FZ: Formation Z: PS5 Review

Developed by Clear River Games
Published by City Connection
Platform: PS5

Way back in the 1980s, side-scrolling shoot em ups consumed many a gamer's time and money. 

Pouring coins into machines, the games would deliver pretty decent challenges and simple time-consuming fun. One of those to do so is FZ: Formation Z which has been dragged out for the console generation - and for a retro game has infinitely more promise than you'd have expected.

Essentially a mash-up of Transformers and a shooter, this game puts you in control of a mech robot out to deal with an alien invasion. In true Defender style, the bullets fly quick and the invaders maraud everywhere.

But the novelty factor of this Japanese game is that the robots can transform in mid-air while jumping to deal with other challenges. Environmental hazards, tornados, bullets fired into the sky - you name it and there's plenty of it on offer in this smooth-running crisp looking game.

With a rewind capability too, the game makes a great fist of its innate simplicity and is easy to pick up and play. But it offers an escalating challenge and those moments that make you think it's going to be easy are usually the ones that trip you up.

With checkpoints and punishing moments, there's a sense FZ: Formation Z is out to test you - but in a retro fashion, this game offers plenty of simple thrills and a great dollop of "just one more go" addictiveness.