Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

The Masked Rider: Kamen Rider ZO delivers an interactive experience that hinges entirely on Full Motion Video (FMV) sequences adapted from the original film. Players watch pre-rendered clips of Kamen Rider ZO and his adversaries in combat, reacting in real time to visual cues by pressing the correct buttons or directional inputs. This Dragon’s Lair–style gameplay keeps your reflexes sharp: mistime or misread the prompt, and your health bar drops; nail it perfectly, and you land a critical hit that can end a round early.

With ten distinct battles featuring the film’s three primary characters, the game offers a modest variety of encounters. Each round feels like a quick puzzle: recognize the on-screen prompt, anticipate the Rider’s punch, dodge, or kick, and hit the input within a narrow timing window. As you progress, later battles ramp up in speed and complexity, introducing simultaneous prompts or longer sequences that demand split-second decisions. This push-and-pull between simple commands and escalating challenge provides a satisfying learning curve.

While the gameplay can be addictive, it isn’t without frustration. The reliance on FMV means there’s no margin for error—one wrong button press and you might have to replay entire segments to recover lost health. Save states help, but frequent retries can break the flow for more casual fans. Nonetheless, for dedicated players who relish pattern recognition and timing-based trials, each victory against a monstrous foe feels well-earned.

Graphics

Visually, The Masked Rider: Kamen Rider ZO embraces its mid-’90s FMV roots. The video clips feature the grainy texture and slightly muted color palette typical of CD-based games from that era. Close-ups of the grasshopper-inspired Rider suit and the film’s practical monsters are surprisingly clear given the hardware constraints, though fast cuts can introduce motion blur that makes prompts harder to spot.

The production values of the original movie footage shine through when the camera lingers on Kamen Rider ZO’s gleaming helmet or the intricate details of a villain’s exoskeleton. Background sets, from urban streets to subterranean lairs, exhibit authentic Japanese sci-fi design, lending the game a tangible sense of place. While you won’t find high-definition clarity, the degree of preservation is commendable and serves its purpose in communicating vital button cues.

Menus and HUD elements remain simple but effective: health bars sit neatly at the screen’s corners, and icons for Punch, Kick, and D-Pad directions flash cleanly without obscuring the action. There’s no flashy particle effects or dynamic lighting, but the straightforward presentation keeps your attention squarely on the Rider’s battle choreography and the ever-present threat of a poorly timed input.

Story

The narrative framework follows the film Masked Rider ZO, which reimagines the classic grasshopper-inspired hero in a darker, more visceral light. A once-normal man has been genetically altered into a superhuman, grasshopper-themed champion who mounts a motorcycle and faces off against mutated menaces. Though the game’s FMV focus limits direct storytelling, brief interstitial frames and the fight footage itself convey the core conflict: ZO versus the twisted creations intent on wreaking havoc.

Each battle functions as a vignette in the larger plot. You witness snippets of the Rider’s origin and the looming threat of bioengineered abominations, but there’s no in-depth dialogue or cutscene exposition beyond what the movie provides. Fans of the film will appreciate revisiting key moments, while newcomers may find the story skeletal—enough to set the stage for ten action-packed rounds, but not so much that it bogs down the interactive segments.

Despite its brevity, the storyline’s themes of human transformation, heroism, and sacrifice hover just beneath the surface. Even if you’re unfamiliar with the franchise, the visceral punch of each encounter encourages you to piece together the Rider’s motivations and the stakes at hand. By the final battle, you’ll have a clear sense of ZO’s commitment to protecting humanity—even if the game never spells out every narrative detail.

Overall Experience

The Masked Rider: Kamen Rider ZO is a niche but rewarding title. Its FMV-driven gameplay demands acute timing and recognition skills, making it ideal for players who enjoy quick-reaction challenges rather than sprawling action-adventure mechanics. For fans of the Kamen Rider franchise, the game offers a fun opportunity to see iconic scenes recontextualized as interactive trials.

Repetition can set in, especially when you’re striving for perfect “early defeats” of each monster, but the desire to watch the full reward clips keeps the loop engaging. The balance between success and failure, underscored by health bars and visual cues, ensures that even short play sessions feel consequential. And while the graphics won’t rival modern HD titles, the authentic look and feel of the ’90s FMV era deliver a strong dose of nostalgia.

Ultimately, if you’re looking for a deep narrative or complex combat system, you may feel constrained by the game’s concise structure. However, if your goal is to test your reflexes against a cult-classic hero, The Masked Rider: Kamen Rider ZO provides an enthralling blend of cinematic spectacle and interactive challenge. It’s a memorable ride for those willing to embrace its punishing yet satisfying rhythm.

Retro Replay Score

5.9/10