Ex-Zodiac

As video games get more and more advanced, they seem to lose sight of their roots. Instead of the simple, engaging experiences of old-school gaming, many games nowadays are overloaded with features and mechanics that are designed to siphon more money out of the player’s pockets rather than to create a fun, memorable experience. There are a few games out there that aim to go back to gaming’s roots and strip away all of the cruft, leaving only a fun game that anybody can enjoy, and one of those games is Ex-Zodiac. Developed by Ben Hickling and published by Pixeljam, Ex-Zodiac is a white-knuckle rail shooter that uses a PS1-era low-poly aesthetic to create a sense of nostalgia. If that description was enough to get you interested in Ex-Zodiac, then here is everything you need to know about this awesome game.

Old School Looks, New School Fun

In another universe, Ex-Zodiac could have been another entry in the StarFox franchise. It uses the same 3D on-rails movement and targeting while creating its own universe, enemies, and stages. The low-polygon 3D graphics wouldn’t look out of place on the Nintendo 64, but the smooth gameplay of Ex-Zodiac could never be achieved on that console. Children of the 90s might even shed a tear from being taken back to their glory days while experiencing fresh, fast-paced gameplay and intense action. However, just about anyone can get into and enjoy everything Ex-Zodiac has to offer thanks to the game’s easy-to-learn controls and mechanics.

Action-Packed Levels

Ex-Zodiac takes players through a total of 12 levels, each of which is handcrafted and finely tuned to be an intense thrill ride from beginning to end. Dodge and weave through enemy ships and projectiles while you retaliate with your own offensive maneuvers as the level seems to move around you and your ship. Then, at the end of each level, you’ll face a boss character who pilots a ship similar to the one you have and has skills that mirror your own. These boss fights turn into knockdown, drag-out dogfights that determine the true owner of sky supremacy. Aside from these crazy boss battles, each level also has a number of secret areas and side paths that allow for a certain amount of replayability in an on-rails game, something that is unheard of. Explore each level to get the most out of everything Ex-Zodiac has to show you.

Throwback Soundtrack

To top off the killer gameplay and retro aesthetic, Ex-Zodiac also has a 16-bit soundtrack to match. Bop your head to resonant synthesizer beats created by +TEK through FM and wavetable manipulation.

Pros

• Killer retro aesthetic with high resolution, low-poly textures
• Tight dogfighting gameplay that feels like a new StarFox game
• Incredible soundtrack that ties everything together
• Gameplay is both challenging but easily accessible for casual players

Cons

• Game is a little short, could use more levels
• Can take a few minutes to get used to how the game plays