Xenon 2: Megablast

The Good
Released way back in 1989, this was one of the games that established the Bitmap Brothers as gods of the Amiga games scene. With time it became obvious that the funky, 'metallic' graphics were all they could do, but they fit the game superbly. The Bomb the Bass soundtrack (Amiga only, although amusingly Tim Simenon sequenced the original record with an ST) was the first proper dance / computer game cross-over, years before 'Wipeout', and is fantastically old-fashioned and fun.

The Bad
The actual game itself isn't actually much fun. In keeping with the spirit of the times, it's very hard, unfairly. If you don't have masses of power-ups at strategic points in the game you die repeatedly, 'R Type 2'-style. The Bitmap Brothers struck a much better balance between gameplay and technology with 'Speedball 2', 'Godz' and others.

The Bottom Line
Epoch-making, gorgeous vertically-scrolling shoot-em-up with dodgy gameplay and fantastic Bomb the Bass soundtrack.

The Good
A straightforward, classic space shoot 'em up. This game was tough. Its level design was quite imaginative with frequent changes of pace. As in many other similar games of the time the ship was quite upgradeable and apart from the power-ups dropped by fully dispatched enemy waves, there were shops at regular intervals which provided many powerful upgrades, both offensive and defensive. Graphics were superb for the hardware capabilities of the time, scrolling was as smooth as an EGA card could make it and the music was a valiant effort to bring the original's excellent theme to the XT's meager beeper.

The Bad
Perhaps it was just a bit harder than it should have been. Personally, I don't know anyone who finished the game without cheating. Some players must have managed it, but such a thing would be a feat of skill and patience...

The Bottom Line
Xenon 2 was another old school shoot 'em up ported from the Amiga version. However, unlike the first game, Xenon 2 became a smash hit. Level design was excellent, though it bordered on insanely difficult at times. I completed "Menace" just fine and it was supposed to be quite challenging, but Xenon 2 was much, much more demanding.

The Good
Xenon 2: Megablast is just about the most flawlessly executed arcade game to ever appear on the pc. Every element of the shoot-em-up formula is there: swarms of opponents, huge bosses, strange scenery, and ridiculously massive weapon upgrades. As ever, though, the Bitmap Brothers take these pieces and make an even more powerful whole. At a time when space blasters belonged on consoles (Salamander for the NES) or in the arcades (R-Type 2, you name it), Megablast is somehow different and even superior in its visceral graphics and manic gameplay.

Unlike so many other games, Megablast is the graphical equal of its Amiga counterpart. And, incredibly, it manages a brilliant soundtrack on pc speaker alone. Yes, Bomb the Bass probably sounds better through 100 watt amplifiers, but Megablast will actually have you tapping and bouncing along during play.

The Bad
Megablast is unforgivingly hard, especially in later stages. There is also no password or save game option. However, these are really complaints of the "Claudia Schiffer has bad toenails" variety. Megablast is essentially flawless.

The Bottom Line
Xenon 2: Megablast is the "Generation Killer" of pc shoot-em-ups; nothing else even comes close. One of three or four games culminating in Gods that made the Bitmap Brothers into Kings of the Computer, Xenon 2 is the perfect realisation of its genre. And, one more time, you've NEVER heard something that cool coming out of a pc speaker...

The Good
The graphics are extremely detailed for the time, even on a CGA display. The music is very well written (even the PC version), and the gameplay is really great. You gotta love the development staff too :-)

The Bad
Well, it's really challenging, I don't think I've ever actually completed it (possibly because I missed the second disk...)

The Bottom Line
A really good shoot-'em-up you'll enjoy, if you're into old games.