Zero Divide

File:Zero Divide screenshot.png

Fights take place in a non-walled battle arena, and fighters are able to hold on to the ringside before a 'ring out' may occur.{{Cite book |last=Paragon Publishing |url=https://archive.org/details/Play_Issue_001_1995_11_Paragon_Publishing_GB/page/46 |title=Play - Issue 001 (1995-11)(Paragon Publishing)(GB) |date=November 1995 |language=english}} Zero Divide makes use of only three buttons: kick, punch, and block. The tournament host and antagonist, XTAL, is also a sarcastic announcer throughout the game. There are many secret unlockables in the game, including a mini version of Zoom's Phalanx.

Set in a futuristic cyberworld, hackers led by XTAL have gotten an online security database and are threatening to make it public. They challenge the government to build robots strong enough to defeat their security forces, and these robots are dispatched on the mission to fight and eventually destroy XTAL itself.{{Cite AV media |url=https://m.imdb.com/title/tt6329784/plotsummary/?ref_=tt_ov_pl |title=Zero Divide (Video Game 1995) - Plot - IMDb |language=en-US |access-date=2024-08-23 |via=m.imdb.com}}

There are eleven characters in the game, each with a specific design and symbol:{{cite web |last=Fielder |first=Joe |date=July 1, 1997 |title=The Return of Zero Divide |url=http://headline.gamespot.com/news/97_07/01_zero/index.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19990209163834/http://headline.gamespot.com/news/97_07/01_zero/index.html |archivedate=February 9, 1999 |accessdate=July 29, 2022 |website=GameSpot}}{{columns-list|* Zero

• Cygnus
• Wild3
• Eos
• Draco
• Io
• Tau
• Nereid
• Zulu (unlockable)
• Neco (unlockable)
• XTAL (final boss)|colwidth=10em}}

Zero Divide was first revealed in 1994 as being a "futuristic action game""Sony PlayStation". Edge issue 11 (August 1994), page 40. before it was reworked into a fighting game. It received much attention when it was shown and playable at the Game Expo in Japan in March 1995.{{Cite web |title=Edge 21 (1995-06) |url=https://www.planetvb.com/modules/articles/?s014254002|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190530033810/https://www.planetvb.com/modules/articles/?s014254002 |archive-date=2019-05-30 }}

A version for Microsoft Windows was ported by Kinesoft{{cite web |date=1967-07-04 |title=Andy Glaisters Work History |url=http://www.glaister.com/History/Andy/Andy%20History.htm |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=Andy and Tonya's Web Site}} and published by GameBank in Japan, and Interplay in the United States (titled Zero Divide: Techno Warrior). The European release also featured LAN play.https://cdn.mobygames.com/covers/5255150-zero-divide-windows-back-cover.jpg In 1999, it was included in the German compilation All You Can Play: 10 Action-Games.

The music in the game was mostly the work of Akihito Okawa, with contributions by Hideyuki Shimono to two tracks. It is a fusion of synth with other genres.{{Cite web |date=2021-03-01 |title=Zero Divide Is A Primordial PlayStation Synth-Fusion Treasure |url=https://kotaku.com/zero-divide-is-a-primordial-playstation-synth-fusion-tr-1846377585 |access-date=2024-08-26 |website=Kotaku |language=en}} The soundtrack was released on CD in Japan by Antinos Records on May 2, 1996.{{Cite web |title=ARCJ-37 {{!}} ZERO DIVIDE Original Game Soundtrack - VGMdb |url=https://vgmdb.net/album/972 |access-date=2024-08-26 |website=vgmdb.net |language=en}}

{{Video game reviews

| Allgame = {{rating|4|5}}{{Cite web | url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=2367&tab=review | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115034640/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=2367&tab=review | url-status=dead | archive-date=2014-11-15 |title = Zero Divide - Review - allgame}}

| CVG = 91%

| EGM = 29 / 40

| Fam = 29 / 40{{Cite web|url=https://www.famitsu.com/games/t/8785/|title=Zero Divide（ゼロ ディバイド） (PS)の関連情報 | ゲーム・エンタメ最新情報のファミ通.com|website=www.famitsu.com}}

| GameFan = 282 / 300
274 / 300GameFan, volume 4, issue 2 (February 1996), page 17

| GI = 8.25 / 10

| rev1 = Maximum

| rev1Score = {{rating|3|5}}

| NGen = {{rating|3|5}}

}}

The game sold 228,950 units in Japan{{cite web |title=Game Search |url=https://sites.google.com/site/gamedatalibrary/game-search |website=Game Data Library |publisher=Famitsu |access-date=25 April 2020}} and 27,049 units in the United States,{{cite web |title=PS1 US Sales from 1995-2003 |url=http://www.gamepilgrimage.com/Ps1ussales.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050520021742/http://www.gamepilgrimage.com/Ps1ussales.htm |url-status=live |archive-date=May 20, 2005 |website=Game Pilgrimage |publisher=NPD Group |access-date=18 October 2020}} for a combined {{formatnum:{{#expr:228950+27049}}|}} units sold in Japan and the United States.

Upon the PlayStation version's release, critics generally praised the graphics, techno soundtrack, variety of character designs, solid gameplay, and the way fighters can hang onto the edge of the ring, but criticized the difficulty in executing special moves and felt that some opponents were overpowered. They also noted similarities to the gameplay mechanics of the Virtua Fighter series.

GameFan called Zero Divide "one of the best 3-D fighting games of all time" and praised "innovative little extras like dangling off the side of the ring and the transparent limb effect" as well as the Tiny Phalanx shoot 'em up minigame, concluding Zero Divide "to be one of the best designed, programmed, and tweaked fighting games yet."GameFan, volume 3, issue 11 (November 1995), page 23 Next Generation remarked that while having android characters is innovative, the characters are generally so bizarre that they are difficult to identify with, and their generic move sets fail to justify their "outlandish" designs.{{cite magazine |title=Dehumanizing|magazine=Next Generation|issue=12|publisher=Imagine Media |date=December 1995|page=177}} Game Informer said it "has everything you would expect from a next generation fighter, lots of action, fast moving polygon fighters, tons of moves, and most importantly solid game mechanics."{{Cite magazine | url=http://www.gameinformer.com/jan96/zero.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970117191215/http://www.gameinformer.com/jan96/zero.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=1997-01-17 |title = Review: Zero Divide| magazine=Game Informer }}

Computer and Video Games stated that it is "in some ways even better" than the original Virtua Fighter and offers "serious competition" against Tekken, saying that Zero Divide is "better looking" and "more intuitive", making Battle Arena Toshinden{{'s}} "flash veneer obsolete", and concluding it to be "a stunning, finely-tuned game".{{Cite web | url=https://archive.org/stream/Computer_and_Video_Games_Issue_171_1996-02_EMAP_Images_GB#page/n51/mode/2up | title=Computer and Video Games - Issue 171 (1996-02)(EMAP Images)(GB)| date=February 1996}} GamePro concluded, "Although it lacks the solid fighting foundation that would make it great, Zero Divide has moments of greatness."{{cite magazine |author=Scary Larry |title=ProReview: Zero Divide|magazine=GamePro|issue=89|publisher=IDG|date=February 1996|page=50}} The four reviewers of Electronic Gaming Monthly scored it 29 out of 40 (7.25 out of 10 average), saying it "grows on you."{{cite magazine|title=Review Crew: Zero Divide |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly|issue=80|publisher=Ziff Davis|date=March 1996|page=29}} Maximum gave it three out of five stars, calling it "an average beat 'em up destined to be ignored by discerning PlayStation owners."{{cite magazine |title=Maximum Reviews: Zero Divide|magazine=Maximum: The Video Game Magazine|issue=5|publisher=Emap International Limited|date=April 1996|page=156}}

Next Generation reviewed the PlayStation version of the game, and stated that "It's easy to see the attraction. The character control well, combinations come naturally, and it's smoothly animated, close to PlayStation standards set by Battle Arena Toshinden (although not up to the super-fluidity of Virtua Fighter 2)."{{cite magazine|title=Finals|magazine=Next Generation|issue=14 |publisher=Imagine Media|date=February 1996|page=157}}

Zero Divide 2 was released for PlayStation on June 27, 1997, developed and published by Zoom. Sony Computer Entertainment published Zero Divide 2 in Europe in 1998. No company expressed interest in publishing the game in North America.{{cite magazine |date=October 1997 |title=Tidbits... |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |publisher=Ziff Davis |page=24 |issue=99}} Zero Divide: The Final Conflict was released for Sega Saturn on November 20, 1997 in Japan only, again developed and published by Zoom.{{Cite web |title=Zero Divide ~The Final Conflict~ |url=https://www.satakore.com/sega-saturn-game,,T-31601G,,Zero-Divide-The-Final-Conflict-JPN.html |access-date=2024-09-27 |website=Satakore.com |language=en}}

• Phalanx (video game)
• List of PSone Classics (Japan)

{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.zoom-inc.co.jp/ps/zd/index.html ZOOM Inc. page (PS3/PSP)]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/19980613161052/http://www.gamebank.co.jp/pages/softinfo/game_soon/game_soon.html#ZERO GAMEBANK Corp. page]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/19970630001730/http://www.kinesoft.com/games/zero-divide.html Kinesoft page]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20010418065545/http://www.cyberfront.co.jp/product/pcbest/pcbest1.html#vol3 CyberFront Corporation page]
• [http://www.gamefaqs.com/pc/958542-zero-divide/data Zero Divide (Windows)] at GameFAQs
• [http://www.mobygames.com/game/zero-divide Zero Divide] at MobyGames
• [http://www.gamefaqs.com/ps/199398-zero-divide-2-the-secret-wish/data Zero Divide 2: The Secret Wish] at GameFAQs
• [http://www.mobygames.com/game/playstation/zero-divide-2-the-secret-wish Zero Divide 2: The Secret Wish] at MobyGames
• [http://www.gamefaqs.com/saturn/577726-zero-divide-the-final-conflict/data Zero Divide: The Final Conflict] at GameFAQs
• [http://www.giantbomb.com/zero-divide-the-final-conflict/61-38988/ Zero Divide: The Final Conflict] at Giant Bomb
• [http://www.giantbomb.com/zero-divide/62-2348/ Zero Divide games] at Giant Bomb
• [http://www.mobygames.com/game-group/zero-divide-series Zero Divide series] at MobyGames

Category:1995 video games

Category:CyberFront games

Category:Fighting games

Category:Kinesoft games

Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games

Category:Ocean Software games

Category:PlayStation (console) games

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Category:Sega Saturn games

Category:Video game franchises

Category:Video games about robots

Category:Video games developed in Japan

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Category:Zoom (video game company) games