Zheros
- February 15, 2016
- Rimlight Studios
Zheros had clear ambitions of playing homage to classic arcade games, but focused too heavily on doing so. The gameplay is far too lacking to make up for the game’s other glaring issues.
Get on Steam
Get on Xbox Games Store"Zheros is a Science Fiction Hack and Slash game with pretty visuals, available for single-player or local multi-player . As intergalactic agents Mike and Dorian, defend the universe from the evil Dr. Vendetta's plan to mutate creatures in his minions. Engage in combat with various combos, weapons, and a powerful mech, and discover the mysteries that await in distant galaxies."
PC
Playstation 4
Playstation 5
Windows
Xbox One
Xbox Series X|S
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- Incredibly tight and crisp combat that feels solid and satisfying, setting a high standard for beat 'em up games.
- Visually appealing with bright graphics, characterful art, and a fun, infectious soundtrack that enhances the gameplay experience.
- Offers a mix of 3D elements and varied stage designs, making it enjoyable, especially in local co-op mode.
- Gameplay suffers from clunky controls and frustrating mechanics, such as dodging difficulties and poor hitboxes during boss fights.
- The game is plagued by bugs, including glitched checkpoints that can hinder progress and lead to frustrating restarts.
- Repetitive gameplay with a lack of variety in combat and enemy design, making it feel less engaging over time.
- graphics7 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- -14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their vibrant visuals, sleek animations, and over-the-top character designs that evoke a nostalgic Saturday morning cartoon feel. While the visuals start strong, some reviewers note that the focus on graphics may overshadow gameplay elements in scrolling beat 'em ups. Overall, the game is considered visually appealing, enhancing the overall experience.
“Graphics, animation, and soundtrack are great; it has the potential for a great game.”
“Graphically, it's a nice looking game with fairly over-the-top designs for the heroes and robots.”
“A cool beat 'em up with nifty graphics that captures that Saturday morning cartoon feel.”
“Again, I didn't buy this game for its graphics or storyline; I bought it because it looked like it had solid combat (with combos) in a full 360-degree setting.”
“The graphics are underwhelming and fail to impress, making the overall experience less engaging.”
“The character models look outdated and lack detail, which detracts from the immersion.”
- gameplay6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some praising its satisfying chaos and combo mechanics, while others criticize it for being repetitive and lacking innovation. Despite a promising start with appealing visuals, many players find the combat mechanics simplistic and the enemy variety insufficient, leading to a sense of monotony. Overall, while there are enjoyable elements, the gameplay struggles to overcome its shortcomings.
“Another sad testament to the passivity of gamers that they buy constant trash while ignoring gems like this, or at least it's amazing mechanics that any other game can learn from.”
“It begins with such a promising start with its beautiful visuals and art, but trips up where it matters with scrolling beat 'em ups – the gameplay.”
“The gameplay is far too lacking to make up for the game’s other glaring issues.”
“Repetitive gameplay and poor mechanics, with no attempts to try something new, ends up making a joke out of itself.”
“It begins with such a promising start with its beautiful visuals and art, but trips up where it matters with scrolling beat ’em ups – the gameplay.”
- music4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while many praise the infectious soundtrack that enhances the gameplay experience, some find it off-putting, likening it to rave music that can be grating. Overall, the soundtrack is highlighted as a standout feature, despite some dissenting opinions.
“The music is where this game shines; I was just bopping along to the soundtrack, it's that infectious!”
“Graphics, animation, and soundtrack are great; it had the potential for a great game.”
“The most annoying is the music, which is the kind of music ecstasy users stutter to at raves.”
- story1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is not a primary focus for many players, as they are more interested in the combat mechanics and gameplay experience.
“I didn't buy this game for its graphics or storyline; I bought it because it looked like it had solid combat in a full 360-degree setting.”
“The story feels disjointed and lacks any real depth, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“I found the narrative to be predictable and uninspired, which really detracted from the overall experience.”
Critic Reviews
Zheros Review
Zheros had clear ambitions of playing homage to classic arcade games, but focused too heavily on doing so. The gameplay is far too lacking to make up for the game’s other glaring issues.
50%Zheros Review
Remember the days when scrolling beat ‘em ups were king? Titles like Final Fight, Streets of Rage, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Double Dragon ruled the arcades and dominated our home consoles. But with the rise of one-on-one fighters, they’ve sadly all but disappeared. Well, Zheros hopes to change that by showing there is still some life left in this once popular genre.
70%Zheros
It bums me out that Zheros isn’t a better game. It begins with such a promising start with its beautiful visuals and art, but trips up where it matters with scrolling beat ’em ups – the gameplay. There isn’t enough variety in its level design and themed environments, the difference between characters isn’t enough and awkwardly implemented traps cause frustration. I would be fine with Rimlight trying to achieve greatness with what they have here, as improvements can be made to their visually appealing Pixar-esque brawler. As it stands, Zheros is a serviceable beat ’em up for people who enjoy those games, but never rises up to the challenge in being a staple of the genre, instead, it’s another return to the classic genre that doesn’t bring the potential or grab the essence of what made them so great.
60%
