During my time using the Steam platform, I have always been impressed by the number of games that they have offered that promote all types of game genres. This includes games that reflect days gone by with time honored 16-bit platform shooters. That is the reason for Steam Next Fest. Steam Next Fest: February 2025 Edition is a multi-day celebration where fans can try out demos, chat with developers, watch live streams, and learn about upcoming games on Steam. For developers, Steam Next Fest is an opportunity to get early feedback from players and build an audience for a future launch on Steam.
In keeping with that desire, and in conjunction with the 2025 Steam Next Fest, Mega Cat Studios and the ZPF team is offering a demo on February 24th that features three unique ships to pilot and three fantastical realms to explore. As described in the following Press Release from Mega Cat Studios:
PITTSBURGH, PA — February 21, 2025 — Mega Cat Studios and the ZPF Team are thrilled to announce that the Steam Next Fest demo for ZPF, a spectacularly surreal 16-bit shoot-’em-up, is now available for players to experience. This demo showcases the game’s action-packed gameplay and introduces players to its vibrant, diverse worlds across three imaginative realms: fantasy, cyberpunk, and space.
In the ZPF Steam Next Fest Demo, players can choose from three distinct playable characters, each bringing a unique playstyle to the experience:
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Knight: Hailing from the mystical realms of ZPF, Knight is the valiant defender of lush lands under siege by goblin hordes. Piloted by a young magician, Knight’s shining armor acts as both a shield and weapon, blending magic and steel to protect against the growing darkness. Mastering spells of protection and offense, players will need to harness Knight’s powers to fend off waves of enemies with precision.
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Gladius: Emerging from the far reaches of space, Gladius is humanity’s last hope against a relentless alien threat. Piloted by a lone warrior, Gladius is a sleek and deadly spacecraft, slicing through the cosmos with incredible speed and precision. Players must take control of Gladius and engage in intense, high stakes combat to defend the galaxy from an unstoppable extraterrestrial invasion.
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Gold: From the shadows of a dystopian future, Gold is a mercenary driven by the promise of wealth in a corrupt, neon-lit city. With her cybernetic enhancements and unwavering determination, Gold hunts down bounties set by the ruthless overlords of the city. Players will navigate a neon underworld, using Gold’s unique abilities and cybernetic upgrades to take down her targets and emerge victorious.
The ZPF Steam Next Fest Demo offers a visual feast featuring three distinct realms, each with stunning 16-bit effects and layers upon layers of parallax scrolling that bring the game’s worlds to life. From the lush, magical landscapes of the fantasy realm to the neon-soaked streets of the cyberpunk city and an installation in deep space infested with alien horrors, each stage in the demo is packed with breathtaking environments. As players navigate these realms, they’ll face numerous mini-bosses and massive, screen-filling boss creatures, each presenting unique challenges that will test their piloting and shooting skills.
Key Features:
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Go head-to-head against hordes of screen-filling bosses
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Test your skills with an engaging and satisfying scoring system that rewards boldness
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6+ levels of absolute insanity as you soar across surreal sci-fi, horror, and fantasy landscapes
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Three unique characters to master, each with their own play style
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A high-energy chiptune soundtrack that fits the on-screen action like a glove.
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ZPF will soar onto the Sega Genesis in May 2025, with the Steam, Switch, and Xbox One & Xbox X|S versions releasing shortly afterward.
Senior Writer at GeekVibesNation – I am a 60 something child of the 70’s who admits to being a Star Trek/Star Wars/Comic Book junkie who once dove headfirst over a cliff (Ok, it was a small hill) to try to rescue his Fantastic Four comic from a watery grave. I am married to a lovely woman who is as crazy as I am and the proud parent of a 21-year-old young man with autism. My wife and son are my real heroes.
