Slave Zero X: Digital Deluxe Edition

It's a shame the combat is quite so tough, because it can be discouragingly unforgiving, and there are no difficulty settings to toy with either. However, we definitely get the sense this is a game that masochistic players will love to master. From where we're sitting, Slave Zero X is slightly too hard-edged for its own good, but there's undoubtedly depth to be plumbed if you're so willing.

Slave Zero X is an incredibly frustrating release, because it could have so easily been a slam dunk. It's a great game - it really is - with stylish combat mechanics, beautiful 2D sprites combined with 3D environments, and an awesome, cyberpunk-esque storyline. Unfortunately, though patches may eventually turn this lump of coal into a diamond, the game as it stands is a hot mess on Switch, with a wildly inconsistent frame rate that makes the complex, methodical gameplay feel like a chore to play.

If craving a punishing retro-style brawler, Slave Zero X has what it takes to test your patience - in more ways than one. While it nails the tone and equal parts stylish and grotesque aesthetic of ‘90s anime action, behind its cool look, strong atmosphere and neat ideas lies a failed attempt at channelling the spirit of a Devil May Cry or Bayonetta; one so weighed down by frustration, imbalance and sloppy execution that its brilliance struggles to shine through.

The character designs are nicely detailed, even with the slightly pixelated look, and as players wreak havoc onscreen, the animations are smooth and action-packed. The way Shou is animated makes him look like he was taken straight from a fighting game, and he would perfectly fit into a classic Marvel vs Capcom or Guilty Gear game.

It’s fast, furious, and often frustrating. Slave Hero X is what it wants to be, and in principle, there’s nothing inherently wrong with that. It’s just that Slave Hero X also does little to stand out within its little niche. The original is a cult classic, and perhaps this will be too, especially among the collectors for the new physical edition. If I were a betting person, however, I’d be inclined to argue that it will be simply forgotten.

Slave Zero X is a decent fast-paced action game experience with a surprisingly good story. However, its overall repetitiveness and lack of interesting boss fights drags it down quite a bit.

Slave Zero X is a game where there is a great dissonance between how it looks and how it plays. It's one of the most stylish games of the year, and it looks great. It sounds very good too. It does a good job of reviving a now-forgotten brand and establishing its own distinct and unique biopunk identity. However, in many ways it feels unfinished and unbalanced. The difficulty is very unbalanced, the controls could be more responsive and the gameplay could be better handled, especially mechanically.

Slave Zero X is a deep brawler that rewards players who take the time to understand all its systems and then mix and match attacks and abilities depending on the situation. Bosses are difficult and the game has no difficulty toggles, although investing in biomecha upgrades can help.

With a bit of fine-tuning and rebalancing, Slave Zero X could be magnificent. It is already an audio/visual tour de force and the gameplay mostly works. If anything, Slave Zero X presents a compelling world with vivid imagery that sticks with you. It is no wonder why people still remember the original game and have fond memories of it.

Slave Zero In fact, this is what the project bases its roots on: the player's learning to strengthen themselves and improve their skills. It's a shame for the absence of an endgame, which could have really brought the score you see further down even higher.