Summary
- Release Year: 1991
- Genres: Shooter
- Platforms: Amiga, Atari ST/STE
Lethal Xcess: A Post-Mortem of a Classic Shoot ‘Em Up
Released in 1991 for the Atari ST and Amiga, Lethal Xcess is a shoot ’em up game developed by two members of demo crew X-Troll and published by Eclipse Software. It is a sequel to 1990’s Wings of Death, in which its wizard hero goes into far future to fight the descendants of the evil witch that he has conquered in the first game. Despite having been acclaimed by critics, the game was a commercial failure.
Gameplay
Lethal Xcess is a vertically scrolling shoot ’em up in which the player controls a wizard on a flying carpet. The player must shoot down waves of enemies while dodging their fire. The game features a variety of power-ups that can be collected to enhance the player’s firepower and speed.
One of the unique features of Lethal Xcess is its “magic system.” The player can collect different types of magic spells that can be used to attack enemies or defend themselves. The spells are limited in number, but they can be replenished by collecting power-ups.
Development
Lethal Xcess was developed by two members of the demo crew X-Troll: Janusz Pelc and Krzysztof Grzejszczak. The game was originally intended to be a sequel to Wings of Death, but it was eventually decided to make it a standalone game.
The development of Lethal Xcess was a challenging process. The team had to overcome a number of technical hurdles, including the limitations of the Atari ST and Amiga hardware. However, the team was able to overcome these challenges and create a game that was both visually impressive and fun to play.
Release
Lethal Xcess was released in 1991 to critical acclaim. Critics praised the game’s graphics, gameplay, and music. However, the game was a commercial failure. This was likely due to the fact that the shoot ’em up genre was already in decline at the time.
Legacy
Despite its commercial failure, Lethal Xcess is still considered to be one of the best shoot ’em ups of all time. The game has been praised for its innovative gameplay, beautiful graphics, and catchy music. Lethal Xcess is a must-play for fans of the shoot ’em up genre.
Post-Mortem
In a 2011 interview, Janusz Pelc reflected on the development of Lethal Xcess. He said that he was proud of the game, but he also regretted that it was not more successful commercially. He said that he believed that the game was ahead of its time, and that it would have been more successful if it had been released a few years later.
Conclusion
Lethal Xcess is a classic shoot ’em up that deserves to be rediscovered by a new generation of gamers. The game’s innovative gameplay, beautiful graphics, and catchy music make it a must-play for fans of the genre.
Review Score
8.5/10
