Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 71 | 15 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 93% | 87 | 110 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 100% | 97 | 1 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 3 reviews sampled · 2 total reviews in window · weighted 0.6 up / 0 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (23)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 80
“Thanks to the hard work of Sumo Digital’s student division, Zool Redimensioned polishes up the original game and introduces several additional extras that bring an excellent platformer back from the dead. For some, Zool Redimensioned might seem like a by-the-numbers platformer but that’s part of what makes it special. In an age when zipping left to right to get to the goal as quickly as possible, Zool made players explore their surroundings and collect a certain number of items to complete the level. Granted, despite each world having their own individual themes, they do feel out of place when examined as a whole but that’s a small point on an otherwise tight platformer.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“If there is any love for the original, pick this up immediately. A fine job has been done creating a really playable title for 2021, without losing any of the charm of the original. The camera change is a stroke of genius and makes life so much easier leading to a more enjoyable experience all round. The issue isn't with the remaster, but the source material. Zool Redimensioned is sadly a bit of a product of its time, and isn't going to draw any new fans with its difficulty and confusing design choices. Sadly, for most this Ninja isn't going to resonate with younger players looking for the next plumber killer. For the rest, though, you have a greater remaster than you could ever have hoped for, let alone what the star of the Amiga may deserve.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Though a noble effort, the transition to HD has probably done more harm than good. Challenging gameplay has been replaced with a virtual walk in the park, devoid of damn near any difficulty. If you're looking to relive gaming's past, this one may be better found in the original.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Zool was a classic back in the day, but it didn't endure as much as other genre luminaries. This remaster enhances what was great about the original title while adding some modern elements to sweeten the deal.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Nostalgia is going to play a heavy part in whether you'll like Zool Redimensioned. If you grew up with the Amiga as your main platform, you might be tickled to see Zool make a comeback even if the changes make it much easier than before. For those who didn't care too much about it back then, the improvements make it a better, shorter experience. For newcomers, the game is fun as a retro snack and worth checking out.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“I’d still love to know what conversations took place that led to “hey, we should remaster Zool”, but Zool Redimensioned does a pretty decent job of applying a fresh coat of paint, but in a way that remains very reverent to the source material. An excellent achievement from a group that only started programming 12 months ago. Unfortunately, the source material itself is the ultimate problem here, Zool was an average game back in 1992 and it’s little more than average here in 2021. A pleasant nostalgia trip, yes, but sadly it’s offers nothing to compete with the best modern platformers.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Zool Redimensioned is a short, but fun and vibrant platformer that has a ton of fun themed levels and enemies. The controls are great and the accessibility options make this title work for any player, no matter your skill level.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Classic 2D action platformer revamped for a new generation”
read full review ↗ - 70
“If you’ve never played Zool before, then Zool Redimensioned might not seem that special to you. After all, in the 30 years that have passed, a number of platform games have come and gone, many of them no doubt superior to Zool in numerous ways. But if you do have fond memories of playing the game on your Amiga, SNES or Mega Drive, then you’ll surely get a huge kick out of Zool Redimensioned. This is a true slice of nostalgia, delivered in a perfectly-tuned package. We bet you can’t play it without a smile on your face.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“We need more games like Zool Redimensioned. The original wasn’t exactly that great and was quickly forgotten during the mascot platfomer craze of the early 90’s, but thanks to this pretty robust remaster, what was once a somewhat niche and clunky game has turned into a solid (albeit still flawed) platformer that doesn’t feel out of place, nor inferior to most indie releases out there.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Zool Redimensioned is a smart reinterpretation of a classic platformer, modernised for today’s gamer while still staying authentic, maintaining what made it the game it was. Added party modes, accessibility options, filters, and modes to suit retro enthusiasts, it successfully brings everything you may have loved (or never heard of) in a release that belongs and successfully succeeds in 2023.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“The port is also quite nice, but it’s going to be an affront to purists. The modern upgrades change the feel of the game immensely, and while I’d argue it’s for the best, it’s also at the expense of the challenge. It’s a short, breezy experience. A comfortable slice of ‘90s platforming. It’s up to you if that’s what you need right now, but I certainly enjoyed it.”
read full review ↗
VGamingNews
Cubed3
PC Invasion
Push Square
Worth Playing
FingerGuns
GameGrin
PS3Blog.net
GameSpew
WayTooManyGames
Expansive
Destructoid…and 11 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Missing files reinstatedMay 17, 2023
- Camera ZoomNov 27, 2021
- Beta Version 1.0.5Sep 14, 2021significant · resets scoring window