I actually can’t remember the last time I played a shmup. Maybe a Gradius? I don’t know anything about ZPF’s genremates or even what its name stands for, but I do know a good colourful big bastard turtle when I see one, and that was enough for me to try the Steam demo.
“Great score!” Zam Pankman-Fried told me after I died 45 seconds in. From this, I learned that ZPF is a massive liar, but also that I actually quite like shmups still. Pretty compelling as far as avoid the bad thing ’em ups go.
There is/was/are going to be physical carts of this one available, and while I appreciate the commitment to the 16-bit, I know where buying one physical game ends, and it ends with me buying so many I’m forced to start an unsuccessful retro gaming YouTube channel where I film myself in front of my heaving collection to adopt an air of legitimacy like a Netflix documentary trying to convince you to heed an MBA’s opinion on magic mushrooms because they’re sitting in front of a very large bookshelf. Steam suits my purposes fine for now. Here are some features:
- Inspired by classic horizontal shooters like Lords of Thunder, Elemental Master, and the Thunderforce series, ZPF is a passion project from the designer and developer of Super XYX and Tänzer.
- Players will dodge and weave through intense bullet patterns, unleashing a barrage of firepower upon hordes of unique and challenging enemies.
- Brace yourself for epic encounters with mid and end-stage bosses, each demanding a different strategy to defeat.
- Upgrade your arsenal and gain valuable tips between levels at each of the world’s in-game shops.
- Finish every stage and discover a treasure trove of hidden secrets.
Needless to say I really like how this one looks, even if I lack the language this morning to call it anything more precise than “colourful and cybery”. Rainbow Geiger? Enlighten me, art style knowers. Reminds me quite a bit of Hollow Press’s Cyberflesh. Will I get good enough at it to see that turtle in the cyberflesh? Doubtful, but I’m motivated.
