Zenodeath

Zenodeath is a retro-inspired action shooter that serves as the concluding entry in Team Grybanser Fox’s long-running Zeno series. Developed and published by Team Grybanser Fox, the game embraces the spirit of classic arcade shooters while introducing enough variety to distinguish itself from many modern indie releases. Rather than relying solely on traditional scrolling shoot-'em-up gameplay, Zenodeath attempts to combine different styles of action into a single package, creating an experience that feels both nostalgic and surprisingly experimental. One of the game’s defining features is its alternating gameplay structure. Throughout its campaign, players switch between fast-paced aerial shooting stages and top-down run-and-gun missions. The airborne segments deliver the familiar excitement of dodging waves of enemy fire, destroying mechanical foes, and navigating increasingly challenging encounters. In contrast, the ground-based levels focus more heavily on movement, positioning, and directional attacks. This constant shift in perspective prevents the adventure from becoming repetitive and gives each stage its own identity. While some players may prefer one style over the other, the variety helps maintain engagement from start to finish. The combat system is straightforward but rewarding. Players can select from multiple mechas, each offering different attributes and combat characteristics. This choice encourages replayability, as experimenting with different units can significantly alter how stages are approached. Enemy formations become increasingly dangerous as the game progresses, requiring quick reactions and careful memorization of attack patterns. The arcade-inspired design philosophy is evident throughout the experience, rewarding practice, skill improvement, and repeated playthroughs rather than relying on progression systems or extensive customization mechanics. Visually, Zenodeath embraces pixel art and classic arcade aesthetics. The environments, enemy designs, and explosions are colorful and energetic without becoming visually overwhelming. The game places a strong emphasis on readability, ensuring that players can clearly identify threats even during the most chaotic encounters. This design choice is particularly important in a shooter where split-second reactions often determine success or failure. While the graphics do not aim for technical realism, they effectively capture the charm and intensity of classic arcade experiences. The soundtrack contributes significantly to the overall atmosphere. Its energetic compositions complement the game’s action-heavy pacing and help elevate major encounters, particularly boss battles. The music consistently reinforces the sense that Zenodeath is intended as a climactic finale for the series, giving the adventure a larger scale and more dramatic tone than its relatively modest production values might initially suggest. What makes Zenodeath stand out most is its willingness to blend genres within a familiar framework. Many independent shooters focus entirely on refining established formulas, but this game takes a few risks by incorporating run-and-gun mechanics alongside traditional shooting action. These ideas do not always appeal equally to every player, yet they provide the game with a distinctive personality. The variety of stage designs and gameplay styles helps ensure that each level introduces something fresh rather than simply increasing enemy density or difficulty. As a complete package, Zenodeath succeeds as a heartfelt tribute to arcade gaming while still presenting enough original ideas to feel worthwhile in its own right. It is clearly aimed at players who enjoy challenging action games, score chasing, and repeated attempts to master difficult stages. Those looking for a deep narrative or modern progression systems may find the experience somewhat limited, but fans of classic shooters will likely appreciate its focused design and commitment to old-school gameplay principles. Zenodeath may not revolutionize the genre, but it delivers an entertaining and memorable blend of shoot-'em-up and run-and-gun action. Its varied stage structure, satisfying challenge, strong soundtrack, and retro presentation combine to create a fitting conclusion to the Zeno series. For enthusiasts of arcade-style action games, it stands as a creative and enjoyable title that demonstrates the passion and ambition of its developer. Rating: 7/10

Zenodeath is a combination shoot 'em up and top down run 'n gun alternating between the two genres. It does an adequate job with both. Though, I think the shmup is better while the run 'n gun is a tad easier. Zenodeath the shmup is about as basic as the genre gets. Which as someone that likes basic STGs, is no bad thing in itself. The player has the choice of pilot which changes some aspects like shot type. The player has a main shot, and a secondary shot type with slower movement and limited bullet canceling/invisibility frames bombs. I actually like the pace of the this game, as it the bullets are aren't so fast that it's an exercise in memorization of positioning. But not so slow that ones reflexes aren't tested a bit. Many of the enemy attacks are well-trod in the world of shmups. So, if the player has mastered them in other games, it would take long to solve them here either. Which can be an issue, but I personally like having some of my skills transfer well to other games. As well as being punished for the ones I haven't completely mastered yet (tracking bullets with slow-fast movement to create a gap). My biggest complaint is the color palette. Especially the enemy bullets which can get lost in the chaos fairly easy. The top down run 'n gun is probably the weaker of the two modes. I know I found myself just wanting to get through them to get back to the shmup part. Which may be due more to I bought this for the STG part. But Zenodeath is no Shock Troopers, either. The player still has their two shot types. With the primary continuing to fire in the same (1 of 8) direction if the button down. While the secondary fires in the direction of movement. At least the character I played through the game. The player also has the same bombs as well. The run 'n gun is considerably easier if the player moves cautiously. Though, the bonus score timer tries to push more a more aggressive play style. However, I found that timer probably enforces more efficiency routing than aggressive play. As the run 'n gun sections aren't about moving from one end of the map to the other. No, the player must seek out targets to destroy before confronting the end of stage boss. Which further dragged at a section of the game I wasn't as interested played. Furthermore, the color palette affects the game play even more. Not with the bullet visibility, though that can still be an issue, but places the player character can travel and where they can't. The ground color is on the darker side also making it a little tough to figure out where the player can traverse and where they can't. At least at first. The game is consistent enough that once the player does learn this, the issue isn't nearly as bad. Graphics, Sound and Music are things I find charming if not of the best quality. Color choices for visibility not withstanding, I like the graphics of Zenodeath. Their simple more 8-bit or early 16-bit type stuff that I like. The sound design is good, and I liked the music. Zenodeath isn't looking to revolutionize either the shmup or top down run 'n genres. And the game certainly could have issues that some players won't like. However, I found it affordable enough to get for a small time indy developer that it felt they were still figuring somethings out in this game. If for nothing else, Zenodeath is a fun enough game to credit feed though at least once, but probably not a game that I would ever bother learning well enough to 1cc.

The ground stages are jankky and visibility seems actively hostile, but the music rips, the bomb looks sick, and it's pretty damn fun