Z-Exemplar
Suminell Studios · 2016 · Action, Indie, Shoot 'Em Up, Retro, Pixel Graphics
PC
Positive95% · 37
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About Z-Exemplar
Z-Exemplar is a side-scrolling shooter in the tradition of R-Type, Gradius, Nemesis and other classic arcade games from the past. Borrowing its aesthetic from the computers of yesteryear (specifically the Sinclair ZX Spectrum) Z-Exemplar combines bright, bold, 8-bit pixel art with frantic action and an epic mission to conquer a galaxy of almost 1000 planets.
The Background
Z-Exemplar was conceived as a love letter to the ZX Spectrum. Proudly retro, the game embraces the limitations of its 8-bit inspiration to deliver a fast-action, guns-toting, laser-blasting quest with intuitive gameplay and long-lasting appeal.
But it's not just nostalgia for its own sake.
There is something hugely appealing in the 8-bit aesthetic, something that can be absent in photo-realism. There is space for interpretation, for imagination and a vague assemblage of pixels can evoke in players a different emotion from that engendered by more detailed, distinct images. With the added vibrancy of the ZX Spectrum’s colour palette, this pixellated aesthetic gives Z-Exemplar’s visuals a unique and distinctive feel.
On its surface Z-Exemplar's gameplay appears simple - shoot anything that moves and collect the booty they leave behind - but the over-arching goal of the game is anything but. You are tasked with conquering all 960 planets that make up a hostile galaxy with each planet's defenses uniquely configured. As you explore the outer reaches of the galaxy, the defenses become stronger and enemies more lethal and numerous. There is abundant challenge in Z-Exemplar, challenge that grows with your experience.
To turn the battle in your favour you can access an arsenal of over 20 upgradeable weapons that transform your basic fighter craft into a devastating war machine - selecting the right loadout for each planetary battle is essential.
Features
- 960 Unique planetary battlegrounds
- 10 Planet themes
- 21 Awesome Weapon loadouts
- 16+ Hours of gameplay
- A galaxy full of secrets
- Conquest leaderboard - who'll be first to take over the entire galaxy?
- Hundreds of enemy types
- Huge end-of-level guardians
- Authentic 8-bit pixel art style and audio
What Steam players say
Recent verbatim reviews from Steam — separate from playze.io community reviews below.
[h1] A bit like ZX Spectrum game. Collect Z and conquer planets. Get to the core to finish the level and explore space map as it unfolds. Plenty of stages to complete and upgradable weapons to improve your ship. Gameplay is ok, hold fire button to choose one of available power ups like shield, drone or rockets but first collect some Z to do that. A bit simplistic and overall more for shmup enthusiasts. Sounds are 8-bit like and so are the visuals. [/h1]10 found this helpful
Best horizontal shoot 'em up for the ZX Spectrum 😎2 found this helpful
Its a smashing little pick-up-and-play vertical shmup in the style of the ZX Spectrum. I'm old enough to have played an awful lot of shoot 'em ups on the speccy such as Nemesis, Flying Shark, Xevious and R-Type (which ranged from Nemesis - awful to R-Type - incredible) back in the days when I had hair, but none are as colourful, varied, or as forgiving as this. But then, this is a lot larger than 48KB. It's a love letter to my youth. Great stuff. And thank you.1 found this helpful
While game perfectly captures ZX Spectrum nostalgia (R-Type but other games are referenced in graphics and color schemes too), its' novelty quickly wears off, and the game turns into repetitive grind. Contr-intuitively, most hostile planets, that require lots of replays, have less coins, so they are less rewarding. This slows progress to a halt. Also, despite there are many different planets, planets of the same type are different combinations of same patterns, and new enemies or level elements are introduced rarely. So, while game provides several hours of Spectrum-ish fun (color clash is almost 100% perfect), I don't recommend it if you have habit of actually winning the games and don't want to grind.1 found this helpful
This game is amazing. The bite-size levels and in-depth upgrade system make this title much more approachable to newcomers than other shoot-em-up titles, making it a good place to introduce someone to the genre. The open-ended structure is also a welcome addition. If a level is too difficult, you can just try another one nearby and come back later. The Z-Mail adds some fun flavor text without being heavy-handed with story, which I appreciate. Despite the clear inspiration from shmup giants like Gradius and R-Type, this game offers plenty of original ideas to set itself apart. If you're new to this genre, then I'd recommend this as a good jumping-off point, before plunging your way into arcade bullet purgatory.
“...a must for Retrogamers”
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