I just finished tromping across the galaxy in Space Pirates and Zombies (SPAZ for short), and I have to say I am thoroughly impressed. I typically enjoy games about space and exploration so Space Pirates and Zombies was a no brainer.
In SPAZ you and the quirky crew of the pirate ship “The Clockwork” are in search of the galactic core. The core which is located at the center of the galaxy holds a fortune in “rez” (the games currency). You’ll need this in order to bring the crews ship back to its former glory.
Your role in all of this is to pilot a fleet, small at first, of spaceships into the great unknown in search of the galactic core. Along the way you meet odd and unique characters that ask for your help and vice versa.
Some people say size doesn’t matter but when it comes to the size of the galaxy the bigger the better. This game takes place in a galaxy where you decide how big it is. You can choose from a minimum of 150 stars all the way up to the maximum of 300. Each star has multiple planets for you to explore and take on quests from different factions to gain experience, money, and loot.
The galaxy generator is not the only thing that’s great about SPAZ. The ship customization is great and is easy to negotiate. Each ship has its own class, size, and weapon slots. Acquiring new ships a long the way is also tons of fun. Instead of grinding quests and mining ore for rez to purchase new ships, you have to recover black boxes from ships you destroy, and reverse engineer them to make them your own. You may also refit your ships at anytime even during combat.
Space Pirates and Zombies is a top down shooter but it also has an RTS and RPG aspect to it. Normally I’m really bad at RTS but in SPAZ combat doesn’t solely rely on it, so if your like me don’t shy away based on being weaksauce at RTS.
In order to use certain gear you buy and earn through quests, you have to have enough points in the corresponding skill. Skills range from the offensive beams and cannons, to the defensive shields and hull upgrades along with other passive skills.
Last but not least I have to mention the quality. This game was made by only two people. TWO PEOPLE. I can only imagine the time and effort they must have put into it and shows. Don’t shy away from this title because of the RTS elements. It’s an enjoyable and off beat experience.
+ Vast universe to explore
+ Lots of customization
+ Funny dialogue
+ Easy controls and UI
Review score 8/10
Author: DoubleZ