The biggest selling point of Zeno Clash, more than anything else, is the first-person melee combat. I'm glad to say that this is some of the best brawling I've ever done, first-person or otherwise. The combat system is just simple enough to learn quickly, but has a bunch of nuances for the more advanced player. Left-mouse performs a light punch, right-mouse performs a heavy punch, and space blocks. This is not all, though! By using the movement keys in junction with these moves, you can do things such as dodge or charge up your heavy punch. Some moves can also be chained into a combo with the right timing, letting you do things such as kicking someone's stomach under their guard or deflecting their attack with a well-timed block and kicking then in the face, sending them flying.

Shooting also plays into the game significantly, and the animations and models that accompany each weapon are fascinating. My personal favorite is the skull-launching crossbow, both because of the reload animation and the concept itself. In almost every sequence after they make their first appearance, you can get these guns to aid you in your fight, and they do make things much easier. Just keep in mind that there is an achievement for using weapons only when absolutely necessary. Such as during boss fights.

The visual and aural impact of the fighting and shooting is tremendous as well. You feel like you have actual weight thrown into each punch, and elements such as a shifting view and recovery animations add that last little nuance. The enemies are the same way, recoiling with satisfying thwacks and crunches as you pound their noses through their faces. I can't say that I've been this close to and embroiled in the action in a long time.

Speaking of the visuals, Zeno Clash takes place in a truly magnificent and disturbing world. Zenozoik and all that dwell within it look like a twisted re-imagining of Dr. Seuss by H.R. Giger. From the local wildlife to the sentient inhabitants to the architecture, this is a world where dreams come to life. In fact, it seems almost like a place of magical realism. A place where true reality is lurking just behind the shadows, constantly pushed back by the fantastic. My personal favorite out of all the designs are the nihilists. Their personalities and visual cues are so well-developed and intriguing that I instantly became hooked and wanted to see more.

It's hard not to spoil Zeno Clash, as the story is so interwoven with the game, so I'll keep it simple. You are Ghat, the son of a hermaphrodite creature called Father-Mother. Banished from your home, you travel through Zenozoik to escape your past, but end up returning to your family in the end. Ghat's intentions are hardly altruistic, however, which makes him very different from most protagonists. The one disappointment that the story brought was the ending. Very rarely does an ending come along that confuses me as much as this one. Hopefully there will be sequels or expansions to further elucidate the story, especially the relationship between the characters, because I am baffled. Flummoxed. Perplexed.

Zeno Clash is not without problems, however. There is a re-use of the occasional Half-Life sound, which really draws away from the action. When you are playing, and suddenly the door sound plays and you recognize it, you are startled and pulled out of the game world and into realizing that you are playing a game. That's no good. Immersion breaking elements hurt games. There is also the odd glitch and bug here and there, such as accidentally knocking health items through walls or weapons breaking before they are supposed to.

Zeno Clash's main story takes about four hours on average, which may seem a bit short. However, Zeno Clash retails for $20, so it's not as if you are buying a full-price game and suddenly being surprised by how short it is. Comparisons to Portal can easily be drawn as well, if one so wishes, as Zeno Clash doesn't outstay its welcome, leaving you with good impressions of both the gameplay and the setting. There is also a challenge mode beyond the normal story where you speed through a tower full of enemies, taking as little damage as possible. Unfortunately, you can only compare your times and amount of health lost to your friends. As is, there's no global leaderboard, and that's a shame.

Zeno Clash is a game that I followed from the time that I first heard about it until release. I had a number of concerns as well as a number of expectations regarding the quality of the end result. I'm overjoyed to say that I was not disappointed at all. Zeno Clash is magnificent, and whether or not this review is the first time you have heard of it or the capstone of you keeping up on the game, it's a game that you should play. It's a game that everyone should play. Clever storytelling, intriguing setting, and visceral first-person fighting make it worth every penny.

Want a taste of Zeno Clash before trying the game? Check out our three HD trailers right here on Big Download.