ZEPHON
" Immersive post-apocalyptic 4X RPG with deep tactical combat but shallow diplomacy and economy "
ZEPHON Review
ZEPHON is a polished, combat-focused 4X strategy game that builds upon the foundation laid by Gladius. It shines in tactical depth, atmosphere, and pacing, offering a brisk yet meaningful combat experience with smart AI and terrain tactics. The game's sci-fi, cyber-horror, and eldritch themes enrich its narrative and visuals, complemented by strong lore and character moments. While the combat and story elements receive praise, other 4X aspects like diplomacy, economy, and city-building feel underdeveloped and rigid, often frustrating expansion strategies.
Players note that the game is best enjoyed by those who prioritize battle-driven gameplay, with diplomacy and passive approaches being less rewarding. The game includes multiple leaders, unlockable modifiers, and neutral factions that add variety, though faction uniqueness and replayability could improve. Some criticisms highlight limited tooltips, balance issues, and a lack of a deep campaign. Overall, ZEPHON offers a strong, atmospheric experience for fans of tactical 4X combat willing to accept its narrower focus.
Highlights
Players praise ZEPHON for its deep and satisfying tactical combat, emphasizing focused unit-per-tile battles and terrain advantages. The game's atmospheric sci-fi and eldritch art style and strong lore and worldbuilding stand out, creating a unique and immersive experience. Voice acting and polished animations enhance immersion. The inclusion of multiple leaders and unlockable rules modifiers helps maintain variety. The apocalyptic endgame events and neutral factions add dynamic challenges, preventing common 4X endgame stagnation. Overall, the game is regarded as a solid evolution of Gladius with improved visuals and storytelling.
Criticisms
Common criticisms include the underdeveloped diplomacy and economic systems, which feel shallow compared to other 4X titles. City-building is seen as rigid and limiting, with morale mechanics discouraging expansion. Players mention a lack of faction diversity and uniqueness, leading to repetitive playthroughs. The game’s UI suffers from insufficient tooltips and unclear information, complicating strategic planning. Some players report balance issues, especially with line-of-sight mechanics favoring AI, causing frustrating ambushes. The absence of a deep campaign and a focus on short skirmishes reduce long-term engagement for some. Additionally, graphics clarity at zoomed-out levels is criticized.
Pros
- • Deep and meaningful tactical combat with smart AI and terrain advantages.
- • Rich sci-fi, cyber-horror, and eldritch atmosphere enhances immersion.
- • Strong lore and worldbuilding with engaging character moments.
- • Polished animations and quality voice acting improve gameplay feel.
- • Multiple leaders and unlockable modifiers add variety to playthroughs.
- • Dynamic apocalyptic endgame events prevent stale late-game scenarios.
- • Neutral factions add complexity and unpredictability to maps.
Cons
- • Diplomacy and economic systems feel shallow and underdeveloped.
- • City-building mechanics are rigid and limit expansion strategies.
- • Limited faction diversity reduces replayability and uniqueness.
- • Lack of tooltips and unclear UI complicate understanding game mechanics.
- • Balance issues with line-of-sight favor AI, causing frustrating ambushes.
- • No deep campaign, mostly short skirmish-style gameplay.
- • Graphics clarity suffers when zoomed out, making unit identification hard.
Rating Criteria
From the developers of Warhammer 40,000: Gladius, ZEPHON is a post-apocalyptic 4X strategy game built on Proxy’s unique tactical combat system. Guide survivors through a turbulent future, navigating unexpected disasters, eldritch horror and cyberpunk monstrosities. What will you do to survive?