'Zenonia' RPG Beta Sneak Peek and Video
posted by Eli Hodapp on May 7th, 2009 12:12 PM EDT in Action, Role-Playing, Upcoming Games, iPhone games, iPod touch gamesZenonia is GAMEVIL's epic RPG which has absolutely decimated the mobile sales charts in Korea this year and I've been lucky enough to have the opportunity to play the English iPhone beta for a while now. While we had previously previewed an early version of the game at GDC, the text had not yet been translated at that time.
If you've been looking for something on the App Store that compares to the classic 16-bit RPG's from days of yore, Zenonia may just be what you've been searching for — especially since according to GAMEVIL, Zenonia comes packed with over 40 hours of gameplay.
Zenonia isn't as simple as just completing the main quest and being finished, included is a good and evil decision system that reminds me a lot of Knights of the Old Republic. As long as you choose a slightly different alignment every time in how your character responds, Zenonia should have a decent amount of replay value. (Not that replay value is even a big deal if the 40 hour claim holds true.)
New trailer from the Developer:
The game controls using an on-screen D-Pad which feels clunky at first but quickly becomes second nature. GAMEVIL seems to have put a lot of thought in to how the D-Pad functions and the limitations of on-screen controls. You don't need to always be facing what you're attacking, just getting in range and tapping the attack button will make your character automatically turn to the nearest monster. It's kind of like the 2D version of aim assist that is common in a lot of iPhone 3D shooters.
I'm reluctant to compare Zenonia to the Zelda series, but it is inevitable. GAMEVIL seems to have designed this game specifically for gamers clamoring for a classic action RPG experience, and the beta I've been playing is exactly that. Instead of summarizing the setting of the game, I decided shooting a video would be more appropriate:
Zenonia is on track to be submitted to Apple on May 15th, and I'm looking forward to getting my hands on the final copy.
I will have it the second it releases and cant wait. 40+ hours of in-depth gameplay plus great replayability…you cant go wrong with this one!!!
It is only 40 hours of gameplay because there is 35 hours of painful dialogue.
Check out those unwieldy controls, even in the beta pre-view video the player could not use the virtual d-pad. I will have to pass.
Thankfully Arvale II will be out soon.
well hey if u don't want it don't get it. but i mean every great rpg out there has quite a bit of dialogue in it, thats part of an rpg :/. Im definitely looking forward to this game i think it has great potential.
Thanks for showing us what a stupid comment looks like.
Wow a good/evil play scheme to boot?! Even better! Hopefully this game will fill the Zelda gap on the iPhone – maybe even rival Zelda! …maybe…
Awesome, ditto to that GodSon I so am getting this.. weee
Thanks for the update.
Is it just me or are there frame rate issues every now and then?
Does the alignment just change the story or actually after the gameplay at all?
The controller pad looks like it's a pain to use. For such action RPG's i'm yet to see a successful control method.
Hope the poor grammar is addressed before it's released…
omg GAMEVIL i love you love you love you!!! id take a beautiful 2d game over a shitty 3d one any time
omgggg my MOST anticipated game EVERRRrrrrr
I don't understand why they can't word wrap the text properly instead of cutting off the words in the middle. That just makes it annoying and hard to read!
Yeah those first few seconds left me wondering about the classes, and about allllll that text in the first ten minutes, I guess that's one way to make a game take 40 hours to play though. Was there ever any actual fighting going on in the video?
These guys seriously need to start thinking about a Zenonia 2 or another RPG with even more features and polish.
…maybe they should release the first one before thinking about a sequel…
Looks wordy
but really cool!
Can't wait to play it, no matter what I'm on it.
This game is well known in South Korea. I hope it isn't a grind-fest…
Other than that, the game looks good.
Looks promising but I really need to see some real action.
What's with all the complaints over the amount of text? It IS an RPG. I've been playing it as well, and after the intro, it does decrease a bit overall. They just take awhile to set up the story in the beginning, afterwards it's more exploration and combat than anything. (At least in the 5-7 hours I played)
Yes I'll complain!
Considering the core foundation to a successfull classic 2D RPG's (or any RPG for that matter) is it's dialogue, the delivery of dialogue as featured in the videos & screen shots is exceptionally poor, so unless the grammar is sorted before release then I'll pass no matter how impressive this looks graphically… This may be a forgivable oversight for some, but this just seems lackadaisical to me.
I really hope that they fix th
e fact that all of the words a
re cut up in the middle. Tha
t is very annoying.
I'll second that!
very true, pls fix it x 2
Im a beta tester for this game and I have not experienced any framerate issues whatsoever and the virtual D-PaD works perfectly 99.99% of the time (only cuz nothing is 100% perfect!)
Instant buy for me. Been waiting for a game like this and it can't come soon enough. I love their BS 2009, and Zenonia will be just as good.
"Keep your head up!Your father"… come on guys, put spaces between sentences, it looks jumbled!
The rain sounds horrible too.
well, nothing else you can critism, hum?! so now you complain about…ok the sound…oh not even but the sound of rain..ok.. well you're picky.
They have to sort out that tex
t. Totally unforgivabl
e…
This is as good as 2D gets on the iPhone and still everyone is complaining. I really don't know why…
(Now, on with the action-video!)
I think you'll find people are excited about the game on the whole. The text thing is glaringly silly though however you look at it.
Considering the core foundation to a successfull classic 2D RPG's (or any RPG for that matter) is it's dialogue, the delivery of dialogue as featured in the videos & screen shots is exceptionally poor, so unless the grammar is sorted before release then I'll pass no matter how impressive this looks graphically… This may be a forgivable oversight for some, but this just seems lackadaisical to me.
Release Final Fantasy 6 for the iPhone, charge $20.00 and I'm sold.
that will be cool!
I can't wait! I'm so proud of myself that I'm Korean LOL
whoever complaining shit about this, just don't buy
why you guys so mean?
We all have our right to criticize, it is a games forum afterall. It seems you do not fully understand the reason why people are complaining about certain aspects of the game. Let me explain, a core element of any RPG is it's scripted dialogue, without a decent level of grammar, basic sentence structure or syntax, it can render an otherwise great RPG unplayable. Believe me all the people levelling criticism at this game do want to purchase this game, we are all passionate about gaming and do not unnecessarily want to see any game fail, but what we don't want to buy into is a game that is fundamentaly flawed at a crucial level, but would rather have a game that is finished & complete with care an attention to detail.
Oh… My bad
I thought they will fix that issues(grammers etc.) and everyone knew they will. So I thought it wasn't a real problem… However, I don't know why people are complaining about lots of saying… For me, if I start a new fantasy RPG game, the intro usally takes like 30mins. Isn't it a common thing for the RPG games?
Hey Ataru Hori & who complain about the text,
that's the RPG for you, my grandmom play it everyday… Have fun
http://textbasedrpg.com/
I mean its text and dialogue is awesome, just don't have graphic… haha~ get it?!
(To Charles & MrDark)
You only need to look at the RPG\'s that get it right, Final Fantasy, Breath of Fire, Monster Hunter, even Pokemon! I could list more all day! Text is crucial & so far Zenonia just doesn\'t have it right… I even find both of your replies completely irrelevant and poorly delivered.
All of you guys, stop complaining, it's only the beta…everything will be fixed, that includes everyone's criticized comments about the text.
Don't put out out a substandard video then until it's really ready, we wont get the wrong impression then!
I cant wait for this game. while constructive criticism is always needed, I find it baffling that about half of the posters have commented about the damn text issue. While its true it must be fixed, dont you think it has been worked on? how many people complaining have the beta? THose that do have the beta how many times are you updated? my guess would be none, maybe once you got the beta and you give back your thoughts…
you cant keep playing the copy you got at the beginning and talk like they haven't fixed anything…all your doing is playing anyway they're doing the work.
maybe ill spell it out and hold your hand – you tell the guys making zenonia about issues on the 1st of the month, dont be a broken record and still complain to the world how horrible the game is cause of the damn text all through the month. Maybe you dont hear back, so what? if you got another copy weeks after you gave the suggestion and it wasn't fixed, then you have the right to complain.
Id rather see no comments then the same damn thing over and over again, like your dealing with the end result or your working with the company side by side..
also to those people saying that they shouldn't put out a substandard video till its ready, bull $h!t. If we got nothing you'ed be the people to say they should release something. Dont watch it if you truely believe that. You must have known it was the beta video you were watching! RIGHT? Common….
I check every once in a while to see if there is anything worth while wrote. I get disappointed every time. all one needs to do is skim or do a search for text and you get my point. Yes you have the right to criticize but how many people really need to say it…EVERYONE got the point the first time if you watched the video…its quite obvious…I dout the makers of the game needed help figuring out that one.
It seems that Zenonia will be $5.99… http://twitter.com/GAMEVIL/status/1790726353
I hop e that thE dialogue is F-I-X-E-D bY t.h.e time it-s released! OR it wOnT even be woRth $0.99