Strike Suit Zero: Director's Cut Reviews
Yes, it's shades of Gundam/Macross, but it's also something so rarely done in a game—let alone done right—that this anime cliché still feels fresh here.
If you have missed space-combat shooters, as they are a real rarity, then you could do a lot worse than SSZ: Director's Cut. The truth is that the director's cut hasn't improved anything majorly from the first game, so if you have it on the PC then don't expect some revelation here as you'll be left wanting. If you don't care about story, odd pacing and at times frustrating checkpointing then you might get along quite well with SSZ. It's a brief, fun and at times utterly beautiful space-combat game, and you get to be a mech...in space...with a lot of rockets. If you just felt something warm inside then give it a punt, but you'll need to balance your love of galactic warfare with a heavy dose of forgiveness.
At the end of the day, folks who enjoyed the original Strike Suit Zero may want to pick up Director's Cut, especially because upgrading on Steam is only a few bucks. Those who never got around to playing but have a particular affinity for space combat, missile-spewing mechs and loads of ship customization might also want to be pick up the game.
Strike Suit Zero has a lot of things going for it – a cool story, good combat, pretty visuals, and an excellent soundtrack – but it's let down by poor mission design and a frustrating checkpoint system. Those looking for a space combat game will find a lot to like here, but one can't help but wonder how much better the game would have been with more of a focus on tightly paced, frantic battles, and less on the Suit's ability to transform.
Strike Suit Zero Director's Cut is a good game on the XBox One and if you have a hankering for this genre than I do suggest you check out this game. It may not be the most visually impressive game and the difficulty can be a challenge at times but even with its slight flaws, it's a fun game but just a tad repetitive. Nothing is more satisfying than seeing your shields at almost zero and then somehow saving the day with your amazing space craft.
If you are into space combat action (and that's all you are looking for) then Strike Suit Zero: Director's Cut might just scratch that itch for you. It's not a bad game and the general combat can have moments of fun. But as I said at the start, most of the time when I was playing this title, I just kept thinking to myself "I am not enjoying this and would rather be doing something else right now". Take that for what you will.
There's plenty here to keep fans of space combat genre interested as well as newcomers trying out zero gravity warfare for the first time. Worth it for those wanting something more challenging.
[I]f you are looking for lots of action set against a deep space backdrop, Strike Suit Zero: Director's Cut should scratch that itch effectively as long as it lasts.
We can still easily slap on a stamp of approval for seasoned fans of the genre – especially with no other alternatives on Xbox One – though anyone that has yet to attend flight school likely won't find this to be the most welcoming place to get started.
More an overhaul than a director's cut, Strike Suit Zero's console debut feels like the definitive version of Born Ready's space sim: the game we all wanted it to be. Empowering mech handling and rebalanced gameplay makes a universe of difference, turning frustration into fun and challenging action in the main.
Space shooters like 'Strike Suit Zero' fit a specific niche genre. They can be tedious and simulation-like, or a straight up arcade action experience. 'Strike Suit Zero: Director's Cut' fits nicely somewhere in the middle. The controls translate well from PC to console and are generally approachable very early on in the game. While I have never experienced the original version of the game, it does seem apparent that the developers at Born Ready Games put a significant amount of effort into the port. The visuals are simply stunning, but the repetitive nature of the gameplay as a whole has a tendency to dilute the overall experience. Given the option to replay 'Strike Suit Zero' with some form of co-op or multiplayer may certainly change my opinion and make the game a must-play. In its current, revised form, the game is diverting to play and better to look upon, but stops short of full engagement.
Its performance levels make it a bit of a rough ride as well. All that said, its grasp on the genre is solid enough that I still found myself having a very good time playing it. If you're hankering for a classic 3D space shooter you can take on the go, give Strike Suit Zero a shot.
In such an underrepresented genre, Strike Suit Zero certainly stands out and being able to play it on the Switch is very cool.