Andrew Pace
Zero-G Basketball, also known as Z-Ball, is a mini-game in the Dead Space video game series. It is a zero-gravity version of basketball, where players use Kinesis to grab a ball out of mid-air and shoot it into a hole. There are six levels in Zero-G Basketball, with each level offering unique rewards. Players can unlock these rewards by completing the levels and earning the Z-Baller achievement.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Game Name | Dead Space |
| Mini-game Name | Z-Ball |
| Other Names | Zero-G Basketball, Zero-G Jump |
| Number of Levels | 6 |
| Rewards | Credits, Ammo, Power Node, Achievement/Trophy ("Z-Baller") |
| Location in Game | Chapter 10 - End of Days, Crew Deck of the USG Ishimura |
| Description | Basketball without gravity |
| Court Shape | Cylindrical with four columns of three (original game); circular room with high ceiling and platforms (remake) |
| Gameplay Mechanics | Snatch ball out of midair and hurl into holes; shoot ball into glowing rims; no leaping required in the remake |
| Tips | Listen for the whirring sound to find the ball; keep an eye on the timer; clear debris before starting |
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What You'll Learn
Zero-G Basketball, also known as Z-Ball, is a mini-game in Dead Space
To begin the game, players must first dispose of the three Enhanced Lurkers in the court and then activate a panel on the platform in front of the court's entrance. The player must then shoot the ball into a hole to get rewards. Each level completed unlocks a locker reward in the room prior, with the final locker containing a power node. There are six levels in total, with shorter shot clock timers and increasing difficulty as covers slide atop score holes, making shots harder.
Players can gain multipliers and amplify their scores by using zero-g leaps from one platform to another. However, this is not necessary for completion, as players can simply fly throughout the court freely and shoot the ball. The mini-game is a nice distraction from the horrors usually faced in Dead Space, but it is not mandatory, and there are no exclusive rewards. Completing all six levels will take a significant amount of time, around 20-30 minutes, and players are advised to take breaks between levels.
Completing every level earns the player the Achievement/Trophy "Z-Baller". While playing, players may hear voices cheering for them, saying things like "Make us whole!" and "Make us whole again, Isaac!", which are hallucinations from the Marker.
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Players must grab and shoot a ball into a hole to get rewards
Zero-G Basketball, also known as Z-Ball, is a mini-game in Dead Space where players must grab and shoot a ball into a hole to earn rewards. It is a zero-gravity version of basketball, where players use Dead Space's Kinesis to snatch a ball out of mid-air and hurl it back into one of four coloured holes in the wall opposite them. Each level completed unlocks a locker reward in the room prior, with the final locker containing a power node. The game has six levels, and completing all six will earn the player the "Z-Baller" achievement.
To play Zero-G Basketball, it is recommended to first clear the area of any debris, as the player does not want to accidentally grab onto something else and miss their shot. Players should then position themselves near the shooting area, but not too close, as they will then have to turn too much when trying to grab the ball. It is also important to listen out for the whirring sound the ball makes, as this will help locate it. Once the player has the ball, they must shoot it into a hole as quickly as possible. Screens will cover certain goals in later rounds, so players must time their throws accordingly.
In the original game, the court is cylindrically shaped with four columns of three, and the player must start the game by activating a panel in front of the court's entrance. The player must also dispose of three Enhanced Lurkers in the court before they can start playing. In later levels, covers will slide atop score holes in a seemingly random order, making shots more difficult. Players are encouraged to use zero-g leaps from one platform to another to gain multipliers and amplify their scores, but this is not necessary for completion.
Z-Ball is a fun and nostalgic distraction from the horror and action of the main Dead Space game, and while it may be a little simplistic, it is a nice break from the limb dismemberment players are otherwise concentrating on.
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There are six levels to complete, each with shorter shot clock timers
Zero-G Basketball, also known as Z-Ball, is a mini-game in Dead Space. It is a zero-gravity basketball game where players use Kinesis to grab a ball out of mid-air and shoot it back into one of four coloured holes in the wall. There are six levels to complete, each with shorter shot clock timers. Each level completed unlocks a locker reward in the room prior, with the final locker containing a power node. The game rewards players who complete all six levels with the hidden achievement, Z-Baller.
The Z-Ball court can be found in Chapter 10 - End of Days. From the Commons Room, players must walk through the door to the right of the Commons store. The court initially holds three Enhanced Lurkers, which must be disposed of before the player can start a game by activating a panel in front of the court's entrance.
The game involves a ball that continuously makes a whirring sound and glows blue with smaller glowing orbs circling it. Players must listen out for the direction of the hum to track the ball down. Within a game round, there are a maximum of three platforms that light up simultaneously for Isaac to jump on. Players should not pay attention to the shot clock on Isaac's back as it does not follow him closely, and it takes a moment to catch up after he performs a Zero-G jump. If the ball is not in the stadium when the game begins, it gets launched out of one of the score-holes. Otherwise, the game starts with the ball remaining in the same position.
Later levels will see covers slide atop score holes in a seemingly random order, making players' shots more difficult. Players are encouraged to use zero-g leaps from one platform to another to gain multipliers and amplify their scores. However, this is not necessary for completion, as it can be disorienting.
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Level 6 is said to be based on luck
Zero-G Basketball, also known as Z-Ball, is a mini-game in Dead Space. It is a basketball game without gravity. The player must first activate a panel to start the game and then shoot the ball into the glowing rims. The player needs to score a minimum of 15 points (although some say 20) to advance to the next level.
There are six levels in Z-Ball. Level 6 is said to be based on luck. Players need to complete levels 1 through 5 quickly to have enough time left for level 6. However, level 6 also requires lucky drops for the glowing circles, which are completely random and rarely show up. If the player does not get enough of these "glowing holes," it can make passing the level impossible.
Some players have expressed frustration with level 6, calling it a "trash minigame" that relies solely on luck. The unpredictable nature of the "glowing holes" can make it challenging to complete the level, even with sufficient time remaining.
Completing all six levels of Z-Ball can take a significant amount of time, and players are advised to take breaks between levels. It is recommended to aim for the closest glowing plate and throw the basketball straight into the goal to clear a level quickly. Upgrading Telekinesis can also make grabbing and launching the ball easier.
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Zero-G Basketball tests your patience more than your skill
Zero-G Basketball, also known as Z-Ball, is a mini-game in Dead Space that tests your patience more than your skill. It is essentially basketball without gravity. Players use Dead Space's Kinesis to grab a ball out of mid-air and hurl it into one of four coloured holes in the wall opposite them. There are six levels in the game, and each level completed unlocks a locker reward in the room prior. The final locker contains a power node.
The game can be found on the Crew Deck of the USG Ishimura. The court initially holds three Enhanced Lurkers, which the player must dispose of before they can start playing. To start a game, the player must activate a panel in front of the court's entrance. The original game features a cylindrical court with four columns of three. Later levels become more challenging, with covers sliding over score holes in a seemingly random order, making shots more difficult.
To complete a level, players must leave the court with a score of 15 or above. Within a game round, there are a maximum of three platforms that light up simultaneously for Isaac to jump on. Players should not pay attention to the shot clock on Isaac's back, as it does not follow his movements closely. The ball makes a whirring sound and glows blue, with smaller glowing orbs circling it, so players can locate it by sound or by sight.
While Zero-G Basketball is a fun and nostalgic distraction from the main game, it is not particularly engaging. The removal of platforms means that the game becomes a simple catch-and-throw activity. Some players may find that this simplicity makes the game a test of patience rather than skill.
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Frequently asked questions
There are six levels in Zero-G Basketball, also known as Z-Ball.
Leaving the court with a score of 15 or above will beat the level.
Each level has a locked locker with different rewards, and the final locker contains a power node. Completing all six levels will also unlock the Z-Baller achievement.
