Xargon

The Good
Everything that I liked about this game I also didn't like in another way. Like the map. Oh, good idea have a map. But what's the point off the map since the graphics are so awful in that part of the game. The only thing in this game I found remotely interesting was the way you could control the laser after you shot it.

The Bad
A lot. The graphics are not very impressive. The controls were not very smooth at all. You would run to try to get momentum so you could make a long jump. But when you pressed the jump button he would stop then jump so he lost all his momentum.

The Bottom Line
If you want a good platform game try something like Commander Keen, or Duke Nukem. Not this piece of junk.

The Good
In other action games plot is usually very short and it isn't very important. But not here. "Xargon" has very interesting plot. That's good. This game looks great. All those 256-colored monsters and locations are wonderful. Music and sounds are similar to those from "Jill of the jungle". By the way, whole game is very similar to "Jill". You have once again map-based world, puzzles, and different types of weapons. This time you can use laser bullets, rocks and fireballs. You can also grab a "fast-fire bullet" and emeralds. You can buy with them a health unit, laser bullet and much more. During the game you will transform in a bumblebee (like in "Jill", but there you were transformed into a flamebird) and you will travel with submarine Unfortunately, not yellow... "Xargon" is also much harder and longer than whole "Jill of the jungle" series.

The Bad
You can collect pool balls with letters E, P, I and C. Collecting them all gives you a bonus points. Haven't I seen similar bonus earlier? Yes, I've seen something like that in "Duke Nukem". Moreover, boxes with pick-ups and bombs are also taken from "Duke". Unfortunately, "Xargon" only mixes good ideas from other platform games, without giving anything original. Oh, maybe only this emeralds. But heck with that, it's not so important. The worse thing is saving only on map-based world. You can't save your game during playing any level. And the last thing is, that you can play "Xargon" only using VGA with 256 colors.

The Bottom Line
"Xargon" is amusing platform game with good graphics. Download a demo and play it. It's worth your time.

The Good
The game has great sounds and music. (The best sound is probably the moaning of fish.) Also, the controls are very simple...all dating back to the time when Apogee and Epic were the top two shareware gaming companies, and Duke Nukem, Commander Keen, and Jill of the Jungle were the best games made. Xargon is very similar to Jill of the Jungle, in that the interface and controls are virtually identical. However, it has a major improvement: you can control (sort of) the direction in which you fire, so you can shoot upwards/downwards. This is a major improvement, as it makes it easier to shoot stuff on the ground. (Unlike Jill of the Jungle, for instance, which required you to time your shots when fighting small frogs.) Also, the game has a nice console feel, making it a plus for all the retrogamers out there.

The Bad
After a while, the levels become rather repetitive. They're all puzzle-like in that you usually have to find something (like a key) in order to do something (unlock a door). After a while, it kinda gets old, as every level is like that. Also, don't look for much in terms of plot, as the story seems rather cliche and common to old side-scrolling games.

The Bottom Line
Jill of the Jungle for boys: Xargon is nevertheless a classic side-scrolling platform game by Epic.