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The surprise behind the mask: What did we think of Zoro's new game? | Israel today

2022-06-21T06:12:14.586Z


Cacti, Chickens and Panties: The Zorro: The Chronicles animated series reaches consoles and the computer and manages to exceed expectations, but not by much. The main thing is that the children will enjoy


Thankfully, our bar of expectations was not in the sky when we received the review copy of Zorro: The Chronicles, a new action game aimed primarily at children and based on a relatively obscure animated series of the same name.

Admittedly, our initial ambition was to settle for a brief and cynical critique, to wonder who still cares about his balm, to wonder how such negligible and inferior products are still produced nowadays (even if they appeal to a young audience willing to settle for little), stick to a particularly low score and close interest.

Thankfully, we were wrong.

The good news is that Zorro: The Chronicles is a likable and relatively fun game, even cute, certainly if you consider the target audience.

We will not define it as amazing or exciting, far from it, but the very fact that we spent three days with it and finished it because we wanted to and not because we had to for the sake of this review, speaks for itself.

Beyond that, with a little more investment, polishing and variety, this title could have been several times more successful, because the proper foundation is already there.

So Zoro's new game feels more like a miss than a disappointment, and we write this as a kind of compliment.

The game is based on an animated series of the same name,

H.I steps

Imagine an abstract and kid-friendly version of Batman's Arkham games, and you'll get Zorro: The Chronicles.

The two protagonists even wear a black mask.

The game is divided into 18 stages, most of which take place in dusty towns, estates and farms in Mexico and the southwestern United States of the 19th century. The goal in all stages is the same: A relatively confined and small area, collect some objects (keys, treasures, maps - it does not really matter), neutralize a considerable amount of enemies and escape galloping on his horse, a tornado.

In principle, you can choose between two courses of action: attack with a drawn sword and fight anyone you see, or sneak through the bushes, on rooftops and behind the enemies' backs, and neutralize them in silence one after the other, and only when there is no choice.

Our choice of the word "neutralization" is conscious, since - and this is a line for parents who want to share the game with their children - no one is killed in this game.

The enemies you defeat will not die, but will flee, fall asleep, get stuck in a haystack, hang on a railing, try to hide their underwear after you cut their pants, snatch a kick from a horse or rooster, and all with a wink and humor.

The enemies you defeat will not die,

The animation is smooth and flowing, the control is reasonable plus, and apart from some annoying camera issues where we could not figure out where we were because the zoom was too deep, the battle mechanism was efficient and working properly.

Without exaggerating: we really enjoyed fighting five enemies at the same time, with his young Zoro jumping over their heads, slapping their buttocks with prickly cacti, making them bump into each other, engraving the letter Z on their panties (yes, panties again - a recurring motif in the game), and demonstrating A host of additional acrobatic abilities.

Just fun, but ...

Missing penny for peso

And here comes the reservation.

Yes, Zorro: The Chronicles is a likable and fun game, at least in its early stages.

The problem is that it has 18 almost identical steps, and the business starts to repeat itself very quickly.

With a little more variety, both in gameplay, both in the tasks to be performed at each stage and in the enemies (we counted a total of about six types of enemies), the game could have been much more successful.

We wouldn’t mind, for example, some stages of horseback riding (Zoro anyway, right?) And logic puzzles that would break the monotony a bit.

The problem with the game is that the stages are almost identical,

Beyond that, Zoro is indeed a sword wizard, and we understand and accept the choice not to give the boy guns.

But an action game with two weapons designed for close-range battles only - sword and whip - is problematic.

Long-range weapons, such as a bow, slingshot or even a pump launcher for the laughs (were pumps in the 19th century? Indeed, the pump was invented in 1874), would add a much-needed tactical dimension to the cauldron.

Although the game has the option to "purchase" between the stages combos (sequences of blows) and new techniques using coins that accumulate in stages (this is fine, there is no extravagant extortion of real money and various micro-transactions), but apart from the ability to rotate enemies like purple to stun them, In the "combo shop" significant new techniques.

Beyond that, we managed to neutralize all the enemies in the game, except for the last and relatively difficult boss, very easily and with only basic blows, which is a shame.   

In the end, despite the good animation, fun control and refreshing pacifist attitude, Zoro's new gaming release still lacks the penny for the peso that will make it a really good game.

On the other hand, those who are looking for a nice and accessible product that will spend a few days with the children, will find what they are looking for here. 

6/10

Tested version: PlayStation 5. Available for all consoles and PC.

Were we wrong?

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Source: israelhayom

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