Zool Redimensioned Reviews
Zool Redimensioned is a wonderful remaster of a cult classic, with tight platforming and plenty of colourful doodads to collect.
The port is also quite nice, but it’s going to be an affront to purists. The modern upgrades change the feel of the game immensely, and while I’d argue it’s for the best, it’s also at the expense of the challenge. It’s a short, breezy experience. A comfortable slice of ‘90s platforming. It’s up to you if that’s what you need right now, but I certainly enjoyed it.
Zool was a classic back in the day, but it didn't endure as much as other genre luminaries. This remaster enhances what was great about the original title while adding some modern elements to sweeten the deal.
Though a noble effort, the transition to HD has probably done more harm than good. Challenging gameplay has been replaced with a virtual walk in the park, devoid of damn near any difficulty. If you're looking to relive gaming's past, this one may be better found in the original.
Leaping onto PC is Zool Redimensioned, a re-imagining of the classic Amiga platformer of the early 90’s. Join Zool as he uses his ninja skills to hunt down the evil Krool across the title’s seven imaginative worlds. But is the game any good? Read the review to find out!
If you’ve never played Zool before, then Zool Redimensioned might not seem that special to you. After all, in the 30 years that have passed, a number of platform games have come and gone, many of them no doubt superior to Zool in numerous ways. But if you do have fond memories of playing the game on your Amiga, SNES or Mega Drive, then you’ll surely get a huge kick out of Zool Redimensioned. This is a true slice of nostalgia, delivered in a perfectly-tuned package. We bet you can’t play it without a smile on your face.
Classic 2D action platformer revamped for a new generation
Zool Redimensioned brings back a brand forgotten in time 30 years after its original release, standing out for its still sharp gameplay, an intense graphic style, and some adaptations to modernize the experience. However, some additions that interfere with the game's dynamics and the lack of other necessary adjustments put the game at a disadvantage, especially in comparison with its rivals of yesteryear and with more recent examples of the genre.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Zool Redimensioned is a short, but fun and vibrant platformer that has a ton of fun themed levels and enemies. The controls are great and the accessibility options make this title work for any player, no matter your skill level.
Nostalgia is going to play a heavy part in whether you'll like Zool Redimensioned. If you grew up with the Amiga as your main platform, you might be tickled to see Zool make a comeback even if the changes make it much easier than before. For those who didn't care too much about it back then, the improvements make it a better, shorter experience. For newcomers, the game is fun as a retro snack and worth checking out.
If there is any love for the original, pick this up immediately. A fine job has been done creating a really playable title for 2021, without losing any of the charm of the original. The camera change is a stroke of genius and makes life so much easier leading to a more enjoyable experience all round. The issue isn't with the remaster, but the source material. Zool Redimensioned is sadly a bit of a product of its time, and isn't going to draw any new fans with its difficulty and confusing design choices. Sadly, for most this Ninja isn't going to resonate with younger players looking for the next plumber killer. For the rest, though, you have a greater remaster than you could ever have hoped for, let alone what the star of the Amiga may deserve.
The Amiga era, which I will always be a fan of, is rich with titles and characters deserving a glorious return, but the ninja of Dimension N isn't one of them due to the forgettable gameplay of his first adventure. Zool Redimensioned, while an interesting port and update, suffers from the uninspiring gameplay of Gremlin's title. Unless you're a die-hard retrogamer, it's hard to recommend this edition, as the improvements fail to effectively address the dated 1992 formula.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Zool Redimensioned is an honest and respectful “nostalgia operation” of the original work. The team at Sumo Digital Academy pays homage to an Amiga-era masterpiece with a work capable of speaking to fans of the original. Not only that, Redimensioned also manages to appeal to today's audiences, allowing them to experience a classic with a modern twist. It is not, however, a title for everyone. The game system is, for obvious reasons, rather outdated, and the difficulty fluctuates quite noticeably between the permissive ease of the updates and the luciferous strictures of the original formula. Despite this, the ticket price is far too tempting not to give the old ninja from “yet another dimension” a chance.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Thanks to the hard work of Sumo Digital’s student division, Zool Redimensioned polishes up the original game and introduces several additional extras that bring an excellent platformer back from the dead. For some, Zool Redimensioned might seem like a by-the-numbers platformer but that’s part of what makes it special. In an age when zipping left to right to get to the goal as quickly as possible, Zool made players explore their surroundings and collect a certain number of items to complete the level. Granted, despite each world having their own individual themes, they do feel out of place when examined as a whole but that’s a small point on an otherwise tight platformer.
Zool Redimensioned is still an interesting revival, especially since it is one more of Sonic and Mario's competitors that didn't stand out among the two titans. His style and gameplay may be dated, but that doesn't stop the ninja from Dimension N from having his charm.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Zool Redimensioned is a smart reinterpretation of a classic platformer, modernised for today’s gamer while still staying authentic, maintaining what made it the game it was. Added party modes, accessibility options, filters, and modes to suit retro enthusiasts, it successfully brings everything you may have loved (or never heard of) in a release that belongs and successfully succeeds in 2023.
I’d still love to know what conversations took place that led to “hey, we should remaster Zool”, but Zool Redimensioned does a pretty decent job of applying a fresh coat of paint, but in a way that remains very reverent to the source material. An excellent achievement from a group that only started programming 12 months ago. Unfortunately, the source material itself is the ultimate problem here – Zool was an average game back in 1992 and it’s little more than average here in 2021. A pleasant nostalgia trip, yes, but sadly it’s offers nothing to compete with the best modern platformers.
We need more games like Zool Redimensioned. The original wasn’t exactly that great and was quickly forgotten during the mascot platfomer craze of the early 90’s, but thanks to this pretty robust remaster, what was once a somewhat niche and clunky game has turned into a solid (albeit still flawed) platformer that doesn’t feel out of place, nor inferior to most indie releases out there.
I can appreciate what Sumo Digital Academy set out to do with Zool Redimensioned. It’s a solid remake of a platformer which, while not as well remembered as the titles from which it takes its inspiration, has its own place in the annals of video game history. The updated mechanics and quality of life features are great. Furthermore, with two modes to master, existing series fans will surely get their money’s worth. But as welcome as these additions are, they don’t do anything to remedy the issues that plagued the original release. With random stage designs and lackluster enemies and bosses, Zool just doesn’t do much to stand out from the crowded platformer pack. Still, if you already have a soft spot for the ninja from the Nth Dimension, don’t hesitate to add this one to your Steam library. If Zool didn’t do it for you before, however, Zool Redimensioned isn’t going to change your mind.