Decimation X3 is a game that has a special place in my heart and even more so after this holiday season. It’s also one of the proud games that is part of the Indie Games Winter Uprising. A while ago, I had mentioned in my Qlione Evolve review that “Sometimes the best games are classics that most gamers will take for granted. It’s no wonder that indie developers, no matter their nationality, look to the past for inspiration for projects in the future. The past classic games brought us wonderful works that we cherish and revere to this very day.” Decimation X3 is one of those games that understands what its classic predecessor (Space Invaders) did so well and remixes the concept in a fresh and unique way. Decimation X3 is a game that I feel honors Space Invaders with a tribute that would make the most cynical vintage gamer have faith in indie developers.
Xona Games gives you an brief description of their game on their website as found in this paragraph:
Decimation X3 (decimationx.com) is a 4 player shoot ’em up and thrilling sequel to the #1 Japan hit, Decimation X, and proud member of the Indie Games Winter Uprising. Back with intensified gameplay, extra power-ups, more firepower, improved retro graphics, huge bosses, and a beautifully remixed Imphenzia soundtrack. Developed by the empower the player philosophy of Xona Games, award-winning creators of Duality ZF and Score Rush. Released: December 7th, 2010.
The game is quite simple as far as controls go: Left analog stick or directional pad for moving the ship left and right, A to fire your ships guns. There’s really not much to it. Decimation X3 plays much like Space Invaders where you are issued waves of enemies to shoot and as you whittle their ranks away, their movement gets faster. Of course, the enemy aliens aren’t passive and do shoot back, because war is never easy. As you defeat a wave, your rank increases and so does the difficulty of the ranks from factors like more armor, higher retaliation rates, and even faster movement. Of course, you aren’t without a fair shot to retaliate…
Xona Games has power-ups laced into Decimation X3 to increase the power of your bullets, how consistent your bullet spread is, and chances for a shower of power-ups. The dramatic effect that Xona Games have added to Decimation X3 with the waves is music. The soundtrack was made with the help of Imphenzia and it does sound fantastic. How the music blends with the game is that as you progress further through the waves, the music gets more and more intense. The combined effect makes the later waves much more intense that you almost get wrapped up in the moment of kills and a presentation of a remix that is just splendid! Just check out the trailer below!
There used to be an embeded media player here, but it doesn't work anymore. We blame the Tumbeasts.
If you feel like pumping up the chaos, you can even play with up to 3 friends on one Xbox 360 which can get quite frantic. I had the pleasure of playing the game on both my Xbox 360 controller and on my Hori Real Arcade Pro EX-SE arcade stick. The best part was on the arcade stick, it felt like bring in front of a remixed Space Invaders cabinet in the pleasure of my living room.
I also got a chance to let my girlfriend’s mother to play it and she actually did remember playing Space Invaders in the arcades back in its heyday. I had her play on my arcade stick and she was locked on to the couch for a good 30 – 45 minutes! Her comment about Decimation X3 was “It’s like a flashback to the days I spent at the arcade again, just without the quarters being sucked out of my wallet!” Overall, I think Decimation X3 is a wonderful purchase at the price of 80 Microsoft Points ($1). If you crave a vintage remix game that challenges you to just the basics, but has a few concepts that keeps things fresh… Decimation X3 gets my pick!
[We would love to thank the folks at Xona Games for providing us a reviewer’s copy of the game as well as the images and trailer for Decimation X3.]
