Closer Look Directory
Closer Looks are one of the main components of the Worlds of ZZT project. The Closer Look category of articles consists primarily of (re)visiting ZZT worlds and looking at them from a contemporary perspective, attempting to give both a complete playthrough of them while also pointing out noteworthy design decisions.
Sort by:
| Title | Author | Date | Category | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Dr. Dos | May 14, 2024 | Closer Look | A MegaZeux community themed ZZT game that flipflips between decent and purposely bad. I'd expect nothing less from a hot igmo. (nmiaow) |
|
Dr. Dos | Apr 28, 2024 | Closer Look | Digging through dusty archives to find the best tools to remove locks on ZZT worlds |
|
Dr. Dos | Apr 14, 2024 | Closer Look | Following Code Red's example, Matt Williams tries and arguably succeeds at creating a worthy successor |
|
Dr. Dos | Mar 28, 2024 | Closer Look | Expecting zany humor with nothing to back it up, only to find a fantastic collection full of laughs and a brilliant RPG system |
|
Dr. Dos | Feb 28, 2024 | Closer Look | A series of surreal vignettes that helped redefine what ZZT worlds can be |
|
Dr. Dos | Jan 28, 2024 | Closer Look | No memories, imprisoned, and really admiring the architecture before you commit regicide in clysm's first ZZT release: Crunchy |
|
Dr. Dos | Jan 14, 2024 | Closer Look | An Indiana Jones fan game and a first release that gets quite a bit right. Can Dr. Jones discover the secret of the underground city? |
|
Dr. Dos | Dec 14, 2023 | Closer Look | With humanity in the future on the brink of extinction only one man can find the meaning of life and still have time to see Terminator 2 |
|
Dr. Dos | Nov 28, 2023 | Closer Look | Developing one universal standard to cover everyone's use cases. But it's religion so it doesn't go so well. |
|
Dr. Dos | Nov 14, 2023 | Closer Look | An incredible game that I couldn't put down. Shame about the vampire invasion in France though. |
|
Dr. Dos | Oct 28, 2023 | Closer Look | The grand finale of an iconic turn of the century series reminds us that the past is the past. |
|
Dr. Dos | Oct 14, 2023 | Closer Look | In the final Gem Hunter game things are shaken up that are best not shaken. |
|
Dr. Dos | Sep 14, 2023 | Closer Look | Two-headed snakes, giant insect, aliens, and more in this highly artistic sequel |
|
Dr. Dos | Aug 28, 2023 | Closer Look | Snorb builds on the basics to successfully dungeon-ify ZZT's bestiary in this recent Weave title |
|
Dr. Dos | Aug 14, 2023 | Closer Look | A ZZTers first release shows some promise, but bugs keep holding it back |
|
Dr. Dos | Jul 28, 2023 | Closer Look | It's Man Vs. Nature, and despite the game's best efforts, it's hard not to root for nature in this confused game with some neat art |
|
Dr. Dos | Jul 14, 2023 | Closer Look | Trent Carwell? He better, if he wants to survive 24 tracks in this fast and clever arcade racer set in the far future! |
|
Dr. Dos | Jun 30, 2023 | Closer Look | Venturing through a portal with a new threat, new engines, and finally listening to some excellent music |
|
Dr. Dos | Jun 20, 2023 | Closer Look | A Game of the Month winner that never got its formal review. I think I know why... |
|
Dr. Dos | Jun 10, 2023 | Closer Look | ZZT gets its first turn based strategy game... in 1996?! Turns out there's a reason this one wasn't so Earth-shattering |
|
Dr. Dos | May 31, 2023 | Closer Look | The people of Zandia have nothing to lose but their chains. A fast and fun adventure with some quality puzzles too! |
|
Dr. Dos | May 15, 2023 | Closer Look | Another Interactive Cinema that manages to nail the interactive and the cinema! |
|
Dr. Dos | Apr 20, 2023 | Closer Look | Part-silly, part-serious, all-around okay. An of its time dungeon crawler struggles with the modern world |
|
Dr. Dos | Apr 12, 2023 | Closer Look | Prepare to die! From illegal genetic experiments created in Twilight City. |
|
Dr. Dos | Mar 31, 2023 | Closer Look | How to make friends and influence kingdoms as we finish Adventure's redemption arc |
|
Dr. Dos | Mar 20, 2023 | Closer Look | The sequel to the player-hating original reveals the author to have improved considerably ...in some ways at least |
|
Dr. Dos | Mar 10, 2023 | Closer Look | Taking one of the worst balanced ZZT games and turning it around significantly. Somehow. |
|
Dr. Dos | Feb 28, 2023 | Closer Look | No ammo. No torches. No health. No gems. What does this game have? Misery. |
|
Dr. Dos | Feb 20, 2023 | Closer Look | What sounds like an action game reveals itself to be a game of caution and suspense, until the tension is quickly diffused |
|
Dr. Dos | Jan 31, 2023 | Closer Look | Nearly 20 years later, dave2 returns to give us the underwater adventure to prevent ecological diaster we've been waiting for (the game that is, not the ecological disaster) |
|
Dr. Dos | Jan 20, 2023 | Closer Look | Putting action above text, but forgetting to make the action captivating. Plus, some less than stellar characters! The first in a series that finds its success eventually that gets a big oof today |
|
Dr. Dos | Jan 10, 2023 | Closer Look | Interesting ideas that don't get a chance to shine. Can an interesting glimpse of a story save this game from obscurity? |
|
Dr. Dos | Dec 31, 2022 | Closer Look | To save her vampire boyfriend from demon hunters Jami must fight unbeliveable creatures such as demons, werewolves, and witches. But what's really unbelievable is that the RPG engine is actually good. |
|
Dr. Dos | Dec 20, 2022 | Closer Look | An early action game that struggles with variety. No cows, just a one-trick pony. |
|
Dr. Dos | Nov 20, 2022 | Closer Look | Dial in to the Genesis Matrix! We've got Yahtzee we've got viruses we've got friends and family |
|
Dr. Dos | Nov 10, 2022 | Closer Look | A so-so action/RPG hybrid that isn't sure if it wants to be gritty or silly |
|
Dr. Dos | Oct 31, 2022 | Closer Look | Gus Turnell's isekai adventure |
|
Dr. Dos | Oct 20, 2022 | Closer Look | Overview With The Vampire: An incredible game with incredible baggage |
|
Dr. Dos | Oct 10, 2022 | Closer Look | Aliens, Air Pirates, and Arena combat. Just another typical day for a member of the Air Guard. |
|
Dr. Dos | Sep 20, 2022 | Closer Look | A ZZT world inspired by Wolfenstein 3D that raised the bar for what a ZZT action title could be |
|
Dr. Dos | Sep 10, 2022 | Closer Look | Lost Pyramid? More like: Lost Classic! Ha ha gottem. |
|
Dr. Dos | Aug 20, 2022 | Closer Look | Pet peeves turn a few helpful suggestions into a lot of advice best taken with a grain of salt |
|
Dr. Dos | Jul 31, 2022 | Closer Look | Plans for an open-ended barbarian adventure get smashed to pieces by bugs and general incompleteness |
|
Dr. Dos | Jun 20, 2022 | Closer Look | A world that sticks to what the authors have seen until they realize they can do anything they like! |
|
Dr. Dos | May 31, 2022 | Closer Look | A mixture of beautiful animations, tough action, innovative code, and one bad mushroom combine to create an excellent action/adventure! |
|
Dr. Dos | May 10, 2022 | Closer Look | More cruel puzzles, more accidental soft-locks, and the world's worst shooting gallery! |
|
Dr. Dos | Apr 30, 2022 | Closer Look | A potential lost classic that decides to destroy your spirit instead |
|
Dr. Dos | Apr 20, 2022 | Closer Look | Looking at the work of the heavy hitters of the Town Remix project |
|
Dr. Dos | Mar 31, 2022 | Closer Look | ZZT's 30th birthday present: a remake of Town from 14 authors |
|
Dr. Dos | Mar 20, 2022 | Closer Look | Are two half-baked sci-fi shooters are better than one? |
|
Dr. Dos | Feb 28, 2022 | Closer Look | Pay homage to Sierra's adventures in this early Interactive Fantasies adventure with lots of charm mired by awful RPG battles |
|
Dr. Dos | Feb 20, 2022 | Closer Look | Some of ZZT's most talented form a group project. Disaster ensues. |
|
Dr. Dos | Dec 31, 2021 | Closer Look | Oktrollberfest origins bubble their way to the surface of this fowl puzzle game |
|
Dr. Dos | Dec 10, 2021 | Closer Look | Turns out the secret to a good ZZT platformer is to make a cat swear. |
|
Dr. Dos | Nov 20, 2021 | Closer Look | Lions And Tigers And Mayors! Oh My! |
|
Dr. Dos | Oct 31, 2021 | Closer Look | If at first you don't succeed, die, die, again in this incredibly challenging yet satisfying adventure |
|
Dr. Dos | Sep 15, 2021 | Closer Look | An early ZZT adventure starring Jersey Jake that's an artifact of its time and belongs on the Museum. |
|
Dr. Dos | Aug 31, 2021 | Closer Look | ZZT fantasy adventures are a dime a dozen, but great writing, humor, and puzzles make Warlock Domain top dollar |
|
Dr. Dos | Aug 10, 2021 | Closer Look | Creative boss fights and a non-linear urban exploration put this sequel ahead, but the flaws remain unfixed. Agh. |
|
Dr. Dos | Jul 31, 2021 | Closer Look | An improvement over the original, but also not. |
|
Dr. Dos | Jul 10, 2021 | Closer Look | After restoring a corrupt world to playability for the first time in decades we can now say this game ain't great. |
|
Dr. Dos | Jun 30, 2021 | Closer Look | Treasure, fortresses, and really big palm trees. Overflow continues to impress throughout its back half |
|
Dr. Dos | Jun 10, 2021 | Closer Look | Beautiful background art meets classic ZZT action in this massive Chrono Trigger inspired adventure to save time itself! |
|
Dr. Dos | May 15, 2021 | Closer Look | Star Wench vs the Queen of Space! A colorful, detailed, and brief adventure created as a Kickstarter stretch goal! |
|
Dr. Dos | Apr 30, 2021 | Closer Look | The funniest prank of all: Falsified data! Still, only a fool would overlook this classically-styled adventure |
|
Dr. Dos | Apr 15, 2021 | Closer Look | Deal with mazes and monsters in this far out game |
|
Dr. Dos | Mar 31, 2021 | Closer Look | Race the clock across 20 courses in this ZZT game that defies expectations... until it starts to crash and burn at least. |
|
Dr. Dos | Mar 15, 2021 | Closer Look | Recover the stolen nukes! Step one: Visit the water park |
|
Dr. Dos | Mar 01, 2021 | Closer Look | Good? Bad? Ugly? Brandonia is a divisive ZZT world and winner of a Featured Game award. |
|
Dr. Dos | Jan 31, 2021 | Closer Look | Growing Up takes a serious look about life as a teenager dealing with an alcoholic parent. Take a look at this short and emotional story. |
|
Dr. Dos | Dec 31, 2020 | Closer Look | Stalagtite platforming in a ZZT game? An engine that's rock solid copes with design that puts a few cracks in this spelunking adventure |
|
Dr. Dos | Oct 31, 2020 | Closer Look | More than 100 boards long and you can't even play it! Nadir's collection of ZZT tool kits focuses on one of ZZT's most distinct features |
|
Dr. Dos | Oct 15, 2020 | Closer Look | What starts as an average ZZT action game quickly turns into a below-average ZZT action game. Sigh. |
|
Dr. Dos | Jul 31, 2020 | Closer Look | Yiepipipi? Oeu. Oryan? Oeu. Esklello? Oeu! |
|
Dr. Dos | Jul 15, 2020 | Closer Look | The long drawn out conclusion and a lot of PSAs about drinking and driving |
|
Dr. Dos | Jun 30, 2020 | Closer Look | An alien abudction of the family dog turns into a fight for mankind's survival. Three kids on a heartwarming quest to save the Earth |
|
Dr. Dos | Jun 15, 2020 | Closer Look | Exploring several demos for games that were never finished |
|
Dr. Dos | Jun 01, 2020 | Closer Look | What should be a generic edgy TaleSpin parody turns out to be a well-written game you can't help but love |
|
Dr. Dos | Apr 30, 2020 | Closer Look | Good ideas and bad execution result in a fun yet flawed adventure in this self-described "comedy-rpg" |
|
Dr. Dos | Mar 31, 2020 | Closer Look | CIA Agent BILL vs. Dr. D in this unintentionally hilarious spy "thriller" |
|
Dr. Dos | Feb 15, 2020 | Closer Look | All cop-outs are bastards as we explore Police Quest plus five other extremely short worlds of dubious quality |
|
Dr. Dos | Jan 31, 2020 | Closer Look | Venture into the idle mind in this very much ahead of its time atmospheric puzzle world |
|
Dr. Dos | Jan 15, 2020 | Closer Look | ♬ Fix us a wire you're the Compound man ♬ Fix us a wire tonight ♬ Well man's destined to die from catastrophe ♬ While aliens watch in the night ♬ |
|
Dr. Dos | Dec 31, 2019 | Closer Look | Hunting down giant slimes, hidden gems, and programming bugs to save Puerto del Agua |
|
Dr. Dos | Dec 15, 2019 | Closer Look | Save the dreamworld from reality in this everything but the kitchen sink RPG bursting with ideas and great art |
|
Dr. Dos | Nov 30, 2019 | Closer Look | Xamboxumbadira is the powerhouse of the cell. |
|
Dr. Dos | Nov 15, 2019 | Closer Look | Stop and admire the scenery on your quest for vigilante justice |
|
Dr. Dos | Oct 31, 2019 | Closer Look | A secret biological weapon has been set loose and only... the jerk who was well aware of it can save the day |
|
Dr. Dos | Sep 30, 2019 | Closer Look | EAT. THE. FLOWERS. |
|
Dr. Dos | Sep 17, 2019 | Closer Look | Thyer's first ever ZZT world: The story of a witch's anxiety and her sacrificial princess |
|
Dr. Dos | Aug 31, 2019 | Closer Look | An experimental "magazine" for ZZTers to make anything they want |
|
Dr. Dos | Aug 19, 2019 | Closer Look | Search for a flamingo and find mediocrity and cameos instead |
|
Dr. Dos | Jul 31, 2019 | Closer Look | Over 9000 reasons this game is awful |
|
Dr. Dos | Jul 15, 2019 | Closer Look | In Part 2, Koopo finds his unique vision for his game by introducing a jetpack |
|
Dr. Dos | Jul 02, 2019 | Closer Look | Oh No! More Lemmings Clones! |
|
Dr. Dos | Jun 16, 2019 | Closer Look | Better than the Best of ZZT, Janson shows a traditional key collecting game done almost right |
|
Dr. Dos | May 30, 2019 | Closer Look | Six arrows. More than enough to kill anything that moves. |
|
Dr. Dos | May 15, 2019 | Closer Look | The cliff has killed another! Find the saboteur before they strike again |
|
Dr. Dos | Apr 20, 2019 | Closer Look | And it's whispered that soon, If we all call the tune, then Da Warren will lead us to reason |
|
Dr. Dos | Mar 27, 2019 | Closer Look | Good humor, great music, poor design, and the giant robot battle is optional? |
|
Dr. Dos | Feb 28, 2019 | Closer Look | The first of far too many in a long running series by a notable and divisive ZZTer |
|
Dr. Dos | Jan 31, 2019 | Closer Look | Tired: "Press F to Pay Respects" Wired: "Press δ to Act Like a Snake" |
|
Dr. Dos | Jan 27, 2019 | Closer Look | Nadir's zenith, Preservation Through Piracy, a nearly unreleased gem capturing ZZT at its peak |
|
Dr. Dos | Dec 30, 2018 | Closer Look | I'm in this huge empty room with yellow walls... No matter where I go... those same horrible yellow walls... |
|
Dr. Dos | Dec 18, 2018 | Closer Look | A rejected ZZTer returns with dated comedy and some fascinating self-insert protagonists |
|
Dr. Dos | Dec 01, 2018 | Closer Look | Randomly generated ZZT action in this endless-feeling runner |
|
Dr. Dos | Oct 30, 2018 | Closer Look | A unique take on FF2US/FF4J where the programmer doesn't know how #end works. |
|
Newt, John D. Moore | Oct 21, 2018 | Closer Look | Newt revisits his iconic ZZT horror game and explains just what the heck is going on |
|
Dr. Dos | Sep 21, 2018 | Closer Look | Commit war crimes in the name of the king in this early fantasy that stands the test of time |
|
Dr. Dos | Aug 28, 2018 | Closer Look | The Town of ZZT has lost is colors. Who took them and why? |
|
Dr. Dos | Aug 19, 2018 | Closer Look | There's no places like ZZT homes. There's no places like ZZT homes. There's no places like ZZT homes. |
|
Dr. Dos | Jul 30, 2018 | Closer Look | Expert programming crams a collectible card game into ZZT! |
|
Dr. Dos | Jul 22, 2018 | Closer Look | "Life's real tough, ain't it?" - the unloved and forgotten original ZZT world |
|
Dr. Dos | Jun 10, 2018 | Closer Look | Prepare for trouble, and make it double with this typical example of converting Pokemon to ZZT |
|
Dr. Dos | May 23, 2018 | Closer Look | Guinea Pig Fact: A game being adorable can't make up for unresponsive controls |
|
Dr. Dos | May 14, 2018 | Closer Look | Overclocking ZZT to turn it into a viable medium for a fast paced action game |
|
Dr. Dos | Apr 29, 2018 | Closer Look | Commodore takes his first step on the journey of becoming one of ZZT's best in this 2003 post-apocalyptic adventure |
|
Dr. Dos | Apr 23, 2018 | Closer Look | War!! W-War is breaking out fast! |
|
Dr. Dos | Feb 17, 2018 | Closer Look | "Goldeneye hardly redfines the genre. The graphics are excellent except for the blocky human figures." |
|
Dr. Dos | Feb 09, 2018 | Closer Look | Structured nonsense, and lots of cheese based random humor. <s>YES</s> |
|
DavidN, Dr. Dos | Jan 30, 2018 | Closer Look | A pre-recording playthrough of the ZZT world "The Mercenary" by DavidN (2002), with the game's author providing guest commentary! |
|
Dr. Dos | Jan 23, 2018 | Closer Look | Collect 31 gems hidden across an island in this remake of Tseng's original entry in his iconic series |
|
Dr. Dos | Dec 31, 2017 | Closer Look | 4's scores were better years ago. |
|
Dr. Dos | Dec 11, 2017 | Closer Look | That belongs in a museum |
|
Celine Kalante | Dec 06, 2017 | Closer Look | The Museum's first guest post! Taking a look at a previously unpublished first game and its many flaws. |
|
Dr. Dos | Nov 30, 2017 | Closer Look | Town of ZZT but reimagined to be about the author's friend circle. |
|
Dr. Dos | Nov 20, 2017 | Closer Look | One of ZZT's finest - A detailed fantasy adventure through the kingdom of Bespin. (Oh, and the password is BARNEY) |
|
Dr. Dos | Oct 31, 2017 | Closer Look | Set sail on the DIEtanic in this second washed up half of NextGame 33 |
|
Dr. Dos | Oct 25, 2017 | Closer Look | Covering 50% of this 33% complete game where 0% of the jokes land |
|
Dr. Dos | Oct 20, 2017 | Closer Look | All Teen Cops Are Bastards. A lot of content warnings in this overshadowed and oh-so-edgy adventure |
|
Dr. Dos | Sep 25, 2017 | Closer Look | Defend Castle Sin from intruders both good and evil to keep an ancient portal sealed and secure |
|
Dr. Dos | Sep 15, 2017 | Closer Look | A magical mystery tour of an odd cross between Star Wars and the Beatles |
|
Dr. Dos | Sep 04, 2017 | Closer Look | A back to school special looking at what's considered the worst ever ZZT game |
|
Dr. Dos | Aug 31, 2017 | Closer Look | Quest for the mythical flower of light to cure your father's blindness |
|
Dr. Dos | Aug 18, 2017 | Closer Look | An eggselent conversion of Codemaster's 1989 puzzle platformer |
|
Dr. Dos | Jun 24, 2017 | Closer Look | The winner of the first ever 24 Hours of ZZT contest |
|
Dr. Dos | Jun 19, 2017 | Closer Look | Trust me and we will escape from the City |
|
Dr. Dos | May 29, 2017 | Closer Look | ZZT has no random number generator, but it does have lions. Exploring how a complex RPG engine works |
|
Dr. Dos | May 24, 2017 | Closer Look | Psychic twins reclaim the sun in this impressively coded and impressively grindy RPG dungeon crawler! |
|
Dr. Dos | Apr 30, 2017 | Closer Look | D.A.R.E. to dream as Freddy the ferret trips out on his search for the perfect drug |
|
Dr. Dos | Apr 15, 2017 | Closer Look | A Super ZZT inspired MegaZeux world exploring memory and being forgotten. |
|
Dr. Dos | Apr 10, 2017 | Closer Look | ZIG combines ZZT's simplicity, MegaZeux's power, and Super ZZT's lack of interest from the community. Exploring ZIG and all its releases! |
|
Dr. Dos | Mar 21, 2017 | Closer Look | You're trying to say you like DOS better than me, right? |
|
Dr. Dos | Mar 12, 2017 | Closer Look | So much promise. So little ammo. |
|
Dr. Dos | Feb 25, 2017 | Closer Look | Rancid meatloaf and cans of V8. |
|
Dr. Dos | Jan 23, 2017 | Closer Look | MEEEEOOOOOOWWWWW (You microwaved a cat) |
|
Dr. Dos | Jan 09, 2017 | Closer Look | ZZT's best looking game is also it's furriest. |
|
Dr. Dos | Dec 31, 2016 | Closer Look | Hello, mortal. I am the Sandman. And you are my prisoner. |
|
Dr. Dos | Dec 19, 2016 | Closer Look | I [Dr. Dos] made a bad game when I was 10 and I made it worse when I was 13. |
|
Dr. Dos | Dec 10, 2016 | Closer Look | "I've checked your bacground in the space marine database. you have an impressive record." |
|
Dr. Dos | Nov 27, 2016 | Closer Look | Just repeat to yourself, "It's just a game, I should really just relax" |
|
Dr. Dos | Nov 20, 2016 | Closer Look | Part human, part machine, all weird. |
|
Dr. Dos | Nov 13, 2016 | Closer Look | This game is slightly confusing! |
|
Dr. Dos | Oct 29, 2016 | Closer Look | One cat's journey to find their missing owner... or food |
|
Dr. Dos | Oct 23, 2016 | Closer Look | Travel from island to island in search of Alex and Daisy in this charming and colorful adventure. |
|
Dr. Dos | Oct 08, 2016 | Closer Look | HEY, MOM, THE BED RAN AWAY AGAIN, you shout. -- It's Merbotia, a short and humorous adventure by Sonic256! |
|
Dr. Dos | Sep 28, 2016 | Closer Look | A surreal adventure game about escaping from a dimension where gods observe the curious and watch their attempts to escape. |
|
Dr. Dos | Sep 11, 2016 | Closer Look | Coke machines, urban warlocks, and a hero with a baseball bat ready to brave NYC's subway system. |
|
Dr. Dos | Aug 24, 2016 | Closer Look | Newt's Lemmings inspired "ZZT games to pass time" |
|
Dr. Dos | Aug 15, 2016 | Closer Look | ZZT's third official world, and how it compares to Town of ZZT. |
Sort by:
