X-Multiply (ARC/PS1, 1989/1998)
Graphics-8.5 Sound-7.5 Control-8 Challenge-8* Story-5
Level Design-6.5 Frustration-8.5* Fun-6.5 Originality-6
Overall-6.5
*Easy
+
Good art direction (Alien-inspired, biological theme with a human's insides making up the environments (pretty abstract and fictional take on it though))
Unique shield mechanic for the time (similar to the pod in R-Type but in the form of two squid-like tentacles which you only have semi-control over)
Pretty intense and varied action
Good bosses overall
Little to no slowdown with tons of sprites on screen
Large and detailed bosses
Difficulty options (easy, normal, hard + starting lives number options)
Somewhat different ending on normal/hard?
+/-
No smart bombs
Need to manually scroll down the GUI to see the entire level on PS1
Most bosses go down rather quickly (Easy only?)
-
Lose all weapons and speed upgrades after dying once
Slow rate of fire for the auto-fire (decent with the pink weapon)
The yellow weapon kinda sucks
Speed up/down power ups instead of manually adjustable speed
Only three different weapons and only one level for each one
It's fairly easy to pick up something you don't want
Trial & error (attacks from behind, some fast and poorly signaled attacks, later scenery traps, boss patterns)
Somewhat far between checkpoints
The tentacles feel like a less effective version of the pod from R-Type (most annoying part is keeping the arms in place for optimal fire power in tight spots - there could've been a button that locked them in place or changed how they behave)
Some pure black backgrounds
Notes:
-The game frequently locks up in ePSXe
Level Design-6.5 Frustration-8.5* Fun-6.5 Originality-6
Overall-6.5
*Easy
+
Good art direction (Alien-inspired, biological theme with a human's insides making up the environments (pretty abstract and fictional take on it though))
Unique shield mechanic for the time (similar to the pod in R-Type but in the form of two squid-like tentacles which you only have semi-control over)
Pretty intense and varied action
Good bosses overall
Little to no slowdown with tons of sprites on screen
Large and detailed bosses
Difficulty options (easy, normal, hard + starting lives number options)
Somewhat different ending on normal/hard?
+/-
No smart bombs
Need to manually scroll down the GUI to see the entire level on PS1
Most bosses go down rather quickly (Easy only?)
-
Lose all weapons and speed upgrades after dying once
Slow rate of fire for the auto-fire (decent with the pink weapon)
The yellow weapon kinda sucks
Speed up/down power ups instead of manually adjustable speed
Only three different weapons and only one level for each one
It's fairly easy to pick up something you don't want
Trial & error (attacks from behind, some fast and poorly signaled attacks, later scenery traps, boss patterns)
Somewhat far between checkpoints
The tentacles feel like a less effective version of the pod from R-Type (most annoying part is keeping the arms in place for optimal fire power in tight spots - there could've been a button that locked them in place or changed how they behave)
Some pure black backgrounds
Notes:
-The game frequently locks up in ePSXe