So I turn on my Xbox and prepare to play Z2xk…..uh…Zk2……Zombies and Pterodactyls and can’t help but wonder if Ska Studios intentionally made it impossible to remember the acronym for this title. Based on the rest of the fact that the rest of the game doesn’t take itself too seriously, I’m led to believe that it’s part of the gag. The game probably should take itself a bit more serious though, because it’s freakin’ awesome. At only 80 MS points ($1) ZP2KX is packed with more content than perhaps any other title on the platform, let alone the $1 games.
I have no idea if there is any story going on, but needless to say, you won’t even care, as one isn’t necessary. The characters come from a variety of walks of life and others can be unlocked, including an assassin, bomber and tank. The level of character customization is unlike anything else on the indie platform. Players can adjust their characters face, helmet, shirt/armor, pants, and jet pack. That’s another unique element of this game which I haven’t found on any other indie title – a leveling system similar to that found in the Call of Duty series. As players kill one another, they are awarded experience points for various tasks including kill streaks and capturing flags. Each level rewards players with something unique including a new class slot, perk or article of clothing.
The characters aren’t the only thing full of variety either – there’s a huge selection of weapons as well. They range from the standard selection of weapons like the the MPK5 submachine gun, to a ”Cloud Sword” which we all recognize from my personal favorite game, Final Fantasy VII, as well as a light saber. There are even bizarre weapons thrown in too, including the AK47 That Fires Cats. Fortunately players an carry up to 4 at one time, all of which are mapped to the D-pad.
There’s an abundance of levels to choose from, each with its own unique feel. Beautiful artwork fills both the fore and backgrounds without being a distraction throughout the action. Well placed choke points and tunnels scattered throughout the maps allow for exciting gameplay as the camera is panned back far enough to see where oncoming enemies are located. Furthermore, there is a radar in the top right corner of the screen, but there is a perk to remain unseen from that as well. Every inch of the map is accessible thanks to the jet pack equipped to your character. It only lasts a few a few moments before needing to be recharged, but there are alternate ways to travel such as running up the wall like a ninja.
I really had a great time playing this game, and with the humor injected in each step and the well balanced fighting system, it’s the kind of game that should appeal to a lot of people. Multiplayer support is included over Xbox Live, but I wasn’t able to find anyone else to play with. Fortunately bots fill the void of non-human controlled opponents, and they do a great job for the most part. The only issue I ran into was when my flag carrier would simply return to our base and sit on the flag spawn until the rest of us managed to kill the enemy carrying our flag.
ZP2KX is one of the best values on the Xbox Indie platform at only $1. It’s unfortunate that I didn’t get a chance to play it earlier, because it certainly would have been a contender for the list of the Top 20 Games of 2010. The diversity of maps, character customization, leveling system, and well balanced gameplay make for an outstanding and well polished experience. I’m not sure how Ska Studios slipped under my radar before, but I’ll be sure to stay keen to any of their forthcoming works – they’ve certainly won a fan in me over this title.
Rating: 
ZP2KX – Zombies and Pterodactyls 20XX was provided for review by Ska Studios. It is available for 80 MS points ($1).
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