XYX Demo

Shoot ‘em ups are not very popular nowadays, but they once were at the top of everyone’s favorite list. Because the genre could not adapt very well to the new technologies being developed, such as powerful 3D engines and the like, only a handful of enthusiasts enjoy its modern remnants, most of which are remakes and retro-looking games anyway.

XYX is a retro shoot ‘em up that tries to bring back some of the atmosphere from the 16-bit era, as well as the fast-paced gameplay mechanics that require good coordination and fast reflexes. On the other hand, it also features a great deal of inconveniences and bad design choices, all of which add up to a mediocre product and a game that not even the most hardcore fans might find appealing.

To begin with, there isn’t much of a story running in the background and you may as well imagine something yourself, because the end result is the same. There are alien ships and they must be destroyed, which is about as much information as you need anyway. The action takes place in space and above ground bases, with tanks and anti-air artillery trying to bring you down.

Gameplay-wise, everyone knows that shmups must be fast-paced and tough to master, because that’s what keeps the players coming back for more. However, the actual controls should be simple to manage, which they aren’t in this case, unfortunately. The perspective is too skewed and the ship moves a bit too slow to avoid some of the attacks, unless you happen to see them in time.

Visually, the game is nothing out of the ordinary, even if it tries to gamble on the retro card. While the environments and the ships are not bad at all, everything else is a bit disappointing, especially the surrounding environments. Thankfully, at least the lasers and the explosions look nice, which is good news in a game that features a lot of those.

All things being equal, XYX is neither good nor bad, but it often feels cheap and annoying. Hence, with a bit more effort and dedication, the game can be turned into something both fun and entertaining, not to mention challenging.