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Slave Zero

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Slave Zero
North American cover art
Developer(s)Infogrames North America
Publisher(s)
Director(s)Sean Vesce
Producer(s)Matthew J. Powers
Designer(s)Jeffrey Gregg
Mike Wikan
Jason Weesner
Artist(s)Ken Capelli
Writer(s)Margaret Stohl
Composer(s)Randy Atkins
EngineEcstasy Engine
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows, Dreamcast
Release
Genre(s)Third-person shooter
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Slave Zero is a 1999 action video game developed and published by Infogrames North America.

The game was originally designed to work with Windows 95 and Windows 98. A fan following had developed a number of CD cracks in order to make the game compatible on newer systems.[3] While this allowed the software to become playable, it still required that the owner possess the original software. The PC version uses the Ecstasy Engine. Tommo purchased the rights to the game and digitally published it through its Retroism brand in 2015.[4] On March 25, 2014, Retroism re-released the game on GOG.com and, together with Night Dive Studios, to Steam.[5]

In June 2022, publisher Ziggurat Interactive (who purchased the rights to Slave Zero) announced a prequel titled Slave Zero X. It was released on February 21, 2024 for the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC.[6]

Story

Taking place 500 years in the future, the game tells the story of Lu Chen, a sinister world overlord more commonly known as the SovKhan, who rules the Earth from a massive complex called Megacity S1-9. The only resistance to the SovKhan is from an ancient order of warriors known only as the Guardians. The SovKhan's army is nearly invincible as it is, and it is growing by the day, his most powerful units being 60-foot-tall humanoid robots called "Slaves". The Slaves themselves are grown from a combination of artificially created cybernetic embryos and a mysterious compound called NTR95879, referred to as "dark matter" by the Guardians. Now the Guardians' only hope of overthrowing the SovKhan and his cybernetic army lies in a single captured Slave unit, which will have the mind of a specially trained Guardian agent permanently downloaded into it. The game follows "Slave Zero" as he wages war against the SovKhan's forces throughout every part of Megacity S1-9.[7]

Reception

The game received mixed or average reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.[8][9] GameSpot and IGN both praised the PC version's selection of weapon upgrades, and GameSpot also argued that the Boss battles are both unique and memorable.[23][27]

GameSpot, GameRevolution, and IGN all criticized the game's failure to create any sense of being a giant robot on the rampage in a city, as well as the lack of combat depth or replay value.[27] IGN and GameRevolution additionally criticized the Dreamcast version for its extremely poor frame rate, lack of in-game music, and conspicuous game-crashing bugs.[20][26] Jeff Lundrigan of NextGen said that the same console version "may not be to everyone's taste, but it does offer a different sort of challenge for those so inclined."[28]

Damien Thorpe of AllGame gave the Dreamcast version three-and-a-half stars out of five, saying that it "has its flaws, but turns out to be a fun game."[33] Joel Durham of the same website gave the PC version three stars out of five, saying, "The more you play Slave Zero, the less appealing it is. [...] You can come pretty close to experiencing Slave Zero to its fullest -- for free -- by playing the demo thirty times. If you get tired of it, just think of the money you saved."[34]

Prequels

In June 2022, Ziggurat Interactive (owners of franchises such as BloodRayne, KKnD, Uprising, among others) announced a prequel to the original Slave Zero. Titled Slave Zero X, the game's genre was described as a side-scrolling hack-and-slash as opposed to the original game's third-person shooter premise. It was also announced that SungWon Cho and Anjali Kunapaneni were added to the game's cast. Slave Zero X was released on February 21, 2024 for the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC.[6]

In addition to Slave Zero X, Ziggurat partnered with Ironwood Software and Poppy Works for Slave Zero X: Episode Enyo, a total conversion for the first-person shooter game Quake, which featured the main antagonist of Slave Zero X as the playable character. It was confirmed to be part of the series' canon as it took place prior to the events of Slave Zero X.[35]

References

  1. ^ Justice, Brandon (November 17, 1999). "Slave Zero Hits Ground Zero at Retailers Nationwide". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  2. ^ "Slave Zero". sega.com. Archived from the original on October 30, 2000. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  3. ^ "Slave Zero Trainers and Game Fixes". MegaGames. Archived from the original on October 2, 2007. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  4. ^ "Atari - Notice of Proposed Sale Orders" (PDF). BMC Group. July 22, 2013. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 7, 2020. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  5. ^ "Release: Slave Zero". GOG.com. CD Projekt. March 25, 2014. Archived from the original on March 28, 2014.
  6. ^ a b Clark, Dean (March 2, 2023). "Latest Trailers for Slave Zero X Reveals Popular Voice Talent". GameTyrant. Archived from the original on March 9, 2023. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  7. ^ "Slave Zero Storyline". GameSpy. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on May 5, 2006. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  8. ^ a b "Slave Zero for Dreamcast". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 5, 2019. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  9. ^ a b "Slave Zero for PC". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 29, 2019. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  10. ^ Battles, Hosea (December 9, 1999). "Slave Zero". Computer Games Strategy Plus. Strategy Plus, Inc. Archived from the original on May 30, 2003. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  11. ^ Salvador, Dave (February 2000). "Less Than Zero (Slave Zero Review)" (PDF). Computer Gaming World. No. 187. Ziff Davis. p. 116. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  12. ^ EGM staff (January 2000). "Slave Zero". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 126. Ziff Davis. p. 223. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  13. ^ Bramwell, Tom (April 11, 2000). "Slave Zero (Dreamcast)". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on January 7, 2001. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  14. ^ McNamara, Andy; Fitzloff, Jay; Reiner, Andrew (January 2000). "Slave Zero (DC)". Game Informer. No. 81. FuncoLand. Archived from the original on October 21, 2000. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  15. ^ Weitzner, Jason "Fury" (February 2000). "Slave Zero (DC)". GameFan. Vol. 8, no. 2. Shinno Media. p. 44. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  16. ^ Mosquera, Fernando "Lagi" (November 11, 1999). "REVIEW for Slave Zero (DC)". GameFan. Shinno Media. Archived from the original on March 5, 2000. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  17. ^ "REVIEW for Slave Zero (PC)". GameFan. Shinno Media. November 8, 1999.
  18. ^ Scary Larry (December 2, 1999). "Slave Zero Review for Dreamcast". GamePro. IDG Entertainment. Archived from the original on September 19, 2004. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  19. ^ Four-Eyed Dragon (December 1999). "Slave Zero". GamePro. No. 135. IDG Entertainment. p. 198. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
  20. ^ a b G-Wok (February 2000). "Slave Zero Review (DC)". GameRevolution. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on May 6, 2014. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  21. ^ Johnny B. (December 1999). "Slave Zero Review (PC) [date mislabeled as "February 1999"]". GameRevolution. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on February 20, 2004. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  22. ^ Fielder, Joe (November 10, 1999). "Slave Zero Review (DC) [date mislabeled as "April 28, 2000"]". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on March 19, 2014. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  23. ^ a b Wolpaw, Erik (November 22, 1999). "Slave Zero Review (PC) [date mislabeled as "May 2, 2000"]". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 29, 2019. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  24. ^ Bowen, Kevin (November 23, 1999). "Slave Zero". PlanetDreamcast. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on January 24, 2009. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  25. ^ a b Bowen, Kevin; Buecheler, Christopher (November 23, 1999). "Slave Zero". GameSpy. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on April 14, 2002. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  26. ^ a b Justice, Brandon (November 15, 1999). "Slave Zero (DC)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on December 4, 2020. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  27. ^ a b c Peterson, Erik (November 22, 1999). "Slave Zero (PC)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on May 29, 2019. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  28. ^ a b Lundrigan, Jeff (January 2000). "Slave Zero (DC)". NextGen. No. 61. Imagine Media. p. 92. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  29. ^ D'Aprile, Jason (February 2000). "Slave Zero". PC Accelerator. No. 18. Imagine Media. p. 84. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
  30. ^ Poole, Stephen (April 2000). "Slave Zero". PC Gamer. Vol. 7, no. 4. Imagine Media. pp. 90–91. Archived from the original on March 15, 2006. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  31. ^ "Slave Zero (PC)". Maxim. Biglari Holdings. November 18, 1999. Archived from the original on February 26, 2010. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  32. ^ Ham, Tom (June 16, 2000). "Dreamcast scores high with five titles: Fast-paced entries will rival die hard gamers' favorites". USA Today. Gannett Company. Archived from the original on May 25, 2001. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  33. ^ Thorpe, Damien. "Slave Zero (DC) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 14, 2014. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  34. ^ Durham, Joel. "Slave Zero (PC) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  35. ^ Boyle, Joshua (January 14, 2024). "New Add-on Available: Episdode Enyo for Quake". Bethesda Softworks. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
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