As someone who enjoys playing indie games that err on the more bizarre side of the fence, it has been great to see plenty of oddball representation in that vein in the Switch eShop. The risk these titles always run is that they have a tendency, because of their more unusual inclinations, to be pretty niche affairs. Whether the issue is humor that tends to be hit or miss, gameplay that somehow misses the bar, or perhaps overall structure that can be a bit hard to follow, there can be a variety of challenges these games face. The trouble for The Zebra-Man, unfortunately, is that I think you could make a case for a little bit of all the above, and while that hardly cripples the experience, it absolutely makes it an acquired taste.

Even before you start playing, there can be no doubt that you’re riding the hill of what looks to be a wild roller coaster ride, featuring a brief but bloody video intro that quickly establishes a grindhouse sort of feel that suits the game’s style nicely. You’ll then be forgiven for mistaking the gameplay initially for some sort of Hotline Miami clone, as the general look, feel, and style is absolutely reminiscent of aspects of that cult hit, without a doubt. You’ll quickly learn the rules and get into the flow of things, but you can expect that the action will typically be quick, intense, and pretty easy to crash and burn with, so it’s best to be patient and do your best to set yourself up for success.

From there it’s best to simply be ready for a wild ride of insanity that undoubtedly takes some cues from the likes of No More Heroes and its ilk, blending together violence, a bit of confusion about what the hell you’re playing right now, and some laughs… if you’re the proper audience for that sort of thing. Be warned, it can go off the rails at times, so if you’re easily offended, or can be bothered by content or humor that skews to being inappropriate, you’ve been warned. If you find that you have thicker skin and are just down for some craziness though, it could be just what you’re looking for. 

This is absolutely a title that’s both wonderful and flawed at once, and absolutely not something everyone will dig. If it sounds like a good time, I’d encourage you to go in as unprepared as possible, as the shock value is often what delivers the fun… as long as you have the right attitude for it. Being picky, I do wish some of the gameplay was a bit more varied and refined, but this is a game where it’s more about the ride than the mechanics, and I can respect that.