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What would happen if you took a couple of futuristic space combat trading sim games like Privateer or Freelancer, threw them into a blender, added flying cars, vans, motorcycles, cartoon punks, ninjas, and zombies, and then added a dash of pterodactuls and hit puree? You'd end up with Ninjastarmaggedon of course. Also known as Zombie Smashers 3, ZSX3, or more recently re-named Manic Space.
This particular title takes the Zombie Smasher series into an all new direction. Instead of punks and ninjas fighting zombies in a side scrolling action beat'em up, this adventure takes place in space. While the premise does sound a little crazy and silly, ZSX3 delivers some intense, exciting, and addicting gameplay. On top of the great space combat, players can buy, sell, and trade cargo in order to profit and then go on to purchase upgrades, weapons, new ships - or should I say, hyperspace automobiles, or perhaps just buy more cargo holds and extra cargo to increase profits. (What other games give you the chance to trade such commodities as audio cassettes, toilet paper, or kittens?)
The in-game sound is also very good and different than almost any other game of this type. When combat breaks out the music intensifies with some very rockin tunes to keep you on the edge of your seat and reminding you that there is danger present. When simply flying around looking for something to do the music does not play a key role to the gameplay but definitely adds to the overall atmosphere and in some instances can be quite relaxing without becoming boring. Each music track is original and doesn't become annoying or tiresome. The sound fx are standard fare and exactly what you'd expect from a space combat shooter. Lasers, missles, machine guns, and afterburners all resonate to intensify the action that's going on around you. Who says there's no sound in space?
The plot or story of the game is definitely quirky, off-beat, and even unimportant, yet it stays humorous and remains true to the Zombie Smashers series of artistic style and wackiness.
The gameplay on the other hand is deep yet simple to grasp. Few other space combat / trading sim games offer such rapid addiction coupled with a user friendly control scheme. No need for memorization of a dozen or so hot-keys. The game can be controlled with a combination of mouse and keyboard or gamepad, but I found my trusty dual analog controller to be the preferred method of interstellar navigation and space combat.
The actual combat can be a little hair-raising at first, but it does require a little strategy and quick wit. Dodging enemy fire and sometimes even fleeing from battle can be as important as firing on and engaging the enemy. Apart from combat, the player can buy and sell cargo, travel the hyperspace lanes from one star system to another, take on trade missions, bounty hunting, help local space police, become a pirate and rob others of their goods, or simply communicate with every other computer controlled space faring adventurer for helpful hints, info, trade and profit. The game is actually quite simple to pick up and play but when it comes to the intense combat there are numerous difficulty levels for novice and veteran gamers to choose from. ZSX3 is open-ended and the game universe is large enough to offer dozens of hours of gameplay and a high replay value.
Ninjastarmaggedon is definitely not meant to be taken seriously, it's simply meant to be enjoyed. Occasionally games of this type can seem overwhelming to some players when it comes to actual gameplay, but ZSX3 is easy enough for almost any gamer to approach. Neither the controls nor the difficulty levels are punishing. Gamers will find that there is quite a bit to explore and discover given the simple nature that this game presents when most other games of this type are extremely huge focusing more on technical aspects, visual effects, and other bells and whistles that don't necessarily make for good gaming. ZSX3 is a case of the opposite where a player can become enticed by the fact that the universe you're playing in is large, but not overwhelming, has easy and intuitive controls, a very managable interface and is very consistent with it's fun factor. If you're a fan of space combat / space trading games and are open minded enough to stray from the mainstream formula, you'll probably find yourself enjoying this imaginative, truly unique, and satisfying space rock opera.
Presentation
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A
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Gameplay
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A
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Graphics
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B+
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Sound
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A+
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Innovation
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B
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Overall Score: A
August 29, 2007
