Decimation X3 (XBLA) Review
Posted by Trace Aber on 12.14.2010
Decimation X3 takes the classic Space Invaders formula and cranks it up to 11
If there’s one thing you can count on the Indie Games channel for, it’s modern takes on old classics. Instead of simple remakes of classic formulas, many developers add or update them and add their own special touches to make the game feel both familiar and unique. Decimation X3 is one such title, acting as a souped-up Space Invaders filled with powerups, explosions and a whole lot more.
Gameplay is exactly like that of Space Invaders, in which enemies come at you in rows as they shift from left to right while shooting bullets at you. Commanding what appears to be the only spaceship left in the war against our shifting invaders, you must dodge their bullets while taking them out with bullets of your own. Of course, there’s much more to Decimation X3 than this, and that’s when the real fun kicks in.
My favorite thing about Decimation X3 is the speed at which the game moves. At first, things are relatively slow with a single line of fire being able to take out the first couple of waves, but then the action picks up. The more enemies you take out the faster they move, and once you approach the later stages the amount of bullets they fire increase as well, making survival extremely difficult and rewarding at the same time. At times the entire bottom half of the screen can be filled with enemy firepower and at that point it becomes a careful game of precision movements.
Thankfully, you’re not stuck with just a single line of fire. In fact, there are a bevy of power ups you can collect, and if you upgrade your weapon enough you’ll eventually be filling up the upper half of the screen with your firepower in just a couple of shots. It’s at this point when you realize this is more than just a Space Invaders clone…this is a damn fun game. Sometimes the action is so fast and furious that you can lose track of what’s going on, but thankfully you can pick up a shield powerup that gives you four areas to hide in and catch your breath.
After every few levels a boss battle of sorts begins, which are large, oddly-shaped enemies that absorb a huge amount of damage while constantly firing away at your tiny ship. After defeating them they explode in a collection of powerups, giving you ample time to prepare for your next wave of enemies. This helps keeps the action fresh and varied, and of course is a great opportunity to upgrade your ship.
I did notice a few hit detection issues, both positive and negative. At times I was hit by bullets that I swear were not touching me, and other times I managed to stay alive after practically dancing with a bullet. This may have been a balance thing as there are points where it is literally impossible to escape some onslaughts, and overall it doesn’t interrupt gameplay at all.
The game also has four player local co-op support, which is a great addition as the screen is filled with bullets and explosions. While the single player is fun enough, sitting down with a few friends really makes this an easy purchase as everyone competes for the high score and survival.
The 411
Decimation X3 appears to be just another Space Invaders clone on the surface, but spend a couple of minutes with the game and you’ll see that it’s much more. The action is frantic, fast and furious (the 3 Fs every shooter should strive for), and most importantly the game is really, really fun. It’s a game that you can pick up and play for just a few minutes or get lost in and play for an hour without realizing it, and when you factor in the $1 asking price, it’s hard to say no.
Graphics
7.0
It has the retro look down, but at times becomes a bit ambitious when it becomes hard to see what's going on
Gameplay
9.0
Taking an arcade classic with modern touches leads to some great gaming
Sound
7.0
The music fit the game well even if it doesn't set the world on fire
Lasting Appeal
7.5
While you won't be spending hours at a time with the game, there's always the allure of beating your top score
