"Shooting targets = Fun"

Earlier this summer I was at the local bowling alley for my younger brother's birthday party. After 2 bowling games in, which I creaming the competition in the form of my brother’s friends I decided to check out the arcade while I waited for the cake to arrive. After a few rounds of Ms. Pac-Man, Marvel vs. Capcom, Indiana Jones Pinball, and a game of Canada vs. USSR Top Corner Hockey I noticed a game off to the corner by the name of Zero Point. I'd played Zero Point a couple times before and remembered it as being fairly good. In my case I'm not really a big fan of shooters but I thought hey what the heck I'll give this game a try. After noticing that no one had reviewed this game yet I decided to inform the world and voice my opinion. I'll now provide you with my analysis of Zero Point.

Zero Point is a fairly simplistic shooter. But despite not being overly complex it's great mindless fun to kill time and one of the better shooters you'll come across of this sort. In each level you must shoot a certain number of targets within a set time limit to win. You will have four levels to choose when you start out and as you win more rounds you can advance to harder stages. The game has 50 stages total to shoot your way through (unfortunately I can only get to about the 10th level before I run out of quarters) and the game will provide a nice amount of challenge for gamers of all ages and skill levels. The game provides a nice variety of targets including among others red/blue spiral circles, smiley faces, Jack in the boxes, thugs, and various animals.

While Zero Point can be quite fun when played alone having a second player is even better and for me this is what provides the most enjoyment and play incentive. In the two-player mode both players go head to head. To win you must out shoot your opponent and hit a minimum required number of targets or else the match will be a draw. Player 1 is assigned to shoot red targets and player 2 must shoot blue targets. Shooting the wrong coloured target won’t get you any points. Great two-player fun

Zero Point's graphics are 3D polygonal and for the most part look quite good. Most of the game has a goofy cartoony look to it. The graphics still look quite good today even though the game was originally released in 1998. Overall some nice visuals here.

I can't really say much about the music since the noise in the bowling alley drowns it out but I’d say it's all right. Nothing great nothing bad but a nice middle of the road feel. Once again the sound effects were kind of drowned out but what I could make out seemed to fit well with the atmosphere. There really isn't much to speak of sound effects wise beyond the sound of gun fire.

The game gives you a light gun, which you hold and shoot just like any arcade gun. The gun is responsive and easy to use just aim and shoot and if your aim is good you should have no problem hitting the targets.

Like I said before this game is simplistic and straight forward but is this a bad thing? In the case of replay value no. The game can still be quite fun even after you've played it many times especially if you do two-player. I guess it's just one of those games that keeps on giving.

There are bigger and flashier shooters out there but that fact aside Zero Point is still a fun game to play and replay. My advice is if you see Zero Point at your local arcade drop a couple quarters and take it for a spin. Happy shooting.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 08/30/02, Updated 08/30/02