An introduction rendered in nice static images conveys the initial details, and the rest of the plot unfolds in-game, through conversations with various characters.

Approaching a supposedly deserted planet, his ship is, rather embarrassingly, shot down and he becomes embroiled in the native Korbo's battle to overthrow their false god Om, who is in fact an eeeeevil robot that forced the Korbo into slavery. He's an intergalactic adventurer in search of Caranthian ore and crystals, two of the most precious substances in the galaxy because of their use in materials generators (a replicator by any other name). Zax's justification for his antisocial behaviour is fairly solid. Ore and Crystals - are you sure this isn't an RTS? Although zooming out too far has significant effects on performance and zooming in too much makes the sprites look grainy and indistinct, there's still enough leeway between the two extremes to make the function an admirable option. Thumbs up to JoWooD for remembering that not every PC gamer owns a 1-gig monstrosity.Ī customisable zoom system allows you to play the game at any magnification. Even then, these occurrences were extremely rare, and never impeded the gameplay. JoWooD reckons a P233 will be enough to handle it, and a PII-333 saw only the tiniest quantities of jerkiness when the screen filled up with explosions, bad guys and laser bursts. The 2D approach means that Zax has very modest system requirements.

Zax himself can aim in any direction as he moves, and can be seen firing desperately over his shoulder when running away, or firing under one arm when shooting sideways. Its characters have been lavished with attention, from the scuttling motion of spider-droids to the way robo-gorillas knuckle their way through the undergrowth, and the gun that slides into place over the gorilla's shoulder when it is ready to fire. This is a 2D game that looks great: the scenery is varied and detailed, the characters are expertly animated and the light effects and explosions are top-notch. Zax's top-down isometric viewpoint looks down onto static, 2D backgrounds and animated sprites in appearance, its closest comparison is probably Diablo, although Diablo's rather drab dungeons are replaced with verdant jungles and dusty temples. Interested parties should be warned that playing Zax may cause your 3D card to go and sulk in the corner, having little else to do but help out with some of the light effects. Banish fanciful descriptions like 'action-adventure' and 'role-playing elements' to the den of hyperbole from whence they came - Zax is a classic shoot 'em up, plain and simple, and it's a damn good one. It's a pleasurable, slightly nostalgic little game about blowing up robots. Zax: the Alien Hunter is the third recent release from Austrian-based producer JoWooD, following close on the heels of its solid, if unimaginative Nations, and GD award-winning title The Sting.

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