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About Ex-Zodiac
Ex‑Zodiac is a fast‑paced rail shooter that follows Kyuu as she battles the Zodiac terrorist group across the Sanzaru Star System. The game uses a colourful, low‑poly visual style that echoes early‑90s 3D titles and pairs it with a 16‑bit soundtrack built from FM and wavetable synthesis.
The title currently offers eleven main levels and six bonus stages, each ending with a major boss piloted by a Zodiac member. It supports full controller input, Steam achievements, cloud saves, and family sharing on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
01 / THE GUIDE
Retro Low‑Poly Visuals
The art direction embraces a colourful, low‑poly aesthetic that mimics early‑90s 3D graphics, giving each environment a distinct silhouette while keeping enemy projectiles readable during rapid action.
This visual theme is applied consistently across all eleven main levels and six bonus stages, ensuring the rail‑shooter perspective stays uncluttered and the game's identity remains clear.
- Compare geometry density to classic 90s titles to see how low‑poly design aids readability.
- Observe colour palette shifts between levels while the overall visual language stays the same.
02 / THE GUIDE
Levels and Bonus Stages
Ex‑Zodiac currently provides eleven main levels that guide the player along a fixed rail, presenting scripted enemy waves and environmental hazards in self‑contained narrative segments.
Six bonus stages offer extra challenges alongside the main levels, and the description notes that more than twelve levels will be available after the full release, indicating future expansion.
- Treat bonus stages as optional skill tests after finishing the main campaign.
- Track which main levels you have cleared to gauge progress toward upcoming content.
03 / THE GUIDE
Major Boss Battles
At the end of each main level, a major boss appears, piloted by a member of the Zodiac organization, serving as a climactic set‑piece that requires precise movement and firing.
Each boss is piloted by a member of the Zodiac organization, offering climactic challenges that test the player's mastery of the rail‑shooter mechanics.
- Observe early attack patterns to plan barrel‑roll timing.
- Use barrel rolls to dodge dense projectile streams during boss phases.
04 / THE GUIDE
16‑Bit Style Soundtrack
The soundtrack, composed by +TEK, blends FM synthesis with wavetable techniques to create a 16‑bit style audio experience that matches the pace of each level.
The 16‑bit style audio complements the pace of the game's action without overwhelming the player.
- Listen for musical shifts that may hint at upcoming enemy waves.
- Compare FM elements to classic console scores for added appreciation.
05 / THE GUIDE
Controller‑Friendly Input
Ex‑Zodiac is optimised for Xinput‑compatible analogue controllers such as Xbox or PS4 pads, though digital inputs like a D‑pad or keyboard are also supported; the description recommends analogue input for smoother directional control, especially during barrel rolls.
Analogue input can make precise dodging of enemy fire feel more natural compared with the stepped input of digital devices.
- If you have an analogue controller, try the barrel‑roll maneuver to feel the precision advantage.
- Test the same level with a keyboard to notice any differences in responsiveness.
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