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{{Short description|1987 video game}}
{{Refimprove|date=August 2008}}
⚫ {{Infobox video game
{{for|the phobic attitude|Xenophobia}}
⚫ |title = Xenophobe

⚫ |image = Xenophobe Coverart.png
⚫ {{Infobox VG
⚫ |caption = Arcade flyer
⚫ |title= Xenophobe
|developer = ]<br>]<br>] (NES)<br>] (Lynx)
⚫ |image= ]
|publisher = Bally Midway<br>]<br>Sunsoft (NES)<br>]
⚫ |caption=
⚫ |designer = ]<br>Howard Shere
|developer= ]
|composer = Michael Bartlow (arcade)<br>Naohisa Morota (NES)
|publisher= Bally Midway
|released = 1987
⚫ |designer= ] & ]
|genre = Shooter
|released= ]
⚫ |modes = 1-3 players simultaneously
|genre= ]
⚫ |platforms = ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ]
⚫ |modes= Up to 3 players simultaneously
⚫ |platforms= ], ], ], ] ''(prototype)'', ], ], ], ], ], ], ]
|input= 8-way ], 3 ]
|cabinet= Upright, custom
|cpu= ] (@ 7.7238 MHz)
|sound= Sound CPU: 68000 (@ 8 MHz) <br/> ] (@ 8 MHz)
|display= ], 512 x 480 pixels (Horizontal), 64 colors
}} }}


'''''Xenophobe''''' is a ] ] published by ]. ]s, moons, ships, and space cities are infested with ]s, and the players have to kill the aliens before each is completely overrun. '''''Xenophobe''''' is a video game developed by ] and released in arcades in 1987.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=10503 |title=Xenophobe |publisher=The International Arcade Museum |access-date=4 October 2013}}</ref> ]s, moons, ships, and space cities are infested with ]s, and the players have to kill the aliens before each is completely overrun. The screen is split into three horizontally-scrolling windows, one for each of up to three players, yet all players are in the same game world.<ref>{{cite web|title=10 Great Forgotten Arcade Games We Want Revived|url=http://whatculture.com/gaming/10-great-forgotten-arcade-games-we-want-revived?page=8|website=WhatCulture|author=Lee|date=May 8, 2013}}</ref>


==Description== ==Gameplay==
''Xenophobe'' is an action ] game. The goal of each level is to defeat all the aliens before a countdown timer runs out. Some rooms routinely display the percentage of alien infection and time remaining until self-destruct when the level ends (but a nearby button can temporarily deactivate the count-down). Levels may contain more than one floor, and players use elevators to move between floors. Players can also pick up more powerful weapons to help in their eradication of the aliens.{{sfn|Atari|1989|pp=4—6}}
]
The Arcade Game can be played by up to 3 players, and the goal of each level is to defeat all the aliens before time runs out. Levels may contain more than one floor, and players use elevators (and sometimes holes in the floor) to move between floors to defeat all of the aliens. Players can also pick up more powerful weapons and other items to help in their eradication of the aliens.


The hostile Xenos are encounted in a range of forms, beginning with Pods. If Pods hatch, they create a Critter which can attach itself to the player and drain health. If a Critter is not killed, it eventually matures into a Rollerbaby, which roll around to attack the player character. These in turn can grow into the Snotterpillar form, which attacks by leaping or spitting.{{sfn|Atari|1989|pp=7-8}}
The hostile aliens (known as "Xenos") come in different forms. There are eggs (similar to the eggs in '']''). If an egg hatches, it creates a "Critter" which can attach itself to the player and drain health, requiring the player to use a button to throw the Critter. If a Critter is not killed, it eventually matures into a "Roller" (a cross between a lizard, caterpillar, and armadillo). Rollers are one of the tougher enemies, as they can ball themselves up and roll around while impervious to the players' guns. The players have to wait for a Roller to unball before it can be shot, or they can use a grenade to destroy it while still a ball. Rollers sometimes grow into the "Warrior" Xeno form, which attacks by leaping and requires multiple hits to kill from most weapons. Warriors also spit acid across rooms (and sometimes into adjacent rooms) which further damages players. One of the more insidious attacks in a Warrior's arsenal is its ability to disarm a player. Simply walking past a Warrior can cause the player's gun to drop to the floor (destroying it if still in a doorway). Other Xenos include Tentacles that randomly appear from the deck or from overhead, and trap or strangle the player respectively, requiring the player to use a knife or (barring that) struggle to break free from the Tentacle. The arguably toughest enemy is a Xeno "Queen" which appears either at doors or behind certain backgrounds and throws proto-eggs at the players. This form also requires multiple hits to kill, and visibly grimaces in pain when hit. However, moving toward the Queen (even just to aim in her direction) allows it to shoot hypnotic eye beams which trap a player and drain his health until he breaks free by pushing a button. If the proto-egg lands on a screen with a player, it grows into an egg, and eventually hatches into a critter as usual.


In the arcade and Lynx versions, an extra enemy called the Festor can appear in doorways, which can hypnotize and trap players, as well as throw eggs. If the egg lands on a screen with a player, it grows into another Pod.{{sfn|Atari|1990|pp=16—17}}
This game was unusual in that it split the single monitor into three separate horizontal sections, one for each player. This allowed the players to operate cooperatively, but also allowed the separate players to wander around freely, a feature not found on most cooperative multiplayer games. With most games that allowed multiple players at once, all players were bound by the edges of the screen (that is, all the players had to be in the same general area on the screen, so it could contain them all). Because the game featured such high ] for its time, the split screen didn't detract from the game's graphic appeal.


As players go through the various maps, they encounter various items to be picked up. Some only award bonus points at the end of the level, while others are immediately useful to the players, by restoring health. There are three ways a player can conclude a mission. If the player runs out of time, they are evacuated and the station is overrun. Alternatively, the player can kill a number of Xenos, then self-destruct the space station, gaining bonus points for each enemy defeated. Finally, the player can successfully defeat all the alien invaders, and recover the space station safely, to earn a larger point and health bonus.{{sfn|Atari|1989|pp=4}}
⚫ There are nine characters to choose from in Xenophobe, three for each joystick. The leftmost controller (red) allows Mr. M.Brace, Dr. Kwack, and Col. Poupon. The middle controller (yellow) offers Mr. Fogg, Col F. Truth, and Dr. Udderbay. The right controller (blue) offers Mr. Eeez, Dr. Zordiz, and Col. Schickn. Humans and aliens alike make up the playable characters -- for instance, Dr. Kwack has a duck's head. Players were also color-coded. For instance, the left player's choices wore red shirts, middle player's yellow, and right player's blue.


In some ports of the game, a player can play as a Snotterpillar and try to stop other players clearing the space station.{{sfn|Atari|1990|pp=12-13}}
The weapons a player collects are fairly diverse. Without weapons, a player is still able to punch. This is the weakest attack in the game, and the shortest ranged attack, as well. The phazer is the starting weapon, and does about as much damage as a punch, but at a slightly longer range. The laser pistol is the next most damaging, and also has the longest range of all the guns, being able to nearly shoot across an entire room. The next most damaging weapon is the rifle. Its range is not much better than the phazer, but it is far more damaging. It can also be used to "sweep" the floor in front of a player as he walks, firing down. The previous weapons are inconsistent at this. Finally, the ultimate weapon (as far as damage) is the gas gun. Its range is that of a punch, but it can kill Warriors in one shot, and Queens in 2-3 shots. Grenades are also found in the game, either singly, in batches of 3, or from a grenade machine that a player has to fix with tools found elsewhere in the map. To throw a grenade, the player needs to crouch. Great care has to be taken with the grenades, as they bounce off walls and doors and can hit the player who threw it, or even other players. Grenades can also be thrown through an open door into an adjacent room, but the grenade only explodes if another player is in that room. Otherwise, the next person to enter the room finds a grenade there (no matter how many had been thrown in). None of the guns can hurt other players, but punching can, and makes the punched player fall down, and drop the gun he was carrying, which the attacker is then free to pick up. Whenever a player's gun is lost and destroyed (such as by dropping it in a doorway), a small robot wheels into his room and dispenses a random gun for him to use.


==Characters==
As players go through the various maps (Rocket ship, Moon Base, Space City, etc.), they encounter various items to be picked up. Some (human skulls, lab vials, fire extinguishers, etc.) are only for bonus points at the end of the board. Others (grenades, knives, food) are immediately useful to the players (food replenishes the players' health). Still other items (disks, tools, codes, etc.) are useful in the right room. For example, the tools fix the always-malfunctioning grenade dispenser, the disk allows the player with it to use a teleportation device, and the code enables a player to set a self-destruct sequence to destroy a base instead of letting the xenos take it over. In this case, the players receive a reduced reward compared with a victory, but if the xenos take over, there is no reward. Items collected are counted, and bonus points awarded for each collected. Grenades carry over from level to level.
⚫ There are nine characters to choose from in ''Xenophobe'', three for each joystick. The leftmost controller (red) features Mr. M.Brace, Dr. Kwack, and Col. Poupon. The middle controller (yellow) features Mr. Fogg, Col F. Truth, and Dr. Udderbay. The right controller (blue) features Mr. Eeez, Dr. Zordirz, and Col. Schickn. Humans and aliens alike make up the playable characters—for instance, Dr. Kwack has a duck's head. Players are also color-coded; for instance, the left player's choices wear red shirts, middle player's yellow, right player's blue.

Each credit gives the player a certain amount of health, which counts down even without combat. Food and some rooms replenish a player's health. The game cycles through levels, increasing the difficulty each cycle, until all players died and no one continued. It is entirely possible to do well enough to continue playing without adding more credits.


==Ports== ==Ports==
] published ''Xenophobe'' for the ], ], ], and the ]. The 7800 port was by ], and the Lynx version by ]. A port to ] was worked on, but not published.<ref>{{cite web |last=Reichert |first=Matt |title=Xenophobe |website=AtariProtos.com |url=http://www.atariprotos.com/8bit/software/xenophobe/xenophobe.htm |access-date=September 19, 2014}}</ref>
] port of ''Xenophobe'', like most arcade ports of the era, lacked the high resolution and variety of colors of the ].|{{deletable image-caption|1=Saturday, 6 September 2008}}]]
Like many games of this era, ''Xenophobe'' was ] to many ]. Beginning in ], it was ported to the ], ], ], ], ], ] and the ]. (An ] conversion exists in prototype form<ref>http://www.atarimania.com/detail_soft.php?MENU=8&VERSION_ID=5876</ref>).


Atari ported Xenophobe over to its systems while ] ported it to the NES. The Commodore 64 port was done by ]. In 2004 Xenophobe was included in ] ''Arcade Treasures 2'' for the ], ] and ]. ] ported ''Xenophobe'' to the NES. The ] port was done by ]. The game was also released for the ], ], and ].


==Reception==
⚫ ==References and footnotes==
{{Video game reviews
| GamePro = Lynx: 18/25<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/f/f5/GamePro_US_016.pdf |title=Lynx ProView: ''Xenophobe'' |last=Aslan |first=Charlie T. |magazine=] |date=November 1990 |pages=124–126}}</ref>
| CVG = Lynx: 79/100<ref name=cvg/>
| Raze = Lynx: 94%<ref name=raze/>
| IGN = Lynx: 8/10<ref name=ign/>
}}


===Atari Lynx===
In a capsule review of the Lynx version for '']'', ] commented, "The graphics in some rooms are more detailed than in others, and in general, aren't as impressive as those in '']'', a similar game. Also, the complicated controls take some getting used to."<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Clayton |last=Walnum |author-link=Clayton Walnum|title=The Lynx Collection|magazine=]|issue=39 |publisher=Antic Publishing |date=December 1990|page=73 |url=https://archive.org/stream/STart-Magazine-Issue-39}}</ref> Julian Rignall reviewed the game in the January 1991 issue of CVG Magazine. He went on to say "the graphics and sound are both excellent" with "the gameplay is challenging and addictive". "A fun game which offers plenty of entertainment," giving a final rating of 79 out of 100.<ref name=cvg>{{cite magazine |title=Latest Lynx Lowndown |page=137 |issue=110 |url=https://archive.org/stream/cvg-magazine-110/CVG_110_Jan_1991#page/n0/mode/2up |date=January 1991 |access-date=24 March 2018 |magazine=CVG Magazine |author=Julian Rignall}}</ref>

Les Ellis of Raze Magazine also reviewed the game for the Atari Lynx calling it an addictive game with excellent graphics, giving a score of 94%.<ref name=raze>{{cite web |url=https://archive.org/stream/raze-magazine-04/Raze_04_Feb_1991#page/n27 |via=archive.org |publisher=Raze Magazine |author=Les Ellis|title=Xenophobe |page=28 |issue=4 |date=February 1991 |access-date=16 August 2018 }}</ref> Robert A. Jung review was published to IGN, in it he wrote that Xenophobe was "arguably more fun than its arcade inspiration." Giving a final score of 8 out of 10.<ref name=ign>{{cite web |url=http://uk.ign.com/articles/1999/07/07/xenophobe |title=Lynx Xenophobe is arguably more fun than its arcade inspiration.|publisher=IGN Entertainment |author=Robert A. Jung |date=6 July 1999 |access-date=16 August 2018 }}</ref>

==Legacy==
In 2004 ''Xenophobe'' was included in ] '']'' for the ], ], and ].<ref>{{cite web|title=Midway Arcade Treasures 2 lineup shuffled|publisher=]|date=3 Aug 2004 |url=http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/action/midwayarcadetreasuresii/news.html?sid=6104042|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121103010625/http://www.gamespot.com/news/midway-arcade-treasures-2-lineup-shuffled-6104042| archive-date= 3 Nov 2012|url-status= dead|accessdate=25 June 2023}}</ref> In 2005, ''Xenophobe'' was included in '']'' on the ].<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 Dec 2005 |title=Midway Press Release: PR 2005-12-12 B |url=http://www.midway.com/rxpage/mpr_3786.html |access-date=25 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061111053634/http://www.midway.com/rxpage/mpr_3786.html |archive-date=11 Nov 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2012, it was included in '']'' for the ] and ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/11/14/midway-arcade-origins-review |title=Midway Arcade Origins Review |publisher=IGN Entertainment |author=Samuel Claiborn |date=13 November 2012 |access-date=26 March 2018 }}</ref>

⚫ ==References==
===Citations===
{{reflist}} {{reflist}}

===Bibliography===
* {{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/Xenophobe_1989_U_color/mode/2up |title=Xenophobe (1989) Atari 7800 Video Game Manual |publisher=] |year=1989 |ref={{SfnRef|Atari|1989}}}}
* {{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/Xenophobe_1990/page/n1/mode/2up |title=Xenophobe (1990) Atari Lynx Video Game Manual |publisher=] |year=1990 |ref={{SfnRef|Atari|1990}}}}


==External links== ==External links==
*{{KLOV game|id=10503|name=Xenophobe}} *{{KLOV game|10503|name=Xenophobe}}
*{{atarimania|id=10905}}
*{{moby game|id=/xenophobe|name=''Xenophobe''}}
*{{WoS game|id=0005793|name=Xenophobe}} *{{WoS game|id=0005793|name=Xenophobe}}
*{{mobygames|/8255}}


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Latest revision as of 18:23, 7 November 2024

1987 video game 1987 video game
Xenophobe
Arcade flyer
Developer(s)Bally Midway
Blue Sky Software
Sunsoft (NES)
Epyx (Lynx)
Publisher(s)Bally Midway
Atari Corporation
Sunsoft (NES)
MicroStyle
Designer(s)Brian Colin
Howard Shere
Composer(s)Michael Bartlow (arcade)
Naohisa Morota (NES)
Platform(s)Arcade, Atari 2600, Atari 7800, Atari ST, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, Lynx, ZX Spectrum, NES
Release1987
Genre(s)Shooter
Mode(s)1-3 players simultaneously

Xenophobe is a video game developed by Bally Midway and released in arcades in 1987. Starbases, moons, ships, and space cities are infested with aliens, and the players have to kill the aliens before each is completely overrun. The screen is split into three horizontally-scrolling windows, one for each of up to three players, yet all players are in the same game world.

Gameplay

Xenophobe is an action platformer game. The goal of each level is to defeat all the aliens before a countdown timer runs out. Some rooms routinely display the percentage of alien infection and time remaining until self-destruct when the level ends (but a nearby button can temporarily deactivate the count-down). Levels may contain more than one floor, and players use elevators to move between floors. Players can also pick up more powerful weapons to help in their eradication of the aliens.

The hostile Xenos are encounted in a range of forms, beginning with Pods. If Pods hatch, they create a Critter which can attach itself to the player and drain health. If a Critter is not killed, it eventually matures into a Rollerbaby, which roll around to attack the player character. These in turn can grow into the Snotterpillar form, which attacks by leaping or spitting.

In the arcade and Lynx versions, an extra enemy called the Festor can appear in doorways, which can hypnotize and trap players, as well as throw eggs. If the egg lands on a screen with a player, it grows into another Pod.

As players go through the various maps, they encounter various items to be picked up. Some only award bonus points at the end of the level, while others are immediately useful to the players, by restoring health. There are three ways a player can conclude a mission. If the player runs out of time, they are evacuated and the station is overrun. Alternatively, the player can kill a number of Xenos, then self-destruct the space station, gaining bonus points for each enemy defeated. Finally, the player can successfully defeat all the alien invaders, and recover the space station safely, to earn a larger point and health bonus.

In some ports of the game, a player can play as a Snotterpillar and try to stop other players clearing the space station.

Characters

There are nine characters to choose from in Xenophobe, three for each joystick. The leftmost controller (red) features Mr. M.Brace, Dr. Kwack, and Col. Poupon. The middle controller (yellow) features Mr. Fogg, Col F. Truth, and Dr. Udderbay. The right controller (blue) features Mr. Eeez, Dr. Zordirz, and Col. Schickn. Humans and aliens alike make up the playable characters—for instance, Dr. Kwack has a duck's head. Players are also color-coded; for instance, the left player's choices wear red shirts, middle player's yellow, right player's blue.

Ports

Atari Corporation published Xenophobe for the Atari 2600, Atari 7800, Atari ST, and the Lynx. The 7800 port was by BlueSky Software, and the Lynx version by Epyx. A port to Atari 8-bit computers was worked on, but not published.

Sunsoft ported Xenophobe to the NES. The Commodore 64 port was done by Microplay. The game was also released for the Amiga, Amstrad CPC, and ZX Spectrum.

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
Computer and Video GamesLynx: 79/100
GameProLynx: 18/25
IGNLynx: 8/10
RazeLynx: 94%

Atari Lynx

In a capsule review of the Lynx version for STart, Clayton Walnum commented, "The graphics in some rooms are more detailed than in others, and in general, aren't as impressive as those in ElectroCop, a similar game. Also, the complicated controls take some getting used to." Julian Rignall reviewed the game in the January 1991 issue of CVG Magazine. He went on to say "the graphics and sound are both excellent" with "the gameplay is challenging and addictive". "A fun game which offers plenty of entertainment," giving a final rating of 79 out of 100.

Les Ellis of Raze Magazine also reviewed the game for the Atari Lynx calling it an addictive game with excellent graphics, giving a score of 94%. Robert A. Jung review was published to IGN, in it he wrote that Xenophobe was "arguably more fun than its arcade inspiration." Giving a final score of 8 out of 10.

Legacy

In 2004 Xenophobe was included in Midway's Arcade Treasures 2 for the PS2, Xbox, and GameCube. In 2005, Xenophobe was included in Midway Arcade Treasures: Extended Play on the PSP. In 2012, it was included in Midway Arcade Origins for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

References

Citations

  1. "Xenophobe". The International Arcade Museum. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  2. Lee (May 8, 2013). "10 Great Forgotten Arcade Games We Want Revived". WhatCulture.
  3. Atari 1989, pp. 4–6.
  4. Atari 1989, pp. 7–8.
  5. Atari 1990, pp. 16–17.
  6. Atari 1989, pp. 4.
  7. Atari 1990, pp. 12–13.
  8. Reichert, Matt. "Xenophobe". AtariProtos.com. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  9. Aslan, Charlie T. (November 1990). "Lynx ProView: Xenophobe" (PDF). GamePro. pp. 124–126.
  10. ^ Julian Rignall (January 1991). "Latest Lynx Lowndown". CVG Magazine. No. 110. p. 137. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  11. ^ Les Ellis (February 1991). "Xenophobe". Raze Magazine. p. 28. Retrieved 16 August 2018 – via archive.org.
  12. ^ Robert A. Jung (6 July 1999). "Lynx Xenophobe is arguably more fun than its arcade inspiration". IGN Entertainment. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  13. Walnum, Clayton (December 1990). "The Lynx Collection". STart. No. 39. Antic Publishing. p. 73.
  14. "Midway Arcade Treasures 2 lineup shuffled". GameSpot. 3 Aug 2004. Archived from the original on 3 Nov 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  15. "Midway Press Release: PR 2005-12-12 B". 12 Dec 2005. Archived from the original on 11 Nov 2006. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  16. Samuel Claiborn (13 November 2012). "Midway Arcade Origins Review". IGN Entertainment. Retrieved 26 March 2018.

Bibliography

External links

Categories: