Zero Strain

Genre: 2D Space Shooter

Players: 1

.

Review:

Zero Strain is a 2D Space Shooter released on PC in 2019 and ported to multiple platforms including Nintendo Switch in 2020. This game almost controls like a 2-Stick Shooter, except players don’t aim with the second stick, with players essentially “locking on” to enemies as they shoot them.

Graphically, this game looks pretty good, and that can actually be a bit of a problem. While the game uses fairly simply polygonal graphics, there are some decent particle effects going on here, both to convey a sense of atmosphere, as well as to depict the action taking place. The problem is that these effects can sometimes make the action difficult to parse, interfering with the gameplay.

Even without this being an issue, the gameplay has other problems. I try to keep an open mind about games that do things differently, but throughout the entire time I played this game, I found myself constantly thinking “this would be much better if it were just a 2-stick shooter”. It just does not feel natural to aim with the stick you use to move, and then maneuver while you’re locked on to an enemy.

However, even if you’re okay with this kind of control, there are further problems. The game actually penalizes you for shooting too much, having your gun overheat. What’s more, movement is ridiculously loose, feeling like you’re sliding around on ice.

Whatever you’re hoping for in Zero Strain, I don’t think you’ll find it. If you’re looking for a 2-Stick Shooter, this isn’t that. If you’re looking for a 2D Space Shooter with a decent alternate control scheme, you won’t find that. While this game isn’t fundamentally broken, its design is such that it seems to be aggressively avoiding fun in as many places as possible. With so many better options on the Nintendo Switch, there is no reason to get this game.

tl;dr – Zero Strain is a 2D Space Shooter that feels like it should’ve been a 2-stick shooter, but it isn’t one. Even beyond that frustration, the controls are terrible, the visuals make it hard to see the action, and the game actually punishes players for shooting too much. There are far too many other better games on the Nintendo Switch to bother with this one.

Grade: D+

^{You can support eShopperReviews on Patreon! Please click HERE to become a Sponsor!}