Vexx

"A good, atmospheric and challenging platformer"

Vexx. Weird name, isn't it? And somehow it is one of the most loathed platformers on the Xbox, alongside Blinx (which I can understand being loathed - frustrating and slow game).

Anyway, back to Vexx.

Vexx is set in a land of fantasy, as is the way of most platformers. Seems a bit of fairy-tale mixed with gothic and medieval. But still good.

The plot, what there is of it (this game isn't noted for an especially good plot) follows the story of Vexx, his grandfather, the Dark Yabu, and the Rift system. In likeness to the story of Doom, the people of the world tried to open up gateways to other parts of the land using the Rift system. However, creatures invaded from the Rift system, headed by the evil Dark Yabu. A war was faught, and the people of the world eventually managed to drive back Dark Yabu into the Rift and seal it.

Now though, Dark Yabu has returned and effortlessly overpowered the people of Overwood. He killed Vexx's grandfather, and Vexx managed to escape, acquiring one of Dark Yabu's prized possessions - a pair of Astani Battle Gloves from the war many years ago. However, it is revealed that Vexx's grandfather is still alive, his soul captured. Vexx takes it upon himself to free his grandfather and Overwood.

Basically, this boils down to a Mario 64 style platformer. Huge worlds with tasks to perform in order to win Wraithearts, which can be used to power up the Rift system and access new worlds, track down Dark Yabu and exact revenge.

And now we get to the meat of the review. Thanks for keeping up through the long intro.

I managed to find a demo of Vexx on the front cover of an Xbox magazine. What it gave was just three objectives, and the first level to play around in.

What I experienced made me go out and buy the game, and at quite a high price.

The levels were huge and varied. The controls were flawless. The camera was a bit buggy, but what can you expect for a 3D platformer? The atmosphere was inspired.

The first level was a huge woodland affair, but it seemed to take place on a rock floating in space, Skies Of Arcadia style. The player is free to explore the levels, and can use a myriad of moves, such as jumping from wall to wall, swimming, climbing certain walls, regular and high jumps, uppercuts, throwing fireballs, and even adding a backwards kick at the end of jumps to go higher, as well as more. And what's even better is that it is all so easy to get the hang of.

The variety of the levels is quite good, and inside the levels themselves is even more variety. The first level at first appears a regular woodland affair, but climb higher and you'll find a small village atop a giant tree, a sumo wrestler to battle, rocks floating in the air that you have to jump from the top of one to the side of the other (you can climb their sides), a gateway to another dimension where quick reflexes and platforming prowess are the key, and a portal to a mysterious castle with a puzzle to solve. You can also change the time of day by finding a sundial, opening up new areas and changing the enemies. When doing this, there is the nice touch of being able to watch the sun and moon set in fast forward, and the world and its inhabitants being lit accordingly.

Other levels are even more grandiose. The second level takes place on a sun parched desert island in the middle of space, where a giant skeleton must be traversed to reach most of the level. In another you enter a giant house, and can even play on the giant's game console. And in another, a giant bubble of water rests in the middle of the level, the insides of which you can swim around and look at the sky outside the walls. The customary ice level features a desserted ship floating through the sky.

Other great little touches are what makes the game so atmospheric. You can find gravestones of those who have previously fallen to Dark Yabu. Hit them and you can hear children laughing, crying or screaming in despair, and occasionally be given a bit of health for your troubles. The soundtrack merges brilliantly into the background, and some objectives require the player to enter murals and traverse them, 2D platform style.

It has to be said, this game is not without its flaws though. The camera can be difficult to control, especially when swimming, and will try to reset itself to its default position. Likewise, swimming itself can be a pain to control.

There is also seemingly little to no difficulty curve in this. It starts off difficult, and doesn't really ease the player in. And then it ramps it up. Your platforming skills are really going to be tested. And the hints it gives, Mario 64 style, are in riddle and at times you will not know what to do. At one point you even have to get a heart from one level by entering another and finding a hidden, easy-to-miss door to get to a certain place in the other level.

The graphics are definitely average on the Xbox, and even now average on the PS2. But then this is a game made for all systems, and they function well enough to allow the player to view the epic worlds.

It is difficult to know what else to write about Vexx. A good game with a lot of atmosphere, yet it is a challenge and not without its flaws.

So to sum up...

+ Pros
++++++
+ a platformer on the Xbox - not much choice there
+ the atmosphere
+ the variety
+ controls quickly become instinctive
+ the soundtrack
+ a great challenge
+ graphics are functional, good in places

- Cons
------
- graphics could be better
- camera
- swimming
- objectives too vague?
- could be too difficult for some

Overall
-------
Overall, definitely worth a 7, that is for excellent, in my opinion. Not distinguished. Not astounding. Not revolutionary (if you need an explanation, read Edge magazine). This is the same sort of score I would give to Mario Sunshine. Think of this as the mutant child of the Mario and Soul Reaver games. A good, solid and challenging platformer, with plenty of charm, but not without its flaws. If that is your cup of tea, I'd try and find this on the cheap. If not, it is not a must-have game.

Simple as that, really.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 03/14/04