Slave Zero X is a bloody brutal hack and slasher

It’s bloody, it’s brutal and it’s full of hack and slashing. Slave Zero X will have you sharpening your blades as it releases on Xbox, PlayStation and PC. 

Available right now on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S is Slave Zero X. It’s from the Ziggurat Interactive team, created in partnership with Poppy Works. The game is also on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and PC, with a Nintendo Switch version coming in early spring. 

Priced at £20.99 on the Xbox Store, Slave Zero X is a stylish 2.5D character action game set in the biopunk world of Slave Zero. That’s a game which first launched back in 1999, with a Steam page still up and available.

Mixing genre favourites

Slave Zero X adds in gnarly gameplay that will resonate with those appreciative of action and fighting game favourites like Devil May Cry, Strider, and Guilty Gear. And of course, that means players will slash, slice, and sever their way through the rotted foundations of the title’s dystopian environs.

In Slave Zero X you’ll get to embody the protagonist, Shou, as he throws his humanity to the side by becoming a furious Devil in pursuit of killing a false God. Vowing revenge and merging with a stolen Slave Unit Prototype, Shou will take up arms and do battle against the violent forces of the tyrannical SovKhan, the violent dictator who rules Megacity S1-9 with fists of iron and flesh.

The line to his desired vengeance is not a straight one, however – the SovKhan has a bloodthirsty army at his command, ready to take down anyone who rebels with the snap of his fingers.

The thing is, in order to free the Megacity from Sovkhan’s rule, Shou must battle and defeat the tyrant’s inner circle: the Five Calamities. Comprised of five viciously brutal warriors, each serves as a savage obstacle intent on standing in the way of Shou’s pursuit of vengeance. Each has their own reasons for their loyalties to the Sovkhan, but one thing is clear: they will do anything to put Shou in the ground. 

The devs speak up

“To say we’re elated with the release of this title would be an understatement,” said Kate Woods, VP of Ziggurat Interactive. “The grim and gruesome world of Slave Zero X is sure to captivate players with its fast-paced action, gorgeous artwork, and punishingly satisfying difficulty. We can’t wait to see everyone’s reactions!”

“Thrilled’ doesn’t even begin to cover how excited we are for Slave Zero X’s release,” said Wolfgang Wozniak, co-founder of development studio Poppy Works. “This title has been a labor of love from the whole team, and to be able to bring to life a new vision of one of the top-selling titles of the Dreamcast era is more than I can put into words. We truly hope everyone has as much fun hacking and slashing their way through this thrill ride as we had making it.”

Features of Slave Zero X include

• KILLER COMBOS: Use swift swordplay, explosive ordnance, and stylish combos against an army of meat and metal.
• DEATH FROM ABOVE: Air juggling, dashes, and frequent target switching allow you to take down foes of any size, while wall-jumping and platforming can help you outmaneuver your enemies.
• FIGHT FOR YOUR LIFE: Conquer mini-bosses, set pieces, and climactic 1-on-1 encounters that offer intense challenges against unforgettable villains.
• STRENGTH IS NOTHING WITHOUT CONTROL: Use the Training Room to hone precise and powerful moves to string together devastating attack sequences.
• BATTLE TO THE BEAT: A 90s-inspired soundtrack features heavy Drum’n’Bass and funky industrial music that adds to the thrill of combat.
• FEAST YOUR EYES: A unique visual aesthetic combines nostalgic 2D sprites with an advanced lighting system and stylized 3D environments.
• DUAL LANGUAGE: Fully voiced in English and Japanese with an all-star voice-acting cast.
• COLLECTABLE SECRETS: Defeat hidden Gold Troopers throughout the game to collect lore drops that tell the game’s back story in Chronicle.
• THE END IS NEVER THE END: After completing the campaign, further challenges await in an expansive and frenetic ‘Crimson Citadel’ procedural challenge tower with an online high-score leaderboard.

Buy Slave Zero X now

Head to the Xbox Store if you want to play Slave Zero X on Xbox One or Xbox Series X|S. Alternatively, you’ll also find the game on PlayStation and PC, with a Switch drop to follow. 

Slave Zero X Description

From the top of Megacity S1-9, the Sovereign Khan rules with fists of iron and flesh. Beneath the city’s rotting foundations, a vengeful warrior embarks on a journey to murder him. 5 years prior to the events of Slave Zero, Slave Zero X brings new life to a world where horrific, living machines known as Slaves are primed to become the latest tools of war in humanity’s long and bloody history. A secret band of warriors known as The Guardians hope to stop these biomecha from being unleashed upon the world, but one swordsman among their ranks has a different idea: use the enemy’s own weapon against them. By merging with a stolen Slave Unit Prototype, Shou will become a furious Devil in pursuit of killing a false God.