Xenophobe

"The unique sci-fi game from Sunsoft"

Xenophobe requires you (a choice between three characters) to go into a space station under attack by Xenos. Your job is to exterminate all the Xenos before the ship self-destructs. You get points at the end of each station for the number of valuable items collected. Pretty basic.
Xenophobe, however, lacks in many important departments, like graphics, sound, and play control. It is also overly difficult.

So, how does Xenophobe add up?
((GRAPHICS)):4
The graphics were very monochromatic, and didn't offer much variety in the ''color'' department, as most of the characters and backgrounds were blue and gray, with maybe some orange, white, or yellow. The characters and enemies were very poorly created, and were also very monochrome, not to mention the fact that they were not detailed. However, even though the graphics were poor, the backgrounds (though very simple), were quite unique.

((SOUND)):3
There was very little to no sound in the game. No background music made the game seem a bit incomplete. If good background music had been put into place, it could have really developed the game. In addition to no music, sound effects were rare, and were often simple, like the push of a button or a blast from your gun. However, I have heard worse sound (i.e. Hydlide), so I guess it gets a 3.

((PLAY CONTROL)):2
The play control, however, was horribly stiff and difficult to deal with. Jumping was awkward, and it was often difficult to shoot enemies that were small or out of reach. Not only that, but because of the way the game worked, being barely touched caused you to lose health. Moving was also stiff and often choppy (if that makes sense). But because I've seen worse (i.e. Hydlide again), It doesn't deserve the same grade as Hydlide did (a 0 or 1).

((CHALLENGE)):7
Though quite a bit of the challenge came from the horrbile game mechanics, quite a bit was derived from the game aspects, such as easy loss of energy, and the fact it doesn't replenish. Also, enemies popped up out of nowhere, and in large numbers to hassle you.

((FUN)):5
I can't decide if this game was more fun or more a chore. Though fun to shoot at alien scum, because of the horrible game mechanics, it often seemed like a chore to play this game.

((OVERALL)):4
Not the best game I've ever seen, and probably not among the average either. This game was difficult and often not very fun and very repetitive.

((RECOMMENDATION))
Don't try to go out of your way to find this game, but maybe worth taking a look at.

Reviewer's Score: 4/10, Originally Posted: 09/12/00, Updated 09/12/00