Formation Z is a side-scrolling shoot ’em up released for Japanese arcades in 1984 by developer Jaleco. The game would be released in the U.S. as Aeroboto and achieve moderate success with ports to home computers and the Famicom. It would also get its fair share of re-releases and is currently available on the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4, thanks to the Arcade Archives release. Even with all these releases, it’s still a somewhat obscure game in the genre, and it makes this current release interesting to me. That release is FZ: Formation Z, a full remake of the original developed by Granzilla and City Connection.
FZ: Formation Z is a side-scrolling shoot ’em up and run-and-gun game. It is a full remake of the original arcade game, aiming to update it for a modern audience while staying true to its gameplay. In it, you are a pilot who controls a robot called an Ixpel. The Ixpel can transform into a jet, and levels will have you switching between both as you traverse them. This makes for an interesting and enjoyable shoot ’em up, but one I had a couple of issues with, including some that could stop others from playing this who aren’t already massive fans of the genre.
Run and Fly in FZ: Formation Z
FZ: Formation Z has an interesting gameplay loop that feels prime for arcades. It is a side-scrolling game that combines shoot ’em up and run-and-gun gameplay. In it, you play a pilot who controls a robot called an Ixpel that can transform into a jet. The gameplay changes depending on what form you are in: the robot is your classic run-and-gun gameplay, while the jet is a free-flying shoot ’em up. Each level will have you switch between the forms to tackle different obstacles, and it all comes together fairly well.
While the gameplay is different, each form has some similar moves. Both forms have a standard rabid shot and charge up one. The robot has two melee attacks, while the jet has only a missile attack. You switch between the forms by holding jump, and you will be switching a lot depending on the level. There is one extra thing you have to keep an eye on when in jet form. The jet consumes energy, and when it reaches zero, you’ll switch back to robot form. Your melee and missile attacks also consume energy, adding a bit more to this gameplay loop.
While it took some time to get used to this loop, I did eventually find myself enjoying it. It’s fun to experiment with forms, and I found myself doing it the more I played. I think the jet has better traversal and crowd control, but the robot feels better for larger enemies and ground encounters. No play style is truly better than the others, and it adds some replayability to the short set of levels. Sadly, while this can be fun, it feels fully utilized only in one boss fight and the last two levels of the game. Also, did I mention there are only five levels?
A Short Time
My biggest criticism of FZ: Formation Z has to be the amount of content. Like I said earlier, the game only has five levels. While these levels can be fun, you can only play them so many times. It also has two game modes: story and score attack, both of which share the same five levels. There are five base difficulties, but more are unlockable. There are collectibles, multiple endings, and more incentives to keep you playing, but I lost interest after a couple of runs.
The game lets you customize and upgrade your Ixpel. There are three Ixpel models you can use, each with its own pros and cons. You can upgrade each as well, and trust me, you’ll need to. You can also customize your Ixpel or pilot with different parts, stickers, or colors. Normally, I like it when a game gives you some customization, but it just feels tacked on here. I didn’t feel the need to customize my Ixpel or pilot at all, so I focused on upgrades instead. While the upgrades are good, they also highlight another problem I have.
I did not enjoy how the game felt when I started it. The first mech you get isn’t the best and needs upgrades. I also don’t like how slow the game’s base speed is. Because of this, my first run was a slog, especially with the random spikes in difficulty. After this run, I decided to check the factory and get another Ixpel. I also got some upgrades and adjusted the game speed in my settings. My next run was way better, and I found myself enjoying the game. While my first run didn’t deter me, I do wish I had a better first impression of the game.
One last slight criticism I have is how the game looks. There is a lack of a visual identity here, as most of the models have a generic sci-fi look. This complaint carries over to the levels, with the last one being the only visually interesting one. It makes the game look very bland, which is a shame because I normally love sci-fi and mech designs.
Mission Complete
FZ: Formation Z is a fine game. While I have been pretty critical, the core gameplay loop is still fun. The combination of shoot ’em up and run-and-gun mechanics works pretty well, even if it doesn’t feel fully utilized. While I didn’t have the best start, I ended up enjoying my time with it. That time was sadly fleeting, as it feels like I’ve seen everything it has to offer after just a handful of runs. Fans of the genre will get a lot of replay value from it, but I don’t see that being true for others. I can still recommend giving FZ: Formation Z a chance, though your mileage may vary.
Disclaimer: Clear River Games provided a Nintendo Switch 2 copy of FZ: Formation Z for review purposes.
