Summary
- Release Year: 1987
- Genres: Shooter
- Platforms: Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Arcade, Atari 2600, Atari 7800, Atari Lynx, Atari ST/STE, Commodore C64/128/MAX, Nintendo Entertainment System, ZX Spectrum
- Developers: Bally Midway
- Publishers: Atari Corporation, MicroStyle, Sun Corporation of America
Xenophobe (1987): A Detailed Retrospective
Xenophobe is a 1987 arcade game developed and published by Bally Midway. It is a top-down shooter game in which the player controls a lone soldier fighting against hordes of aliens. The game is set in a futuristic space station, and the player must battle their way through multiple levels, each with its own unique layout and challenges.
Gameplay
The goal of each level in Xenophobe is to defeat all of the aliens before time runs out. Players can use a variety of weapons to defeat the aliens, including a machine gun, a flamethrower, and a rocket launcher. Players can also pick up power-ups that will give them temporary boosts, such as increased speed or firepower.
Levels in Xenophobe may contain more than one floor, and players can use elevators or holes to move between floors. This adds an extra layer of strategy to the game, as players must carefully plan their movements in order to avoid being surrounded by aliens.
Development
Xenophobe was developed by a team led by Eugene Jarvis, who had previously worked on other classic arcade games such as Defender and Robotron: 2084. The game was inspired by the 1982 film The Thing, and Jarvis wanted to create a game that would be as intense and suspenseful as the film.
Xenophobe was released in arcades in 1987 and was a critical and commercial success. The game was praised for its fast-paced gameplay, challenging levels, and impressive graphics. Xenophobe was also one of the first arcade games to feature digitized speech, which added to the game’s overall atmosphere.
Legacy
Xenophobe is considered to be one of the classic arcade games of the 1980s. The game has been ported to a number of home platforms, including the Commodore 64, the Amiga, and the Atari ST. Xenophobe has also been included in a number of arcade compilations, such as Midway Arcade Treasures and Arcade Classics.
The game’s legacy is also evident in its influence on other games. For example, the popular first-person shooter game Doom was heavily inspired by Xenophobe. Doom’s creator, John Carmack, has said that Xenophobe was one of the games that inspired him to create Doom.
Critical Reception
Xenophobe was praised by critics for its fast-paced gameplay, challenging levels, and impressive graphics. The game was also one of the first arcade games to feature digitized speech, which added to the game’s overall atmosphere.
Accolades
- Xenophobe was nominated for the Golden Joystick Award for Game of the Year in 1988.
- The game was also ranked #10 in Electronic Gaming Monthly’s list of the “100 Best Arcade Games of All Time” in 1991.
Impact
Xenophobe is considered to be one of the classic arcade games of the 1980s. The game’s fast-paced gameplay, challenging levels, and impressive graphics made it a hit with arcade-goers. Xenophobe also had a significant impact on the development of other games, including the popular first-person shooter game Doom.
Conclusion
Xenophobe is a classic arcade game that still holds up today. Its simple but addictive gameplay and challenging levels will keep you coming back for more. If you’re a fan of arcade games, then you owe it to yourself to check out Xenophobe.
Review Score
8/10
Art
Cover Art
Screenshots
