Zax: Suck my Heavy Barrel

I have to say that Zax online is everything I imagined it to be. And as long as you can get a decent connection (ping <250ms) then you should have a riot with the multiplayer games.

Having just finished a gaming session with JoWood's Plex (thanks again) - if you are a modem user, then hosting the session will be advantageous. Your ping will effectively be zero. When another player (ctx?) was hosting the game, I was getting a ping of around 250+ and the game was bearable, but when an extra player joined my ping zipped up to 300+ and the game quickly became unplayable. Presumably because the server is communicating with more people and the connection degrades because of more traffic. Anyway, the key is keep the ping down and Zax will be a pleasure to play.

Although the game seems like a straight forward blaster (that some people would call mindless) - the multiplayer game has got some tactical play that is necessary to use to become a winner. Certain parts of the map can hide a player, ready for an ambush. The lightning weapon is very good for hunting out and locating hidden players (mainly due to is long range and large arc of electricity). Grenades and proximity mines are always handy for a retreat making the hunter think twice about following. And I had a glimpse of a weapon the "Heavy Barrel" that is devastating in its use. Even more powerful than rocket launcher. One shot, one kill. Switchable electricity pylons and floor traps can provide valuable protection and also act as enemy detectors (because you can hear them go off). I really enjoyed the session. With a bit better netcode (allowing a number of modem players connect without too much lag) and a map editor, Zax could well become a large online community.

It certainly has a step beyond Diablo in that you can pitch player vs player using weapons and strategy to battle online in a fragfest, gem collecting, flag capturing way. It's pure action and pure fun. Time for me to find that Heavy Barrel gun again and sit in wait for Plex to run by. If I don't kill myself with the damn thing first.

Zax: Love or Hate

I guess Zax polarises people into the love or hate categories. People who love it, love the simplicity of the fundamental need to mow things down with an array of guns - they usually appreciate the quake style control mechanism. People who hate it, want something more involved, with 3d graphics, and plenty of micromanagement, or they just can't get the hang of the quake style control. As a person who appreciates 2d isometric games and what they can offer, Zax gives me an unrestrained ability to go wild with the killing, where most other 2d isometrics play heavy on the roleplay. The storyline is captivating if a little formulaic. The voice acting is second to none - with plenty of it. The only gripe is that Zax is could have had a more elaborate RPG background and this could have enhanced the killing so much more. As it stands its a quality action puzzler, with a killer multiplayer game thrown in. It's a shame that the polarity will mean plenty of people will dismiss it, and due to lack of net popularity, plenty more net gamers will overlook it.

Zax The Alien Hunter

Imagine Diablo with guns. Imagine a multiplayer Diablo with Deathmatch and capture the flag. Imagine the bastard son of Diablo and Quake. Meet Zax the Alien Hunter.

The single player game is a Diablo clone, with gun toting action. Fast and furious. Isometric arcade action. Reminds me of Alien Breed a bit. You are a space hunter, who crashed on a planet, having to help your ships computer rebuild the ship. Meanwhile you take part in a natives vs robots conflict, salvaging what crystals and ore you can - so that your computer can help you manufacture better weapons and shields and equipment.

There are simple puzzles, lever switching, laser light bending and key collecting along with plenty of mowing down robotic cannon fodder and having a bash at some bosses. The levels are nicely rendered, colourful and lead you through the story. Zax himself can run in all directions whilst shooting his guns in any direction the mouse is aimed. He has laser pistols, beam spray weapons, grenade launchers, and rocket lauhchers along with proximity mines and triple dart guns. Its simple, its arcade carnage, its fun. The storyline unfolds gently, but soon has you dispatching many wild creatures and robot guards. They spawn from generator pads which have consoles that need taking out to prevent the metallic horde from descending. The currency is crystals and ore, collected from the planet surface. You return to your ship and craft bigger and better weapons as your ships computer researches them. I don't think there is any way to influence what your computer researches in the form of a tree - she just gathers more and more information as the game progresses and you are then able to buy/craft the new weapons.

Its the multiplayer game where the real fun begins. Arcade blast em action all the way. Three multiplayer modes are supported: Deathmatch, Salvage King and Capture the Flag. Only Salvage King requires any explanation - you collect as much crystals and ore as possible - the one with the highest amount wins. These are strewn across the levels floor, sometimes easy to reach, sometimes strewn around controllable electricity beacons that zap anyone who tries to get them. Players can turn these electric traps on and off. If you take a bullet too many and become a pile of gibs, then you drop all your stash in a pile for the next salvage queen to come along and steal your crown. The multiplayer levels are well thought out, and have weapons and power ups spread around to keep everyone topped up with killing hardware. Doors and traps serve as interesting mechanics to be used against your enemies, coupled with well placed proximity mines or a couple of correctly bounced grenades gives you a lethal but effective blast chamber to dismember your opponents.

It's not too deep, it's not even that clever, but what is does, it does good. Fast paced action shoot em up, for the Diablo generation. It's refreshing to play a fragfest game in an isometric view, instead of the predictable first person.

Worth it for some therapeutic zapping and killing.