E3: Atlus Announces Zeno Clash II

[WMDogma]

E3: Atlus Announces Zeno Clash II

The sequel to 2009's first-person brawler includes co-op multiplayer.

Atlus and ACE Team released a teaser trailer for Zeno Clash II, letting players return to the oddly abstract fantasy world of Zenozoik for some more hand-to-hand combat.

While Zeno Clash II's trailer doesn't show much gameplay, it does do a good job reassuring fans of the first game that it isn't skimping on the weirdness. Atlus revealed several new features, including drop-in/drop-out co-operative multiplayer and open world environments. The game's combat has also been given an overhaul with a more refined "lock-on" mechanic, giving players more control over where to land their punches.

"The world of Zenozoik is one of wild dreams and wilder nightmares," stated ACE Team co-founder Andres Bordeu. "This is part of the reason we are working on Zeno Clash II, to give players the opportunity to explore Zenozoik with a friend via online cooperative multiplayer, turning those moments of wonder and awe into a shared adventure."

The original Zeno Clash [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/reviews/6010-Review-Zeno-Clash] was released in April of 2009 for the PC and XBLA. We here at The Escapist enjoyed its originality and visceral melee combat. Zeno Clash II is scheduled to arrive early 2013 for the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC.

[video=5809]


See all our coverage directly from the E3 2012 show floor. [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/conferences/e3-2012]

Permalink

 

[bafrali]

Played the first one.Combat was pretty strong with that one.Intirigued to say the least

 

[TilMorrow]

I have to say the first Zeno Clash actually fooled me. I thought it was going to be a big sweeping game with an interesting story and game mechanics instead it was quite the opposite. The combat was good but got repetitive and ended up being the only thing you actually did throughout the game turning it into a rather linear adventure with a nice background. The story also started off well but peetered out by the end and felt a little rushed. Additionally, this trailer seems confusing and I don't have a clue where they're going to go with the game as at the end of the first it was pretty clear a sequel wasn't required.

 

[NLS]

I have to say the first Zeno Clash actually fooled me. I thought it was going to be a big sweeping game with an interesting story and game mechanics instead it was quite the opposite. The combat was good but got repetitive and ended up being the only thing you actually did throughout the game turning it into a rather linear adventure with a nice background. The story also started off well but peetered out by the end and felt a little rushed. Additionally, this trailer seems confusing and I don't have a clue where they're going to go with the game as at the end of the first it was pretty clear a sequel wasn't required.

Exactly my thoughts. I was pumped at first sight, preordered on day 1. Interesting and bizarre setting? Yes. Powered by Source? Yes. Developed by a small team? Yes. Good price? Yes.

But then the actual game arrived, I played it, and well. It wasn't what I had hoped for. The combat felt repetitive, the interesting setting was merely a backdrop for the endless brawl fights, and the game itself was as linear as any 2D brawler.

I just wished they had taken the whole setting and story into a different genre, an adventure game, or and RPG, or just about anything else that what the game ended up doing, which was "grab enemy character, punch 3 times, repeat".

 

[antipunt]

Zeno clash is definitely 'different'. The first game was bizarre. And not in a bad way either.

Needs refinement however. Not saying the first game wasn't good. It was.