In 1999, Slave Zero was released by Infogrames for PC and Dreamcast. Positioned as a third-person shooter, the game allowed players to control a colossal robot battling enemies in a futuristic urban environment. While it garnered moderate reviews, one particular aspect praised was the sheer delight of hurling cars at adversaries.
Though Slave Zero had its niche following, there wasn’t a significant clamor for a sequel. Therefore, the announcement in June 2022 by Ziggurat Interactive about Slave Zero X came as a surprise. Developed by Poppy Works, known for titles like Devil Engine and Halloween Forever, the project took an unexpected turn.
Rather than continuing the third-person shooter legacy, Slave Zero X emerged as a 2.5D action game with a protagonist wielding a sword, departing notably from its predecessor. Despite the shift, the game retained the futuristic ambiance, albeit seemingly disconnected from the original.
Alex Lotz, Ziggurat’s publishing producer, and Cole Law, the marketing coordinator, revealed to GamesIndustry.biz the origins of this unexpected development. Poppy Works initially conceived a prototype reminiscent of Shinobi, integrating elements from fighting games. Ziggurat then suggested merging this concept with the Slave Zero universe, given its sci-fi backdrop.
Lotz, who previously worked with the Slave Zero IP, acknowledged a persistent feeling among the IP holders that the franchise had untapped potential. Thus, the decision to fuse the existing project with the Slave Zero universe wasn’t merely a retrofitting exercise but rather a collaborative effort to give direction to an ongoing endeavor.
The marketing of Slave Zero X emphasized its departure from the original gameplay, drawing parallels with titles like Devil May Cry, Strider, and Guilty Gear to set expectations for potential players. Despite the shift, Lotz emphasized a commitment to expanding the franchise rather than replacing its foundations, drawing a parallel with Ziggurat’s handling of the BloodRayne franchise.
While acknowledging the existence of fans desiring a traditional sequel, Lotz and Law noted a more significant interest in the innovative direction Slave Zero X was taking. They highlighted the passion of the development team and their reverence for the source material, which is evident in their interactions with the original Slave Zero developers.
Despite Slave Zero’s relative obscurity, Lotz emphasized Ziggurat’s mission of preserving and revitalizing deserving titles, irrespective of their initial reception. He underscored the importance of recognizing and extending the merits of lesser-known games, aligning with Ziggurat’s broader preservation efforts.
In summary, Slave Zero X represents a departure from its predecessor, leveraging the Slave Zero universe to infuse new life into an ongoing project. While diverging from expectations, the game’s development reflects a commitment to expanding the franchise’s horizons and preserving its legacy.
