CLASH: ARTIFACTS OF CHAOS
Zeno Clash is known for two things. First, a setting inspired by classic fantasy illustration. Second, harsh beatdowns. The shock for newcomers is how well these aspects combine. True, chain-whipping a bird with teeth is an odd way to appreciate a world that often feels like it belongs in a gallery, but it hammers home the anatomical detail.
game in almost a decade—pulls back the camera to third-person without, so far, ruining this peculiar blend of incredibly storied aesthetics and wanton brutality. The new viewpoint accompanies an expanded premise with new subsystems such as gear crafting, beefier multiplayer, and a ‘Ritual’ minigame that functions like an arcane modding feature. But even as it zooms out, the threequel also zooms in—adding depth to the combat with a stance system and attack cancelling, while
