A veteran player with thirty hours on record describes FZ: Formation Z as “a decidedly okay arcade game from the 80s that has been given Unreal Engine graphics,” and that blunt assessment captures the game’s core appeal perfectly. This is a full, modern remake of Jaleco’s 1984 horizontal shoot-’em-up. It is a game built entirely around a single, compelling mechanical hook: you are a giant ground-stomping robot that can instantly transform into a high-speed fighter jet, provided you do not run out of fuel. Developed by Granzella Inc., this revival brings a long-forgotten arcade classic into the modern era, preserving its rigid retro heart while wrapping it in flashier visuals.
The core gameplay loop of FZ: Formation Z revolves around managing the physical transition between these two states. On the ground, your mech—known as the Ixpel—is a sturdy, heavy platform capable of unleashing melee attacks and precision shots. It is safe, but it is slow. By pressing a button, you can morph into Flight form, tearing through the air at overwhelming speeds to bypass obstacles and shred enemies. However, flight is governed by a strict, constantly draining energy meter. To stay airborne, you must aggressively hunt down energy capsules dropped by destroyed foes, turning every flight into a tense, high-speed calculation of risk and reward.
Outside of the five main campaign missions, Granzella has fleshed out the package with modern features. Players earn “FZ Points” during missions to spend in “The Factory,” an in-game shop where you can unlock new mechs, cosmetic items, and weapon modules. With four available equipment slots, you can customize your Ixpel to specialize in extreme firepower or build a balanced, all-rounder machine. Once you clear a level, Score Attack mode unlocks, allowing you to optimize your routes and practice the precise, strategic form-switching required to climb the leaderboards.
What Players Love
For fans of old-school arcade games, FZ: Formation Z is a highly satisfying revival. Steam reviewers praise its “simple, clear art directions,” “great music,” and a “very fair difficulty scale” that respects the player’s time. Those familiar with Granzella’s work on R-Type Final 2 will find a similar design philosophy here: a respectful preservation of retro mechanics enhanced by modern progression systems. Players love the strategic depth of the “extremely tall” levels, which demand that you carefully route your path, deciding exactly when to drop to the ground and when to take to the skies to maximize your score.
The Rough Edges
Despite the positive reception, FZ: Formation Z is not without its frustrations. The most prominent complaints center around technical performance. Multiple players have reported optimization issues on PC, with one player noting they had to refund the Steam version entirely and buy it on console because their hardware simply could not handle it. Steam Deck compatibility is also currently a mixed bag; one user expressed deep affection for the game but pleaded for a patch, noting it only works “once in a while” on the handheld device.
On a mechanical level, some players warn that the controls “aren’t intuitive at first,” requiring a period of trial-and-error experimentation before the transforming mechanic feels natural. Furthermore, if you are looking for the complex bullet-dodging patterns of modern “bullet hell” shmups, you won’t find them here. The combat leans heavily toward “mindless pew-pew” against simple formations of basic enemies, which may feel a bit too simplistic for players seeking deep, modern tactical shooting.
The Verdict
FZ: Formation Z is a highly specific flavor of retro revival. It is not trying to reinvent the shoot-’em-up genre, nor is it trying to hide its 1980s arcade roots. Instead, it offers a polished, customizable, and visually updated version of a classic mechanical gimmick that still feels novel today.
If you have a capable PC setup, an appreciation for arcade history, and a love for transforming mechs, this is a polished and nostalgic trip well worth your time. However, if you are planning to play exclusively on the Steam Deck, or if you demand complex, modern bullet-hell design, you may want to wait for performance patches—or skip this flight altogether.
Key Facts
- Developer: Granzella Inc.
- Publisher: CITY CONNECTION, Clear River Games
- Release Date: May 21, 2026
- Price: $29.99