Xyanide

Last updated
Xyanide
Xyanide (xbox).jpg
Developer(s) Playlogic Entertainment
Publisher(s) Evolved Games
Engine RenderWare
Platform(s) Xbox
Release
  • NA: August 15, 2006
Genre(s) Shoot 'em up
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

Xyanide is a video game developed by Playlogic Entertainment and published by Evolved Games for the Xbox in 2006. Described as an "innovative amalgam of 2D shooting and modern 3D effects", [1] Xyanide is a 3D interpretation of the 2D side-scrolling shoot 'em up genre. The game was developed in line with a series of unreleased titles for the Game Boy Advance by Engine Software and Nokia N-Gage by Overloaded Pocket Media, with a mobile version of the game being released in 2005. Xyanide was released in 2006 as the final exclusive title to be released for the Xbox. A sequel of the game, Xyanide: Resurrection , released by Playlogic in 2007 for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable and PC.

Contents

Gameplay

A screenshot of gameplay in Xyanide. Xyanide Gameplay.jpg
A screenshot of gameplay in Xyanide.

Xyanide is a shoot 'em up game in which players navigate six 3D levels that alternate between side-scrolling and three-dimensional perspectives and feature branching paths. Players control their ship using a two-stick control scheme, with the left stick controlling movement and the right stick controlling the aim of weapons. [2] Core weapons include a spread gun for smaller ships, a laser for larger enemies, and an auxiliary missile launcher that can lock onto targets. The player's ship and weapons can transform during stages by collecting one of two branches of 'mutator' upgrades, with players able to switch between mutations during gameplay. 'Mech' upgrades enhance the player's laser, and 'Organic' upgrades enhance the player's spread gun, with each providing a range of additional unique abilities. [1] Player performance in levels is ranked with a scoring system, with points accumulated by killing enemies, as well as bonus points earned from acquiring abilities, with scores able to be uploaded to Xbox Live. The game features multiplayer gameplay using local co-op using a second controller. [3]

Plot

An intergalactic witch named Aguira has been captured and sentenced to death for her dreadful crimes, but a spaceship transporting Aguira to her execution was struck by an asteroid. To her surprise, the asteroid was rich in Xyanide, a mythical substance known for its abilities to make an exposed person's thoughts become reality. Taking advantage of the situation, the witch uses her new powers to create her own alternate universe as a tool to aid her escape and spread her destructive influence. It is up to the escort pilot Drake to try and stop the evil Aguira from accomplishing her goals and to carry out the sentence. [4]

Development

Xyanide was announced by Dutch developer Playlogic Entertainment in June 2003 and developed at the Game Factory, an in-house studio based in Breda. [5] The game was showcased by Playlogic International at E3 on May 2004. [6] In September 2005, development of Xyanide was completed with the game entering a beta testing phase. [7] Ports of Xyanide were also planned by Playlogic for handheld consoles and mobile. Xyanide Advance, a port for the Game Boy Advance developed by Engine Software following their acquisition by Playlogic, [8] was an unreleased title planned for release in Europe in 2004, [9] with an advance release trailer of gameplay released in January 2004. [10] A port of the game for mobile and the Nokia N-Gage by Overloaded Pocket Media was also developed, [11] with a demo of the game being released in February 2005. [12] The design of the ports aimed to prioritise the "look and feel of the original Xbox title, using similar assets compressed to the resolution of portable devices. [13] The mobile port of the game was released in 2005. [14]

Reception

Xyanide received lukewarm reviews from critics, with review aggregation website Metacritic recording "mixed or average reviews" for the game at an average score of 70% across 16 reviews. [15] Reviewers were mixed on the game's graphics, with positive reviews praising its unique tone and visual presentation. Writing for Play , Dave Halverson praised the tone of the game as "exquisite", praising the "hypnotic" opening cutscene and "eerily serene" effects "as if a cinematographer crafted the voyage." [20] Play subsequently awarded the game as the "best traditional shooter" of 2006, stating the game's "esoteric sci-fi air" and "surreal settings" made Xyanide a "unique experience". [24] However, whilst Greg Kasavin of GameSpot praised the "trippy presentation" of the game, he noted it was "somewhat bewildering" and "prone to some unsightly drops in the frame rate." [2] Similarly, Erik Brudvig of IGN critiqued the game's graphics, stating "the levels look pretty at first, but quickly become nauseating and boring when the same backgrounds continuously scroll by awkwardly." [18]

Reviewers were similarly mixed on the accessibility of the game's control scheme and handling. Zak Downing of Gaming Target described Xyanide as a "very well controlled game", praising the handling as "smooth and engaging", although critiquing the "constantly moving" and "irregular" camera movement. [23] Erik Brudvig of IGN noted that controlling the player's ship was "simple and intuitive", but noted "you won't always be able to shoot the target you're trying to aim for", remarking "the targeting is spotty" and "the aiming system (is) awkward". [18] Writing for GameSpot , Greg Kasavin stated the game was "relatively hard to get into", citing the lack of guidance from the user interface and the "unclear" differentiation of weapons, although finding the difficulty level for the game appropriate. [2] Douglas Trueman of GamesRadar expressed frustration with the targeting, stating "since the game automatically targets enemies on all three axes, players will occasionally find themselves firing into the distance while enemies...swarm in for the kill." [16]

Related Research Articles

A stealth game is a type of video game in which the player primarily uses stealth to avoid or overcome opponents. Games in the genre typically allow the player to remain undetected by hiding, sneaking, or using disguises. Some games allow the player to choose between a stealthy approach or directly attacking antagonists, but rewarding the player for greater use of stealth. The genre has employed espionage, counter-terrorism, and rogue themes, with protagonists that are special forces operatives, special agents, secret agents, thieves, ninjas, or assassins. Some games have also combined stealth elements with other genres, such as first-person shooters and also platformers.

<i>Tom Clancys Splinter Cell</i> (video game) 2002 stealth video game

Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell is a 2002 stealth game developed by Ubi Soft Montreal and published by Ubi Soft. It is the first game in the Splinter Cell series. Endorsed by author Tom Clancy, it follows the activities of NSA black ops agent Sam Fisher. The game was inspired by both the Metal Gear series and games created by Looking Glass Studios, and was built using Unreal Engine 2.

<i>Ikaruga</i> 2001 shoot em up video game

Ikaruga is a shoot 'em up developed by Treasure. It is the spiritual sequel to Radiant Silvergun (1998) and was originally released in Japanese arcades in December 2001. The story follows a rebel pilot named Shinra as he battles an enemy nation using a specially designed fighter called the Ikaruga which can flip between two polarities, black and white. This polarity mechanism is the game's key feature and the foundation for its stage and enemy design. All enemies and bullets in the game are either black or white. Bullets which are the same color as the player are absorbed while the others will kill the player. The game features both single-player and cooperative modes.

<i>Call of Duty</i> (video game) 2003 video game

Call of Duty is a 2003 first-person shooter game developed by Infinity Ward and published by Activision. It is the first installment in the Call of Duty franchise, released on October 29, 2003, for Microsoft Windows. The game simulates infantry and combined arms warfare of World War II using a modified version of the id Tech 3 engine. Much of its theme and gameplay is similar to the Medal of Honor series; however, Call of Duty showcases multiple viewpoints staged in the American, British, and Soviet theaters of World War II.

<i>Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time</i> 2003 video game

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is an action-adventure video game developed by Ubisoft Montreal and published by Ubisoft. The game was released on the Game Boy Advance, PlayStation 2, GameCube, Xbox and Windows in November 2003. The Sands of Time is a reboot of the Prince of Persia series created by Jordan Mechner. Mechner served as creative consultant, designer, and scenario writer for The Sands of Time.

<i>Hitman: Contracts</i> 2004 video game

Hitman: Contracts is a 2004 stealth video game developed by IO Interactive and published by Eidos Interactive for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2 and Xbox. It is the third installment in the Hitman video game series, and serves as both a remake of Hitman: Codename 47 and sequel to Hitman 2: Silent Assassin, incorporating gameplay elements introduced in the latter into missions from the first game, which have been remastered with enhanced graphics. The game also includes several new missions, which serve as flashbacks experienced by the player character, the cloned assassin Agent 47, after being almost killed on a botched job.

<i>Perfect Dark Zero</i> 2005 video game

Perfect Dark Zero is a first-person shooter developed by Rare and published by Microsoft Game Studios. It was released as a launch title for the Xbox 360 video game console in 2005. The game is part of the Perfect Dark series and a prequel to the original Perfect Dark. The story of the game follows Joanna Dark, a bounty hunter working with her father and a computer hacker, as she joins the Carrington Institute agency to prevent a rival corporation from gaining possession of an ancient artefact which endows individuals with superhuman powers.

<i>Paperboy</i> (video game) 1985 video game

Paperboy is an arcade action game developed and published by Atari Games and Midway Games, and released in 1985. The player takes the role of a paperboy who delivers a fictional newspaper called The Daily Sun along a suburban street on his bicycle. The arcade version of the game featured bike handlebars as the controller.

<i>Tom Clancys Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow</i> 2004 video game

Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow is a 2004 stealth game developed and published by Ubisoft Shanghai and Ubisoft Milan. The game is the sequel to Splinter Cell and the second game in the Splinter Cell series endorsed by writer Tom Clancy. It follows the covert activities of Sam Fisher, an agent working for a black-ops branch of the National Security Agency (NSA) called "Third Echelon". Michael Ironside returns to voice Sam Fisher, while Dennis Haysbert voices the character Irving Lambert, Fisher's boss, making this the only time he is not voiced by Don Jordan. Lalo Schifrin provides the theme music for the game.

<i>X-Men Legends</i> 2004 video game

X-Men Legends is an action role-playing video game developed by Raven Software and published by Activision. It was released on the GameCube, PlayStation 2 and Xbox consoles in 2004. Barking Lizards Technologies developed the N-Gage port of the game, which was released in early 2005. Players can play as one of fifteen X-Men characters, with the ability to switch between four computer- or human-controlled characters at any time.

<i>Vietcong</i> (video game) 2003 video game

Vietcong is a 2003 tactical first-person shooter video game developed by Pterodon in cooperation with Illusion Softworks and published by Gathering for Microsoft Windows. It is set during the Vietnam War in 1967.

<i>Platypus</i> (video game) 2002 video game

Platypus is a horizontal scrolling shooter game created and designed by Anthony Flack, produced by George Bray, and programmed by Michael W. Boeh. The objective is to guide an antique spacecraft by utilizing the mouse in order to avoid and attempt to shoot enemies.

<i>Bionicle Heroes</i> 2006 video game

Bionicle Heroes is a 2006 video game published by Eidos Interactive and TT Games Publishing and based on Lego's Bionicle line of constructible action figures. The game was released in November 2006 on PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, GameCube, Microsoft Windows, Game Boy Advance, and Nintendo DS; a Nintendo Wii version was later released in April 2007. The home console and PC versions were developed by Traveller's Tales, while Amaze Entertainment developed the handheld versions. A version of the game for mobile phones, developed by Universomo, was also released. The home console and PC versions of the game are third-person shooters, while the Game Boy Advance version is a run 'n' gun shoot 'em up and the Nintendo DS version is a first-person shooter. The story of Bionicle Heroes, where the player seeks to liberate the island of Voya Nui and its inhabitants from the villainous Piraka, is not canon to the official Bionicle story.

<i>Ninja Gaiden</i> (2004 video game) 2004 video game

Ninja Gaiden is an action adventure hack and slash video game developed by Team Ninja and published by Tecmo for the Xbox. It was released in March 2004. Set in the futuristic version of the 21st century, players control Ryu Hayabusa, a master ninja, in his quest to recover a stolen sword and avenge the slaughter of his clan. It was inspired by Tecmo's Ninja Gaiden series, and is set in the same continuity as Team Ninja's Dead or Alive fighting games.

<i>Baldurs Gate: Dark Alliance</i> 2001 video game

Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance is a 2001 action role-playing video game developed by Snowblind Studios and published by Interplay Entertainment subsidiary Black Rock Studios for the PlayStation 2 and the Xbox consoles, with High Voltage Software handling the GameCube port, and Magic Pockets developing the Game Boy Advance version. CD Projekt was developing a version for Microsoft Windows, but it was ultimately cancelled. In 2021, a 4K port of the game was released for the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch. In December of the same year, a port for the PC was released.

<i>TMNT</i> (video game) 2007 video game

TMNT is an action video game featuring the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. It was developed by Ubisoft Montreal and published by Ubisoft for Xbox 360, Wii, PlayStation 2, GameCube, Nintendo DS, and PlayStation Portable, as well as for Microsoft Windows on March 20, 2007. It is based on the 2007 film of the same name. Versions of the game for the original Xbox and PlayStation 3 were also planned but cancelled.

<i>Conflict: Denied Ops</i> 2008 video game

Conflict: Denied Ops is a tactical shooter video game developed by Pivotal Games and published by Eidos Interactive for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. It is the fifth and final installment in the Conflict series. Originally, the game was to be called "Crossfire" but was later changed. It released on February 8, 2008, in Europe, February 12, 2008, North America, February 21, 2008, in Australia and January 16, 2009, in Japan.

<i>Chaos Field</i> 2005 video game

Chaos Field is a 2004 vertically scrolling shooter arcade video game developed by MileStone. The game consists entirely of boss battles, featuring five stages with three bosses each. The player can choose to play as one of three characters, each with their own ship that has a unique primary weapon. The player can flip the environment at will between two parallel worlds.

<i>Halo: Spartan Assault</i> 2013 video game

Halo: Spartan Assault is a twin stick shooter video game developed by 343 Industries and Vanguard Games. Part of the Halo media franchise, the game was released on July 18, 2013, for Microsoft's Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 platforms. The game subsequently released on Xbox 360, Xbox One, Steam, and iOS. Halo: Spartan Assault is set between the events of Halo 3 and Halo 4. Players control the human soldiers Sarah Palmer and Edward Davis as they fight a new splinter faction of the alien Covenant. The game launched with 25 single-player missions; an additional campaign released as downloadable content. The console versions also feature an exclusive cooperative horde mode.

<i>Kameo</i> 2005 action-adventure video game for Xbox 360

Kameo: Elements of Power is a 2005 action-adventure video game developed by Rare and published by Microsoft Game Studios. The player controls Kameo, a 16-year-old elf, who must travel across the land, rescuing her family while collecting Elemental Sprites and Warriors in a Beat 'Em Up style combat against the trolls that stand in her way. Kameo's ten elemental powers let her transform into creatures and use their varied abilities to solve combat-oriented puzzles and progress through the game's levels.

References

  1. 1 2 "Xyanide". Edge (128): 40. October 2003.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Kasavin, Greg (August 18, 2006). "Xyanide Review". GameSpot . Red Ventures. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
  3. ↑ Xyanide - Game Manual. Playlogic. 2006.
  4. ↑ "Xyanide". Xbox Nation (10): 62–63. October–November 2003.
  5. ↑ "First look: Xyanide". GameSpot. 15 July 2003.
  6. ↑ E3 2004 Directory - Official Exhibit Guide. Prima Games. 2004. p. 75.
  7. ↑ "Breathtaking Shoot´em up Xyanide prepares its blasters for Microsoft's Xbox". GamesIndustry.biz. 12 September 2005.
  8. ↑ Calvert, Justin (16 July 2003). "Playlogic games coming to GBA". GameSpot.
  9. ↑ Harris, Craig (29 January 2004). "Xyanide Blasting to GBA". IGN.
  10. ↑ "Xyanide Advance Game Boy Gameplay". IGN. 28 January 2004.
  11. ↑ Calvert, Justin (3 December 2003). "Xyanide coming to N-Gage". GameSpot.
  12. ↑ "Something wicked this way comes!!!!". GamesIndustry.biz. 7 February 2005.
  13. ↑ "Xyanide Mobile". Playlogic. 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-01-14.
  14. ↑ Buchanan, Levi (5 October 2005). "Xyanide". IGN.
  15. 1 2 "Xyanide Critic Reviews for Xbox". Metacritic . Red Ventures . Retrieved May 7, 2022.
  16. 1 2 Trueman, Douglas (12 September 2006). "Xyanide Review". GamesRadar.
  17. ↑ Pettinelli, Derek (September 5, 2006). "Xyanide - XB - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on February 29, 2008. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
  18. 1 2 3 Brudvig, Erik (August 29, 2006). "Xyanide Review". IGN . Ziff Davis . Retrieved May 7, 2022.
  19. ↑ "Xyanide". Official Xbox Magazine . Future US. October 2006. p. 81.
  20. 1 2 Halverson, Dave (December 2006). "Xyanide". Play (60): 60.
  21. ↑ Ahearn, Nate (September 5, 2006). "Xyanide Review (Xbox)". TeamXbox . IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on June 2, 2008. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
  22. ↑ Adam Sessler (2006). Xyanide Review (G4TV).
  23. 1 2 Downing, Zak (4 October 2006). "Xyanide". Gaming Target.
  24. ↑ "2006: Year in Review". Play: 53. February 2007.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.