by Matt Bird

Created on: June 22, 2008   Last Updated: July 10, 2010

Homicidal bombers have never looked cuter than they do in ZOX Space Arena 2.

Programmed and released by Paralela Studios, ZOX is a game with an objective that's immediately graspable: blow the crap out of the opposition. Enough said there, really, as that's your only goal. Kill everybody else to survive.

This would sound like a brutally inhumane way of spending time if you were not cast as a pint-sized alien called a Zox. Zox are among the cutest little things you've ever seen: huge eyes, oversized feet and squishy little bodies that resemble a pile of Jell-o. They meander around the arena, walking rather like penguins and making little noises that just eat you up inside.

But at the same time they are, still, trying to kill each other. Actually, it's more you that they're trying to kill, as you'll find yourself pitted against a number of computer-controlled players (and they're shaped like little computers, even) who lob bombs at you. You must scamper away from these bombs as quickly as possible or suffer instant death. One hit will do you in. The arenas themselves don't help, either, and are filled with pitfalls and other catastrophes waiting to happen (not to mention little crowds of spectators watching the mayhem and cheering).

Luckily you have some help in the form of power ups. Random items will drop on the playing field, blessing you with increased speed, higher jumping and a stronger kick to boot away bombs. And the occasional extra weapon will appear, adding a bit of variety to the bomb throwing.

ZOX is a beauty. Paralela Studios did well in choosing 3D cartoony characters. The Zox are wonderful to watch: they're just plain entertaining, from their pudgy little footsteps to the way they try to leap and catch your cursor on the main menu. Add in a variety of colorful arenas to play through and you've got an excellent combination. And though it's not terribly varied, the music is uniquely quirky. There isn't much to listen to, mind you, but what's there won't annoy you, and it fits the sci-fi pre-school look.

But don't let the cuteness fool you. ZOX is not an easy game. Far from it. If you're not wary you'll be blasted to hell in no time. Despite being an action game, ZOX is also rather strategic. You need to know how far to throw your bombs, where to throw them, how best to trap enemies to get them killed and how to avoid getting trapped yourself. Newcomers may be turned off by the difficulty, which ramps up quickly even on the easiest setting.

But the pain of being blown up is worth watching the Zox in action alone, so I definitely recommend giving ZOX Space Arena 2 a try. I'd buy it. And hey, if you're sold on the little guys, Paralela Studios looks to be planning a suite of games around the Zox. Hopefully they're not all based on explosions. 4/5

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