X-Scape

Genre: First-Person Action

Players: 1

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Review:

X-Scape is a First-Person Action game released on the Nintendo DSi via the DSiWare service in 2010 and then grandfathered into the Nintendo 3DS eShop when that system was released. This is a sequel to the Japan-only 1992 Game Boy game X, taking place over a decade after the events of that game. The game’s premise is that in the distant future when mankind has colonized foreign worlds, you have just returned to the colony you previously saved from an alien threat, only to find your former commander has now become a despotic emperor. Piloting a versatile spacecraft, players must jump from planet to planet to try to uncover what has happened while they were away, and free mankind from its cruel new overlord.

X-Scape’s 3D presentation seems much like it was intended to be a love letter to the early days of arcade games with vector graphics, particularly the 1980 classic Battlezone and the 1982 film Tron. As such, while the game uses 3D visuals, everything is rendered using an extremely limited color palette, with that palette changing to signify a shift in location. This is backed by a synthesized soundtrack that’s often subdued and unsettling, with occasional shifts into faster-paced action. The end result of all of this is that X-Scape has a presentation that is truly unique and memorable, though it’s not going to be a presentation that everyone will appreciate, and the flat colors can sometimes make it harder to parse details, and can make the environments look repetitive.

The gameplay in X-Scape shifts between two different types. You’ll have brief on-rails sections where you’ll fly through a corridor, but mostly you’ll be navigating a tank-like vehicle in a free-roaming area, again a la Battlezone. However, having the gameplay shift between these two makes for some fun variety.

The unfortunate problem here is the controls. In both game modes, players both aim and control movement using the touchscreen, with all of the other buttons and controls on the Nintendo DSi/Nintendo 3DS designated as a plain firing button. Players can alternately select a control layout that just uses the traditional gamepad controls, but here not only are both turning and movement awkwardly tied to the D-Pad, but aiming becomes far more difficult. It’s frustrating that they didn’t allow for an option to do the obvious thing – to have a hybrid of touchscreen and traditional controls that lets you use the D-Pad to move and the touchscreen to aim, possibly using L to fire.

Despite its flaws, X-Scape is still a fascinating game, and enjoyable to play. However, while some may find the unique presentation to be inspired, others are just as likely to be turned off by it, and in any case the controls are needlessly frustrating. This game may be worth a look, but I feel like it’s going to be a “love it or hate it” thing.

tl;dr – X-Scape is a First-Person Action game where players control a futuristic vehicle in on-rails corridor sequences and free-roaming tank-style battles that seem reminiscent of the 1980s game Battlezone. The limited color palette retro-style 3D graphics are truly unique, but may not appeal to everyone, and the controls are needlessly frustrating. Despite these issues, X-Scape still manages to be an enjoyable game, though it seems like a “love it or hate it” sorta’ thing.

Grade: B-

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