{{short description|2003 video game}} {{Redirect|Counter Force|the Marvel Comics team|Counter Force (Marvel Comics)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2022}} {{Infobox video game | title = Ex Zeus | caption = European box art | image = 252px|The cover for the European release of Counter Force. | developer = HyperDevbox Japan, Octopus Studio (iPhone, Android) | publisher = HyperDevbox Japan, Conspiracy Entertainment, 505 Games, Metro3D | director = Carlo Perconti | designer = Carlo Perconti | programmer = Carlo Perconti<br />Christophe Le Bouil | artist = Makoto Higuchi<br />Hiroyuki Nakashima | composer = Michel Golgevit<br />Olivier Rabat | released ='''Microsoft Windows'''<br />{{Vgrelease|EU|May 1, 2003}} '''PlayStation 2'''<br />{{Vgrelease|EU|October 20, 2004}} '''Wii'''<br />{{Vgrelease|NA|October 5, 2007|EU|April 1, 2008}} '''iPhone'''<br />2009<br /> '''Android'''<br />2010 | genre = Rail shooter | modes = Single-player | platforms = Arcade, Wii, PlayStation 2, iPhone OS, Microsoft Windows, Android }}
'''''ExZeus''''' (also known as ''Counter Force'' for the Wii release) is a video game developed by HyperDevbox Japan. Despite the company's name, it was founded by Carlo Perconti, one of the founders of the France-based video game company Toka who moved to Japan and set up a game development studio in Tokyo. It was released in 2003 for the arcades running on a Tsunami Visual Technologies TsuMo arcade cabinet<ref>{{Cite web|url=/http://www.tsunamivisual.com/prd_EZ.html |title=ExZeus|website=TsunamiVisual.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090103091209/http://www.tsunamivisual.com/prd_EZ.html |archive-date=3 January 2009 |url-status=usurped}}</ref> and was later released for Microsoft Windows as shareware.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://pc.gamezone.com/gamesell/p22135.htm |title=ExZeus - PC game |access-date=2009-08-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090420191641/http://pc.gamezone.com/gamesell/p22135.htm |archive-date=2009-04-20 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2004, a PlayStation 2 version was released, but only in Europe. Then in 2005, the game had a re-release in the arcades, this time running on Sega NAOMI GD-ROM hardware, and only released in Japanese arcades.<ref>[http://www.coinopexpress.com/products/pcbs/naomi_i___ii_gd_rom/ExZeus_4453.html?d=d38a9 ExZeus kit] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708174756/http://www.coinopexpress.com/products/pcbs/naomi_i___ii_gd_rom/ExZeus_4453.html?d=d38a9 |date=2011-07-08 }}, CoinOpExpress.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.system16.com/hardware.php?id=675&page=1#1704|title=System 16 - Sega Naomi GD-Rom Hardware (Taito)|website=www.system16.com|accessdate=21 April 2023}}</ref> It was later released to the Wii under the working title of Shoot Out,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.codenamerevolution.com/?p=4216|title = Codename Revolution - It's your world| date=April 28, 2023 }}</ref> later changed to ''Counter Force'', and released in 2007. It was ported in 2009 for the iPhone by Octopus Studio, under the name ''ExZeus''. An Android port by Octopus Studio was released in 2010.<ref>[http://www.eurodroid.com/2010/02/hyperdevbox-reveals-exzeus-coming-soon-to-android/ HyperDevbox reveals ExZeus, coming soon to Android] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100207071423/http://www.eurodroid.com/2010/02/hyperdevbox-reveals-exzeus-coming-soon-to-android/ |date=February 7, 2010 }}, Eurodroid.</ref>
==Reception== ''IGN'' gave the Wii version a positive review, praising its accurate infrared controls, graphical design, and "deep-rooted sense of nostalgic fun". However, they scored the game a 4/10 based on its price, saying "If it was on Wii Ware for $5, we’d have a hard time not nerding out entirely".<ref>{{cite web |last=Bozon | first=Mark | title=Counter Force Review | website=IGN | date=2008-01-29 | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/01/29/counter-force-review | access-date=2025-09-08}}</ref>
==Re-release== In August 2021, video game publisher Ziggurat Interactive announced through their YouTube channel that they would be re-releasing ''ExZeus'' and ''ExZeus 2'' as ''ExZeus: The Complete Collection'' for PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch in Summer 2021,<ref name="ExZeusRelease">{{Cite web|url=https://www.gematsu.com/2021/08/exzeus-the-complete-collection-announced-for-ps4-xbox-one-switch-and-pc|title=ExZeus: The Complete Collection announced for PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC|website=gematsu.com|date=4 August 2021|access-date=September 19, 2021}}</ref> with porting completed by developer Sickhead Games.<ref name="ExZeusRelease"/>
==References== <references/>
==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20081106042451/http://www.conspiracygames.com/products.php?productid=81531500046 Conspiracy Entertainment's Counter Force page] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20100110122316/http://www.hyperdevbox.com/exzeus/index.html HyperDevbox's ExZeus homepage] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20100219023227/http://www.hyperdevbox.com/exzeus-android/index.html HyperDevbox's ExZeus Android homepage]
Category:505 Games games Category:2003 video games Category:Video games about mecha Category:PlayStation 2 games Category:Rail shooters Category:Wii games Category:Arcade video games Category:Windows games Category:IOS games Category:Android (operating system) games Category:Video games developed in Japan Category:Conspiracy Entertainment games Category:Single-player video games Category:Metro3D games Category:HyperDevbox Japan games Category:Ziggurat Interactive games
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