Leveling up in ZHP is a very unique and forgivable system, one where completion or death in a dungeon equates to loss of all items (unless stored via special capsules purchasable at HQ)…but not base experience. Meaning, sticking out a failed dungeon – and multiple deaths – long enough produces a core character leveled up enough to stand a literal fighting chance.
Be warned, however: falling to the same enemy type or malady subsequent times produces a ‘phobia.’ A phobia means stronger enemies of that type…and less defense against them…upon future attempts at that same dungeon. Still, kick some ass against these same baddies, and the phobia goes away. Take that, Pfizer.
Moreover, a unique HP versus energy system serves to strike a nice balance between encouraged and endless wandering. Walking regenerates HP…but also decreases energy. Energy can only be replenished through occasionally rare food consumables. Failure to eat logically equates to death by starvation. Thus, while wandering + defeating more baddies increases experience and item acquisition, it likewise reduces energy. Related, message boards find the starvation phobia one of the hardest to overcome in ZHP.
Defeat more Bizarro-world dungeons, change things for the better on actual Earth. Dungeon victories equate to additional attempts to defeat Darkdeath Evilman…all of which produce more failure. And more training.
Weapons/Items – resembling other NIS titles – can either be repaired or synthesized. Complex systems underlie the latter, where a near-infinite series of combinations awaits. Same rules apply for premium items as simple ones: die in a dungeon, lose it forever. Thus, use those aforementioned capsules and storage space wisely.
One of ZHP’s main selling points remains NIS’ terrific sense of humor at itself and the anime/JRPG as a whole. Dialog is stellar, voice-overs entertaining. While I didn’t get all of the jokes, veterans of these two genres are in for a treat. Still, don’t expect mind-blowing graphics or audio. This is average audio-visual fare for the PSP; nothing more, nothing less.
Finally and unfortunately, NIS titles sport a persistent wart. ZHP suffers from like maladies of ‘Badman’ and ‘Cladun’ before it, that being ridiculously high learning curves and/or character leveling up pre-requisites. For non-Disgaea veterans, expect a solid two hours of confusion before the game’s engine finally makes sense, also oodles of deaths until your character is finally leveled up enough to safely wander dungeons. I suspect some will abandon hope before reaching ZHP payoff…but such a decision would be regrettable. The benefits far outweigh the costs.
'Z.H.P. Unlosing Ranger vs. Darkdeath Evilman’ is a terrific, turn-based strategy RPG, another solid offering by NIS for the PSP. Typical of NIS, a convoluted – albeit sometimes hysterical – storyline is the bow for a package featuring a robust engine and dungeon crawling dynamics. Disgaea veterans will feel right at home with ZHP. Newbies will encounter a modest (~2 hour) learning, leveling up curve until the title shows its true colors.
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Premium turn-based, strategy engine
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Fully customizable characters
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Laugh-out-loud, clever dialog
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- Moderate learning curve
- Wacky plot
- Average graphics and audio
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| Quote: "'Z.H.P. Unlosing Ranger vs. Darkdeath Evilman’ is a terrific, turn-based strategy RPG, another solid offering by NIS for the PSP. Typical of NIS, a convoluted – albeit sometimes hysterical – storyline is the bow for a package featuring a robust engine and dungeon crawling dynamics." |
Reviewed by Paul Stuart | 11.15.10 |
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Similar Games: Cladun - This is an RPG (8.3) | Disgaea 2: Dark Hero Days (8.5)
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