Understanding Zenozoik ¦ A Zeno Clash Series Retrospective

Рет қаралды 2,289

Күн бұрын

Have you ever seen or read of a fictional world so captivating you felt like you've actually been there? It's not often that it happens so I feel like it's important to document these cases when it does. Today I will take you on a journey through Zenozoik; The setting for the video game series of Zeno Clash. It's full of mysteries, oddities, and lot's weird stuff. We'll be going through Zeno Clash, Zeno Clash 2, and Clash: Artifacts of Chaos. I will be examining them to the best of my ability and trying to be as entertaining as I can along the way. If I miss anything feel free to let me know what it is in the comments. I hope you enjoy this trip through the strange land of Zenozoik!
~~Chapter Selection~~
0:00 - What's a Zenozoik...?
5:15 - Zeno Clash
24:43 - Zeno Clash II
1:01:09 - Clash: Artifacts Of Chaos
1:37:05 - Reflecting On Zenozoik
1:39:37 - Thank You For Watching!!!!
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Пікірлер: 81

@DanielAmthauer 7 ай бұрын

Hi! I'm one of the devs. Great video! Glad you enjoyed the games so much :) Even though you're right about Clash Artifacts of Chaos being ACE Team's highest rated title, you're sadly incorrect about it having sold "considerably well". In fact, it's been one of the weakest in terms of sales, sadly. If the game becomes better known through word of mouth over time, that could change, and maybe there will be another game set in Zenozoik. It's not looking great at the moment though.

@CommandPromptGaming 7 ай бұрын

Thank you so much for watching! And thank you so much for giving the world these incredible games! I'm so sorry that I got that wrong. I thought I had read somewhere that it was a commercial success for you all. That really breaks my heart to know that. I hope this video and others like it will give people a good idea of what these games offer and maybe convince them to give it a shot. I've been posting this video to as many places as I can to increase viewership, obviously. But I also genuinely want more people to experience these games. Thank you again for commenting. Hearing from you all at ACE Team means more than thousands of views on the video. It's genuinely priceless to me🙏.

@daninogil 6 ай бұрын

to this day I'm utterly baffled on how this and the eternal cylinder underperform. the eternal cylinder is one of the best game idea I've heard in years and clash is just pure fun. execution leave something to be desired but both games are so close to perfecting their systems that it shouldn't have mattered.

@Lirka_906 6 ай бұрын

It's a shame to hear it didn't sell well. Would it still be possible to eventually get another game set in Zenozoik, even if it's with a new main character and set after ZC2? I really love the weirdness of the games, and especially Pseudo's design. But I've also noticed a lot of people commenting that he looked too weird for them to want to play the game. It's such a shame that the majority of people only want to play as "cool" characters.

@denniscarr9234 6 ай бұрын

that's horrible to hear, zenoclash 1 & 2 have a very special place in my heart and I thought aoc was fantastic. hopefully word of mouth will spread and players will come around, because you all did a great job with this game.

@SirFingleton 5 ай бұрын

i dearly hope someone with a high infuence will discover the series and shine a light on it. i think it would be cool to get literally any media in Zenozoik. animatins or comics would be super cool. im playing through the games myself curently. and i've gotten the idea of making a 1/6 scale custom figure of Kax teh. if i ever get around to doing it i'll be sure to share it around places

@jurtheorc8117 7 ай бұрын

I haven't yet watched this video, but in advance I want to say that i really, dearly love that thumbnail art of Pseudo (Edit: And the Boy), Golem/Kax-Teh, Ghat and Rimat. A world and assembly of weird creatures and vague culture like Zenozoik deserves all the love, and a video of this length (and hopefully depth, too) is very heartening to see.

@CommandPromptGaming 7 ай бұрын

I appreciate it so much, dude! I'm so glad I got an artist with as much talent as I did to create such a beautiful thumbnail! I hope the video doesn't disappoint! Thanks for commenting and watching btw🙏!!!

@SycrosD4 6 ай бұрын

Thanks! I’m the artist who did that ☺️

@Rotscrek 16 күн бұрын

Cried a bit at the end of Clash: artifacts of chaos, which was honestly unexpected. Thank you for this video

@armintor2826 Ай бұрын

53:03 ACE Team also made Rock of Ages, a game where you play as a giant boulder rolling towards a gate.

@SirFingleton 5 ай бұрын

when the golem says that the ones who put him there it dead. he might mean, the original people. and not the civilization as a whole

@empty2892 7 ай бұрын

Zeno Clash fan detected, opinion respected. Edit: Dissed the soundtrack, respect removed Edit 2: Not sure if you mention it later, but Xotl-Teh's game wasn't "tests". The phyisical object was a set of Tarot cards, but maybe that's what you implied somewhere As for Kax-Teh saying that people who made him are dead now: they were humans, and he has lived so long that they've probably all died due to natural causes. What he refers to as his creators in ZC2 is just the organization/the group, not the exact people. So, technically he doesn't lie. Edit 3: I really don't know how you can't see that Clash is a PREQUEL to the ZC, not a sequel. So no, Golem didn't come back to life cause he hasn't died yet, and neither Ghat, nor Rimat are mentioned cause there are probably decades or hundreds of years before they're even born. Whatever the civilaztion outside did to the Boy, that's how Golem got his linking powers in the first place. Perhaps there are other Golems active in the area but they are not plot relevant so they're just doing their thing. Likewise, Claw is the likely ANCESTOR, not the descendant of the bounty hunter. As to why Golem has linking powers: he only gets them in the final fight when the Boy is in his posession, so he either devised some way to receive them temporarily (he was doing a lot of research on the boy and other abnormal zenos with powers) or he coaxed the boy to link Pseudo and himself And that I think you confused the proper cause-effect of the timeline. People are less "stupid" and have the one law in Clash not because they were civilized after ZC. They started off civilized, then got to the Clash stage, then the one law was destroyed by Pseudo in the ending, and it further slid downhill from there, ending up in anarachy of ZC. Consequently, the town is not the remains of Halstedom, but more likely its humble beginnings (or just a different place entirely as the geography of the region doesn't really line up with ZC, so a different part of the map altogether is more likely)

@CommandPromptGaming 7 ай бұрын

You've got a friend in me🤠!

@ElBromoHojo 4 ай бұрын

It's definitely a prequel. However, I think Kax-Teh's linking power is innate to him (remember, the golems got to choose a power from their creators), and his personal mission was to figure out how to extract that power out of himself as a tool. He clearly has plans for being able to link things together in general, not just link things to himself.

@empty2892 4 ай бұрын

@@ElBromoHojo I think the devs confirmed in discord server that Golem didn't have that power before the boy situation

@dioxyde0 Ай бұрын

I loved the music personally

@jurtheorc8117 7 ай бұрын

I have watched this video through in its entirety and was quite engaged all throughout. Good script, editing, your interest and passion shows through, and i *very* much appreciate that you took into consideration some different things for what people may seek out of a Zeno Clash sequel within the ZC2 section. The fighting? The smaller stories? The larger story? Simply seeing and experiencing... more, with all the stuff they may like more or less compared to another? The main thing that kept me from watching it all with only a few breaks was the video buffering about halfway through, requiring me to put it on a lower resolution and waiting for the video to load a number of times. Doesn't really have to do with the actual content quality of the video itself, that was largely really good. And on that note, the quite in-depth explanation of the combat systems and styles was one of the best i think i've personally seen yet on any video looking at the Zeno Clash games as a whole. And yet i think there's still more to discuss for AoC specifically, like there being a Charge and Run attack on top of the Attack String, Jump, and Dodges. Stuff like the different values in the ways Pseudo moves, with the Lightning Stance having a pretty far-reaching side dodge whereas Mammoth Stance (one of my favourites) is very close-by. Which, for that value, it does fall into your criticisms with the combat system, which i reluctanctly accept. Though at this point, i'm pretty much asking (not you specifically, just in general from someone specializing in combat in action games) for a more in-depth video that analyzes all Stances and Special Moves and gives them all their due on each front. Perhaps multiple people comparing, contrasting, dissecting etc. for the optimal look at it. Very much wishing ACE Team and Jonas Kyratzes all the best with future ventures, they deserve it for bringing such a great and unusual world. In terms of looking at the story or for more of it, i recommend looking up MED Yuzu's series on each of the three Zeno games thus far. Not to see his word as (by the one) Law, but for his perspective, whenever time and interest may align. And especially so on the biggest and highest-rated comment on his video on Zeno Clash 2. These people's takes are very interesting. And for some fun trivia: a number of big inspiration points for Zenozoik seems to be prehistoric animals and weird Medieval art creatures that aren't part of a larger mythology. For the prehistoric creatures, a number of names are references, such as Deinother, Therium, and Entelo. Artifacts of Chaos has a few opponents that refer to prehistoric creatures or things that *look* like they could have been, with the Odonodons (the trunk-nosed sloths), Cthenodonts (which are apparently based on a creature with a nickname that means "Hell pig"), obviously Wrehgg with a mammoth, and those reptilian birds with the big crest. The one that most sticks in mind for me is Kroggo Longtooth, the biggest of Gemini's mercenaries, who seems to be based on a Platybelodon if i remember the name correctly. And i think the Outcast is based on a prehistoric pachyderm himself. For the medieval creatures, take a gander at Hieronymus Bosch's Garden of Earthly Delights triptych, you'll quickly see some similarities in landscape in the middle panel. but for creatures, you need to look more so at the rightmost panel where Hell is depicted. But that's not all: there's another lesser known source of neat art, a series of woodcuts or illustrations known as the Drolatic Dreams of Pantagruel. Be warned when looking them up as some have ridiculous penises (i'm not mincing words here), but i assure you that a number of Halstedom's citizens and a Corwid or two are *straight* out of this series of illustrations. Mainly a humanoid that always has their arms folded together, two peeping eyes and an owl beak-like nose poking out his double-pointed headwear, and the barrel-dwelling yellow frogs with the iron headgear. (Another fun reference: AoC has a similar yellow amphibian-looking barrel dweller for an enemy. His name is Diogenes, likely to coincide with a Greek philosopher who lived in a barrel) Oooh, and before i finish this comment: i'm sorry that you were disappointed by the Corwids in AoC, but whenever you may replay it and you hear a Corwid speaking, wait for a bit to let them speak their entire thoughts. All mercenary enemies have at least one instance with each scripted encounter in which you can overhear them talking about something. Such as Arsakarsa (three-armed horror cat "Cake Queen" as Beelz called her) near Gemini's palace, Kroggo Longtooth on a later plateau on the Zonectic mountain when accompanied by Tralkis (blue three-legged monster moose), Verruk (arrogant bird-man) right in front of the Figurine Burner before the fight with Moon-Sun in the Amokuali, etc. This goes for all the Corwids as well. And one of them has an *especially* fantastic vocal performance. He's found in a series of wooden platforms in the mist that you can descend down, a bit later in the Corwid Woods. He's accompanied by Sphaxas, the one who make the pigeon blood. All that said, and as someone else who rather recently got into Zeno Clash thanks to AoC as well, thank you super much for giving your own thoughts and experiences of this messy, shoddy, mysterious, ramshackle and monstrous world that has been lovingly built with a stable fundament (or two), and adding to quality coverage on it. Here's to hoping Zenozoik and ACE Team are not yet done telling their stories or inspiring others.

@barc0deblankblank 2 ай бұрын

Wow. You played all three and didn’t realize that Clash: AoC is a prequel 😢

@Vesmirue 2 ай бұрын

This was an incredible video. Thank you for taking the time to make it! Makes me wanna' replay through the Zeno Clash games, especially Artifacts of Chaos. Marvelous work!

@CommandPromptGaming 2 ай бұрын

Thanks so much! I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

@labrador7373 3 ай бұрын

Artifacts of Chaos is a prequel btw

@springboing 7 ай бұрын

Good video. 52:57 This is an easter egg from ACE's Rock of Ages series, which is another great franchise you should play. Honestly you should play all of ACE Team's games if you haven't already 1:29:21 The night mechanic was supposed to be for a scrapped PVP mode where you fight other players. That's why you see multiple "dolls" of Pseudo during the beginning which is never mentioned in the narrative. I agree that Clash AoC is better than the first two games, ACE Team did an incredible job with Clash.

@CommandPromptGaming 7 ай бұрын

Ahhhhhh, I didn't even out those two together lol. I researched all of their games when making this video. I didn't mention how Kax-Teh makes an appearance in Abyss Odyssey. And Eternal Cylinder looks really fun. Maybe one day I'll get it 'em! And that makes sense. I knew there was a scrapped multiplayer component. There's a clip of it in the reveal trailer and the pinned tweet on their Twitter is still mentions the multiplayer😂. It's a shame, but maybe we'll get it in the next game🤷🏻‍♂️. I appreciate you for watching tho, dude!

@Shittenfartinpoopin 3 ай бұрын

I feel like clash was a prequel

@CommandPromptGaming 3 ай бұрын

It is. I'm just late to the punch.

@dyrocecto541 7 ай бұрын

hell yeah zeno clash always deserves more love

@stefaniodeshiko6654 7 ай бұрын

As Zeno Clash fan, i approve this video, great job dude

@CommandPromptGaming 7 ай бұрын

Hell yeah, man💪! I appreciate you for watching!

@GuyWithChainsaw 6 ай бұрын

About Your confusion about Clash having no connections to first Zeno Clash game. I personally assumed Clash to be a prequel to Zeno Clash 1 and 2. If You see it like that, a lot of things make sense. Kax-Tech is still around because He isn't dead yet. He seeks Boy's power and uses it in Zeno Clash later on. Also I like to think The Golem somewhat cares about betterment of Zenozoik because He developed friendship with the boy after the events of Arifacts of Chaos. He attempts to understand because of the link with The Boy. In Clash, Golem is still in contact with people he serves, but in Zeno Clash it seems like those people are long gone. There are no laws in Zeno Clash because in Clash, Pseudo abolished the one law. Guns weren't developed yet accept that one canon Corwid. But at some point they started creating guns. Kax mentions that generation in Zeno Clash 2 seem worse than all previous ones. It makes sense than that people in Clash seem more civilized. I seriously think all clues point to Artifacts of Chaos taking place before Zeno Clash. Anyway, great video! I really love to see someone doing a retrospective on Zeno Clash series

@CommandPromptGaming 6 ай бұрын

No your 100% right. Carlos actually replied to the video on Twitter and confirmed it. You got it right, my dude💪!

@GuyWithChainsaw 6 ай бұрын

Oh got it! Anyway. Thanks for this video. It was great to take a look back at Zeno Clash 1 and 2 through this video. I first played Zeno Clash in my teenage years. And I fell in love with this series yet again in Clash: Artifacts of Chaos. I consider Clash my comfort game. Just punching dudes in a beautiful world with the lovable duo of Pseudo and Boy.@@CommandPromptGaming

@CommandPromptGaming 6 ай бұрын

Nah, thank _you_ man! I'm glad you got something out of video! It means so much, bro💪.

@ElBromoHojo 4 ай бұрын

Also, the downed spacecraft in the sand,.implies a loss of at least one type of connection with the outside world, and thus possible cause of decline.

@Goofy476 19 күн бұрын

The rolling Boulder game in Zeno 2 is a reference to another of the developers' game series called Rock of the ages

@SirFingleton 5 ай бұрын

46:10 i believe this happens when you attack/grab them as they come out of daze or when you try to hit each other at the same time

@Anonymouscrayons 7 ай бұрын

My wife and I love this video! I've been a Zeno Clash fan since the first one came out. Excited to see where the story goes. (Helim is my favorite character.)

@CommandPromptGaming 7 ай бұрын

Hell yeah! Thanks so much for watching! Comments like this are why I do it❤️!

@scottriddell3514 3 ай бұрын

Dann I’m really starting to like ace team for making this game and I’m sure to have character design of my own and add to this franchise also I wonder how alien and inspiring the characters look

@thestralner6335 2 ай бұрын

thanks for the video. a couple things about artifacts of chaos' story (specifically his power), the golems dialogue makes it sound quite a bit like the boy was something he was working on for a while, so i assume the power was something he fostered. as for the reason he needs the power, i believe its because the boy's version of linking actually has the ability to heal or strengthen the linked things, not just link their injuries. this is never something we see with the golem's linking, but with the boy's linking, he can link his grandpa's strength to his brother's, or heal plants and such. his power seems to "even out" more than it just matches.

@CommandPromptGaming 2 ай бұрын

Mhmm 🤔. I never quite got that impression from the dialogue, but it's not out of the question. It kinda feels like it was left intentionally ambiguous at the end so that future games can elaborate on details further. Kinda how the entire series has been up until this point, honestly lol. But I appreciate the food for thought and your time! Hope you enjoyed the rest of it💪!

@thestralner6335 2 ай бұрын

@@CommandPromptGaming for sure

@jurtheorc8117 7 ай бұрын

*jumps down a mountain i just climbed* Oh, and also: You seem quite set on considering Clash: AoC a continuation of the mainline numbered Zeno Clash games. Have you tried looking at it by flipping your vision around? Some things may make more sense with this different view.

@scottriddell3514 9 күн бұрын

I hope we get a adaptation of this franchise hopefully a animated movie or so

@SirFingleton 5 ай бұрын

45:36 to arm bar the enemy, they harve to be dazed when you counter attack

@CommandPromptGaming 5 ай бұрын

Oh wow, okay. Never knew that!

@SirFingleton 5 ай бұрын

it says it in the tutorial

@CommandPromptGaming 5 ай бұрын

@@SirFingleton Well guess I missed it🤨.

@SirFingleton 5 ай бұрын

you actually almost showed it around the timestamp

@aander2112 5 ай бұрын

just a bit of clarification on some combat mechanics: the stamina meter is sorta oddly written, damage taken is reduced by 50% if you still have some stamina in the meter (indicated by the shield icon which disappears upon being emptied). a lot of people thought this was going to be an animation because of the whole "automatically block" verbiage. so the intent of combat (at least imo) is to go in, dump your stamina then back out and play defense for a bit, OR if you're really good at reading enemies, you can stay in the fight by getting a parry which refills your stamina meter based on how accurately you blocked the attack. I did a Steam Guide that goes into my discoveries of the combat system. The game definitely doesn't do a perfect job explaining how this stuff works but personally I really enjoyed discovering the hidden combat mechanics in this game. It's my favorite combat system right below Sekiro.