Ziggurat Breaks Free from Tradition

Back in 1999, Infogrames released Slave Zero, a third-person shooter where players controlled a giant robot, wreaking havoc in a futuristic city. Although the game received lukewarm reviews, it still had its fans who enjoyed the simple pleasure of picking up and throwing cars at enemies. Fast forward to 2022, Ziggurat Interactive announced Slave Zero X, a new game in the franchise developed by Poppy Works. What was surprising, however, was that the new game was not a third-person shooter, but a 2.5D action game where players control a person-sized character wielding a sword. The futuristic setting remained, but the gameplay was vastly different from the original. As the game prepares to launch on consoles and PC, Ziggurat's publishing producer Alex Lotz and marketing coordinator Cole Law explain that the project wasn't always related to Slave Zero. The developers at Poppy Works had a prototype for a Shinobi-inspired game with fighting game mechanics, and when they saw the list of IPs owned by Ziggurat, they thought it would fit perfectly in the Slave Zero world. The result was a hack-and-slash game that stayed true to the original's art direction, concept art, and themes, while building upon the fiction. Lotz, who previously worked at Tommo, which held the rights to Slave Zero, notes that there was always a feeling that more could be done with the franchise. The addition of the Slave Zero universe to the game wasn't a case of retro-fitting an IP, but rather giving the project a specific direction. The developers were inspired by the IP and saw opportunities to take the game in new directions, making it a unique experience while still paying homage to the original. In the marketing materials, Ziggurat notes that the gameplay will resonate with fans of Devil May Cry, Strider, and Guilty Gear, which is intended to re-establish what Slave Zero could be with Slave Zero X. Lotz adds that Ziggurat has another title, BloodRayne, which underwent a similar transformation, from a third-person action game to a 2D action game. The goal is to expand on the original work, not replace it. Lotz believes that if Slave Zero X does well, there's a possibility of another third-person shooter in the future. As for fans of the original, Lotz says that while there may be some who wanted another third-person shooter, they are outnumbered by those interested in the new direction of Slave Zero X. The development team was passionate about the project, and the original developers, Ken Capelli and Lee Petty, have met with the Poppy Works team and seem to enjoy seeing their world explored in a new way. Lotz notes that Ziggurat's mission is to preserve games that deserve to be brought back to life or extended, regardless of their recognition or renown. The company wants to give new life to games that didn't find their audience the first time around, and Slave Zero X is a prime example of this mission in action.