Zool Redimensioned | PS4 Review

June 16, 2023 Jacob Gunderson

If I said “Interdimensional ninja gremlin”, you might think I’m talking about a new game, but you would be mistaken. Zool: Ninja of the Nth Dimension is the original Interdimensional ninja gremlin, making his debut in the early 90s on platforms like the Amiga, Atari ST, Game Boy, Game Gear, Super NES, and Genesis. Originally developed and published by Gremlin Graphics, the game was well received as a competitor of Sonic the Hedgehog. Now this cult classic is back as Zool Redimensioned with help from developer Sumo Digital and published by Secret Mode. In a time where it seems everything is either getting remade or remastered, does Zool have what it takes to leave another impact?

What You’ve Seen Is What You Get

Unfortunately, Zool Redimensioned is a remaster and not a remake, and doesn’t have a lot of the elements that players of today’s standards are used to. Following in the footsteps of other platformers of that time, Zool is split up into stages. Each stage has its own unique style, changing the background, collectables, traps, and enemies’ looks and movements. The stages have levels that need to be completed to progress, and contain collectables and secrets in different places. At the end of each level you’re given stats on number of collectables collected, number of deaths, and time it took to complete. Each level has challenges for these stats and you get a mark on that level if you complete the challenge.

There are no upgrades throughout the game, so you are just as strong at the end as you are in the beginning. There are power-ups that can be collected throughout the levels, but they only provide a temporary bonus. As you progress through the game, the enemies get harder in a way that forces you to work on mastery and dodging rather than just forcing your way through.

Sonic Stole Mega Man’s Blaster?

Like most side scrolling platformers, the gameplay is straightforward. Zool Redimensioned plays a lot like Sonic with a few extras thrown in. You can handle enemies a few ways such as jumping on them, sliding into them, shooting them, or using a downward smash out of the air. Some enemies are immune to certain things and in some spots a different approach is needed to keep yourself safe. Navigating around the map is made easier with the ability to wall climb and double jump. There is a classic mode which limits vision and removes the double jump feature to feel more like the original game. In the options menu, the game can be further changed to ease or harden your experience. Secret mini games can be found within the levels for the players that want or need to find everything, alternatively some of the challenge of this game is to do it fast.

I enjoy old school platformers, one of my favorites being Crash Bandicoot. While Crash has a lot going on with hidden levels, boxes, time trials, and tools, Zool is simple. Maybe too simple for its own good in this day, but in the simplicity it works. It doesn’t try to be anything more than what it was and I think that brings a level of nostalgia to the table for an older crowd, and yet easy enough to get into to hook a newer audience.

Zool Redimensioned took me about an hour to complete and that was with finding secrets and getting most of the collectables. There are still some things I could do in the game but I don’t feel the need to 100% this game like I do others. While replay value might be low, I did have a good time with the game. There is a sequel but I really don’t want to go out of my way to play it. If they do decide to remake that one, I would have to give it a try too.

To hear me talk more about Zool Redimensioned, be sure to listen to the May 24, 2023 episode of the Gaming Outsider podcast around the 1:29:22 time stamp.

This review is based on a PlayStation 4 copy of Zool Redimensioned provided by Secret Mode for coverage purposes. It is also available on PC via Steam.