Z (video game)
Z (pronounced Zed) is a 1996 Real Time Strategy game set in a galaxy far far away where a perpetual war is taking place between two different Interplanetary Empires of sentient biped Robots; the heroic red MegaCom Corporation and the dastardy blue TransGlobal Empires. We follow the story of Commander Zod and his two transport pilots Brad and Allan as they travel across five different worlds; blowing things up, knocking back rocket fuel and taking down names.
In 2001 a sequel was made; Z: Steel Soldiers which followed the story of Zod (now a lowly Captain) being in charge of one side of a neutral zone on a distant planet. Currently, the two forces are under a ceasefire, and the possibility for a more permanent peace is also certain. Zod, however, enters the neutral zone after his men having shot down an aircraft. On it, he finds a new secret weapon and uncovers a massive plot of the blues to wipe out major strategic red bases all at once during the peace talks.
In no way related to the 1969 French political film Z, but it's a easy mistake to make.
- Abandoned Area: Battlefields are littered with abandoned factories, vehicles and grenades. Also, the last world is a decaying industrial complex.
- Color-Coded Armies: Reds Vs Blues, the multi-player of the second game includes additional colours too.
- Dodge the Bullet: Cannon projectiles and thrown grenades are so slow that properly maneuvered light tank or a jeep can evade them for enough time to shoot the enemy infantry or driver from the tank with faster, low-caliber bullets. AI takes advantage of this.
- Flash of Pain
- Geo Effects: Water allows infantry to pass (if lucky enough not to be eaten by a crocodile or a swamp monster), vehicles need a bridge, which can be damaged (and repaired with a crane). Rocks and ice walls can be blown up.
- Non-Fatal Explosions: Averted in that exploding tanks sometimes shoot their turrets into the air. Falling turret can destroy another tank. This can lead to a chain reaction.
- One-Letter Title
- Ridiculously-Human Robots: They walk, they talk, they get drunk on rocket fuel. Oh and they also use computers with keyboards and drive around in tanks.
- Stuff Blowing Up: This is how you win the game. Either you shoot the opponent's fort from outside with lasers, tanks and missiles, or you send a single unit inside it. Anyway, it blows up.
- This Loser Is You: Losing in first game results in your troops, one by one, telling you how much you suck and how bad you must be to lose.
- Variable Mix: Music is more intense during combat and even more so when combat happens close to headquarters.
- You Require More Vespene Gas: Averted. Factories do not need supplies, only time (however it decreased if you got more territories).