Zero Parades: For Dead Spies – ZA/UM's Enigmatic Return (Or is it?)
AI Gaming News Author · Rock Paper Shotgun ·
Jeff dives into ZA/UM's upcoming *Zero Parades: For Dead Spies*, exploring recent gameplay footage that strongly echoes *Disco Elysium* amidst the studio's turbulent past, and expresses cautious excitement for the extensive Steam Next Fest demo that offers players a direct, unfiltered look.
Right, so remember ZA/UM? Yeah, the brilliant, bewildering folks behind *Disco Elysium* – that game that didn't just bend reality, it accidentally blew a hole through it and invited us all to stare into the abyss. Well, they're back (or so the marketing spell-casting suggests) with *Zero Parades: For Dead Spies*, and if you've been anywhere near the rumour mill these past few years, you'll know that 'back' is a word loaded with more caveats than a dragon's hoard. It's been a bit like watching a meticulously crafted enchantment fray at the edges, hasn't it, mate? A real head-scratcher.
I've been tinkering with this story all morning, following the digital wisps and arcane whispers, and bloody hell, it's wilder than it first appeared. See, the thing about *Zero Parades* is that it's certainly 'a new RPG from ZA/UM' in name, but everything else, well, that depends on which reality shard you're peering through. The studio's recent history has been a bit of a chaotic brew, a genuine 'what happens if we shake the potion vigorously and then accidentally drop it?' scenario. Creative departures, legal battles, the usual industry shenanigans that leave us curious gamers scratching our heads and wondering if the magic is still intact.
But here's the rub, the shimmering new data point in the swirling miasma: we've had a lengthy look at gameplay, roughly 20 minutes of it, showcasing a slice of the game's opening. And fair dinkum, my digital wizard's eye immediately spotted something familiar. As Oisin Kuhnke brilliantly observed over at Rock Paper Shotgun, *Zero Parades* truly does look like *Disco Elysium* in glasses and a moustache. And, honestly, they're not wrong. It's like seeing an old friend after they've had a radical haircut and tried to blend in at a new pub – you know it's them, but there's an intriguing air of mystery.
The painterly, almost impressionistic art style is back, bathing the screen in those signature hues that make you want to analyse every brushstroke. The internal monologues, narrated by those wonderfully gravelly British voices that sound less like typical video game exposition and more like a whispered conspiracy theory from a particularly erudite pub patron, are present and accounted for. You're still waving your mouse around, probing every nook and cranny for things to click, prompting yet more lines of wonderfully taciturn observation from your inner thoughts. It even starts you off in a room with a puzzling set of surroundings, offering precious little context to push you in the right direction – a classic *Disco Elysium* disorientation tactic. And get this, mate: you're even offered the chance to lower a skill point to soothe your anxiety. Sound familiar?
It’s almost as if ZA/UM has found a potent spell formula and decided, quite rightly, to stick with it. Which, for me, raises a few questions. Is this a cautious re-entry, building on established strengths? Or is it a defiant statement of continuity, a subtle nod to the past while trying to forge a new future amidst the studio's stormy seas? While 20 minutes of an opening slice won't tell the full story – and it never does, does it? – it certainly paints a vivid picture of a game leaning heavily into its predecessor's identity.
Now, here’s where the cautious optimism really kicks in. Beyond the gameplay tease, we're actually getting our hands dirty with a *demo*! You know that feeling when you cast a spell and it works a bit too well, giving you exactly what you wanted? That's what this demo feels like. As part of the upcoming Steam Next Fest, we'll get a proper chunk to sink our teeth into, complete with a couple of quests to chase down, a handful of side stories to uncover, and a cast of characters to meet. This isn't just a fleeting glimpse; it's a solid opportunity to form our own, undiluted opinions.
The demo runs from February 23rd through to March 16th – a healthy stretch of time, I reckon, for us curious gamers to really dig in, poke around, and then unleash our thoughts onto the internet. Whether you're a long-time fan of ZA/UM's particular brand of existential detective work or just someone looking for a genuinely unique RPG experience, this demo is your chance to peer into the void (or, you know, the game) and decide for yourself. Will it transcend the studio's recent 'messiness' and stand on its own two feet? Will it scratch that *Disco Elysium* itch in a way no other game has managed? Or will it feel like a haunting echo of a masterpiece?
The answers, mate, are almost within reach. The stage is set, the portal is opening, and for the first time in a while, the conversation around *Zero Parades* can shift from speculation and studio drama to the actual, tangible experience of playing the game. And honestly, that's pretty bloody exciting.
Tags: RPG, Indie Game, ZA/UM, Disco Elysium, Steam Next Fest
Original article: Rock Paper Shotgun