
94%
The reviews highlight a significant frustration with the game's grinding mechanics, particularly in relation to the continue system, which requires players to invest substantial time to earn retries for challenging boss encounters. While some players appreciate the challenge and replay value this grinding offers, many feel it detracts from the overall experience, making it tedious and punishing, especially for newcomers. The consensus suggests that while grinding can enhance engagement for dedicated players, it often feels like an unnecessary chore that undermines the enjoyment of the game.
- “Unfortunately, it's held back by a grindy continue system, gating the last sections of the game behind obscure nonsense, and deleting your save if you fail the last level, making you replay about an hour of all the rest of the game to get one more try.”
- “That all leads into grinding earlier levels for more continues, and let me tell you, if there's one mechanic I absolutely don't want to see in a shmup, it's grinding.”
- “Just build up continue-tanks, which really isn't fun; it's seemingly just based on how much high score you've pooled up, and frankly it feels like a chore, especially the second or third time you've filled all your tanks after having your data deleted.”
humor
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
89%
33%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its cleverness and creativity, with players enjoying its absurd scenarios, witty text, and humorous gameplay elements. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to maintain a consistent comedic tone, enhanced by its unique art style and engaging stage design. Overall, the humor is described as a significant and enjoyable aspect that adds depth to the gaming experience.
- “After what just happened, I have to say, this game is hilarious; the ride never ends!”
- “Its visuals, humor, and other art are all beautifully crafted, and pull you into its world.”
- “This game has been my obsession for the past week; it is great fun to go through and has been a great joy to me along with its art style, humor, and its stage design, each feeling unique and bringing a new context to the story.”
- “I used to have an unfunny joke review here, but this game deserves much better than that.”
- “The humor in this game falls flat and feels forced, making it more cringeworthy than funny.”
- “I expected clever wit, but instead, I was met with tired clichés and predictable punchlines.”
optimization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
33%
50%
The game is praised for its excellent optimization, allowing players to make meaningful improvements to their skills and performance, which enhances the overall experience. However, some users reported initial performance issues and controller compatibility problems, which detracted from the gameplay. Despite these setbacks, the balance between difficulty and skill development is well-received, making it rewarding for players to experiment and learn.
- “It's a 10/10 shmup that is also incredibly well optimized.”
- “Finally, I had a lot of performance issues throughout the game and issues with the Xbox controller at first.”
- “There's lots of optimizations even an average player like myself can make, and it feels very rewarding to improve.”
- “The balance between difficulty and skill development is just right, to the point where I almost never lost a credit without learning something crucial that would improve my next performance.”
atmosphere
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
20%
60%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, characterized by its engaging vibes, thoughtful plotting, and a blend of gameplay and music that evokes an anime-like experience. Users appreciate the artwork and overall ambiance, noting that it enhances the gameplay and contributes to a unique and memorable experience.
- “Challenging yet approachable, with thoughtful plotting and atmosphere to go alongside top-notch gameplay, this really is a special game.”
- “Pick it up if the atmosphere or vibes interest you.”
- “Strangely, this lack of consistency works wonders for the gameplay and atmosphere.”
- “In addition to that, it has a lot of 'moments' that feel like you're playing through a goddamn anime, setting the atmosphere through gameplay and music alone.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game demonstrates strong stability, with users reporting smooth performance, including on the Steam Deck.
- “The game runs great on Steam Deck.”
- “I haven't experienced any crashes or bugs, which is impressive.”
- “The performance is smooth and stable, making for an enjoyable experience.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
Players appreciate the developer's commitment to providing new game modes and soundtrack updates as free content rather than paid DLC, which enhances their support for the game in an era dominated by microtransactions and paid expansions.
- “The fact that two entirely new game modes, as well as several new soundtrack songs, are coming as free updates—not paid DLC—when they are completed makes the developer even more worth supporting, especially in the modern age of paid DLC and microtransactions.”
- “The monetization model feels exploitative, with constant prompts to spend money on in-game items that should be earnable through gameplay.”
- “It's frustrating that essential features are locked behind a paywall, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra.”
- “The game is fun, but the aggressive monetization tactics really detract from the overall experience.”