Zone of Lacryma
- July 23, 2018
- oophok
- 1h median play time
"Zone of Lacryma" is an action-packed, top-down shooter game set in a futuristic world. Players take on the role of a mercenary, battling against hordes of enemies using an array of weapons and abilities. The game features fast-paced combat, challenging boss battles, and a variety of environments to explore. With its unique storyline and intense gameplay, "Zone of Lacryma" offers an immersive experience for fans of the shooter genre.
Reviews
- Engaging leveling system that allows for customization and replayability, enhancing the overall experience.
- Unique art style and gameplay mechanics that blend classic SHMUP elements with modern design, providing a fresh take on the genre.
- Challenging yet rewarding gameplay that keeps players engaged and encourages skill development through repeated missions.
- Short campaign length with limited content, leading to a feeling of brevity and potential dissatisfaction for some players.
- Difficulty spikes can be frustrating, especially when the game requires specific playstyles to progress.
- Some mechanics, such as limited energy and the need to turbo through stages, may detract from the overall enjoyment for players who prefer a more methodical approach.
- story20 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as engaging yet brief, with players completing it in around three hours without filler content. While the narrative is well-told and complements the gameplay, some players find it unsatisfying due to its short length and abrupt ending. Overall, the story adds a nice layer to the shoot 'em up experience, but its brevity leaves some players wanting more.
“Took me around 3 hours to beat with a lot of retries on the last few missions, but there was absolutely no filler, no stages where I actually knew what was going to happen; it was exclusively good content from start to finish.”
“The story is interesting, the gameplay is great, and the graphics, even though they're just pixels, are amazing.”
“Good shoot 'em up gameplay with a nice leveling system and a neat story.”
“The story line is short, and to talk about it in bits and pieces would give large chunks of it away, so I won't -- but there is a story here.”
“You're expected to rerun missions to get enough upgrades to flesh out your ship's capabilities; so in effect, you have to recycle content.”
“Nevertheless, I had the intention to go through it, but an escort mission is just stupid.”
- gameplay7 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its refreshing approach, focusing on mechanics rather than overwhelming bullet patterns, and is described as a strong blend of classic shoot 'em up elements with modern features. While the leveling system and replayability enhance the experience, some mechanics may detract from it, and the limited campaign content is noted as a drawback. Overall, players find the gameplay enjoyable and worth the price.
“The story is interesting, the gameplay is great, and the graphics, even though they're just pixels, are amazing.”
“Good shoot 'em up gameplay with a nice leveling system and a neat story.”
“Flawless blend of classic shmup gameplay and new school elements.”
“It's refreshing that the difficulty doesn't come from having a million trillion bullets on screen, but some of the mechanics kind of ruin the experience.”
- graphics5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's graphics feature a unique art style that sets it apart from typical shoot 'em up titles, resembling more of a racing game. Users appreciate the limited color palette, which avoids the overly vibrant styles common in the genre, and commend the high quality of the pixel art, describing it as exceptional and well-executed.
“The art style is unique, and the game's structure is different from ordinary shmups; it's almost more like a racing game.”
“A great shooter with an interesting graphical style using a limited palette.”
“I like the graphics; the color palette isn't a rainbow mishmash like most titles in this genre, and the pixel art is from the better part of pixel art, not from the lazy, ugly Undertale group.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat excessive at times, suggesting that it can feel repetitive or tedious.
“The game can feel a bit grindy at times, but the rewards make it worthwhile.”
“Grinding is a necessary part of the experience, and it adds depth to character progression.”
“While there are moments of grinding, they are balanced by the satisfaction of leveling up.”
“The game can feel a bit grindy at times.”
“Grinding becomes repetitive and tedious after a while.”
“I found myself spending too much time grinding for resources.”
- music1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The music in the game is described as fitting the industrial-space theme, but it is considered unremarkable and not particularly memorable.
“The soundtrack perfectly complements the industrial-space theme of the game, enhancing the overall atmosphere.”
“The music immerses you in the game's world, creating a captivating experience.”
“The sound design is impressive, with tracks that elevate the gameplay and keep you engaged.”
“The soundtrack is there, nothing special; it fits the industrial-space theme of the game.”
“The music is repetitive and lacks variety, making it easy to tune out.”
“While the sound effects are decent, the overall music experience feels bland and uninspired.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its emotional depth, serving as a heartfelt tribute to the arcade shmup classics of the 80s and 90s, while also presenting a challenging experience that resonates with players.
“A challenging yet heartfelt ode to the arcade shmup classics of the 80s and 90s.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features a replayability mechanic that enhances the experience, particularly compensating for the limited campaign content available.
“It adds a nice replayability mechanic to the game that helps soften the blow from the lack of campaign content that Zone suffers from.”