| Zenith > Download and Introduction |
Zenith is an immersive puzzle experience, inspired by Geoff Crammond's 1980s game, The Sentinel.
Use the landscape's energy resources wisely to gain height and depose the Sentinel from the Zenith.
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The Game (v0.9.10.r1 - 866 KB, ZIP, Windows) |
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Player's Guide (383 KB, PDF in ZIP) |
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Problems? For full 3D sound effects support (or if you experience an "Unexpected Exception" error), you might also need to install: |
Donations
We've provided this for free since 2005. If you'd like to give a little back, please consider donating.
| Video demo of Zenith gameplay |
More gameplay videos (third party)...
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You start each game with your consciousness occupying a robot shell in the valleys of a hostile landscape. Around you are a few trees, which you can absorb for energy if you can see the square that they stand on.
Now that you've absorbed some energy from the landscape, the Sentinel has awoken! It slowly scans a small sector of the landscape, looking for objects containing more than a single unit of energy (anything other than a tree). When the Sentinel finds a concentration of energy, it scatters that energy (as trees) across the landscape, one unit at a time.
With the Sentinel now active, you should move somewhere fairly soon; you really don't want to be caught in the Sentinel's gaze. You can create a robot shell on any square that you can see, then move into the new shell by transferring your consciousness.
If the new square is higher than the square you came from, then you'll probably be able to see more of the landscape from your new position. To gain more height, you can stack boulders first, before creating a robot on top of them.
To win the game, you must use your limited supply of energy wisely, quickly gain height, take advantage of any opportunities, and ultimately absorb the Sentinel from its pedestal.
Want to know more?
The freeware status of Zenith means that you may download and use Zenith freeware versions without charge, and without warranty. If you'd like to give a little back, please consider donating. Zenith will not become a commercial product, unless future versions of Zenith offer a game that is significantly different from The Sentinel. You may not charge for distributing or providing Zenith, and if you host the downloadable files yourself, you must provide a link to the download page on this site.
In developing Zenith, we have kept the design simple while using some of the capabilities that today's improved hardware provides. This remake takes the best from The Sentinel, and improves it with easier controls and bigger and more varied landscapes. You've been telling us that this results in a game that is more playable than commercial offerings. If you liked The Sentinel, you'll love Zenith!
Read more here about how this game was made, and the decisions we made to make this as simple and playable as possible.
| Date | Subject | News Item |
| 01 Jun 2011 | Donations | We've provided this for free since 2005. If you'd like to give a little back, please consider donating. |
| 26 Jun 2009 | Your Turn... | We encourage you to make videos of your Zenith games - post your link to feedback, and we'll add it to this page. |
| 14 Jun 2009 | Release | Freeware v0.9.10. Changes: (1) Sounds for Sentinel/Sentries moving. (2) Improved game balance at Levels 80+. (3) Bug 11 fixed. (4) F1 displays essential keys, F5 displays random hints. |
| 10 Apr 2008 | Notice | After nearly a year of development holiday, we think it's fair to announce that Zenith will not be seeing any planned development in the near future. This is because the author is dedicated to other projects, not because the author has run out of ideas. In the meantime, enjoy the game! |
Post your review of Zenith here. If you like it, click 'Like'.
It's a public Facebook group, with the usual discussion groups and media uploading.
Reviewers
Are you writing a blog or a review? When you're done, please send a link for your article if you write about Zenith.
Use this web address if you want to link to the Zenith download site. Do not charge for providing this download.
Gameplay Videos
We encourage you to make gameplay videos of your Zenith games - post your link to feedback, and we'll add it to this page.
| Site Copyright © 2011 John Valentine, All rights reserved. [more] |