ZPF Review

ZPF is a new side-scrolling shoot’em up (shmup) similar to Lords of Thunder, Elemental Master, and the Thunderforce series. This game was also designed with the Genesis/MegaDrive in mind and ported to current gen consoles. Dodge bullets and a myriad of enemies, reach the boss and defeat it to clear the level.

When starting the game, you’ll get the choice from three vastly different ships: Knight, Gladius, and Gold. Each ship have two different attacks: a long range (which is obviously as it is a shmup) but also a close range/melee attack for enemies that get a bit too close for comfort. You also start off with a limited number of bombs.

They can be used in dire situations when you’re surrounded by enemies and their projectiles. As with any shmup, you’ll be able to pick up various power-ups to increase your firepower. One of the game’s most interesting feature is the shop before jumping into your next level. As you kill enemies, you’ll be rewarded with medals which can be used to purchase perks such as extra firepower, 1UPs, Continue or less enemy projectiles.

Unlike traditional shmups where you simply go from level to level, ZPF offers a Mega Man-lite level select screen. You’ll have the option to choose from three level at first. When you clear a level, the following one next to it unlocks. But as you’d expect, once it’s game over, the unlocked level needs to be re-unlocked.

ZPF looks great; it’s an excellent visual throwback to the SEGA Genesis/MegaDrive era but more polished given today’s technology. It has that unique metallic like style and faithful representation of the 16-bit era. Each level has a unique design and theme for a proper challenge. The soundtrack is also faithful to the sound of SEGA’s 16-bit juggernaut, but fine-tuned to avoid the metal can sound.

I’m not going to lie, this game is brutal. It’s a tough cookie to crack and less forgiving than more recent games of the same genre. So in order to get through the whole game, you’ll need to dedicate some time and practice to master the game’s challenge. It’s a great example of practice makes perfect.

ZPF is a great addition to the shmup gernre, albeit it is quite brutal. This will test your metal and force you to get better. The shop is an interesting addition and will level the challenge as you unlock new perks. If you’re a fan of the genre, ZPF is an absolute blast and must play. If you have yet to dabble in the genre, I still recommend it, but get ready to die. A lot.