First published back in 1989 on the Commodore 64 and the following year on the Amiga, X-Out was a Rainbow Arts release that took the familiar space-based shoot’em-up and dropped it under the sea. X-Out Resurfaced, then, is a cleverly-christened revival release that takes the original game and rebuilds it for modern systems.
Out on Steam for PC and current consoles, X-Out Resurfaced can be bought as a digital download or in physical form. The big question, of course, is whether you should consider buying this retro re-release.
What is X-Out Resurfaced?
X-Out Resurfaced is a remake of the original Amiga title, which has been rebuilt for current platforms. It has been published by ININ Games in association with Rainbow Arts and KRITZELKRATZ 3000 (Rainbow Arts library is now largely owned by Ziggurat Interactive).
While on the face of things a standard shoot’em-up, X-Out is cleverly set underwater, which comes with its own challenges. All of this is accompanied by one of the most banging soundtracks committed to 16-bit gaming, courtest of Chris Hulsbeck (Turrican).
Along with audio enhancements, the game also sports some improved graphical effects. While everything appears faithful to the original, tweaks here and there bring things up to modern expecations. Weapons, for example, sport a slightly improved animation compared with other on-screen elements. It’s not a problem; you’ll probably only notice if you look carefully, and it’s visually pleasing anyway.
The surprising “cheat” loader screen
The last time I played X-Out, it was with a pirated copy. So the last thing I expected to see upon launching the game on my Switch was a trainer screen!
However, as enticing as that sounds, you cannot use it at first — the options on the screen are locked. Failing to make progress unlocks the options — for example, I kept colliding with a specific piece of landscape, so the cheat option of an armoured hull was unlocked.
The other options for unlocking are enabled sequentially, each time you fail to progress from the first stage, four attempts on the trot. For example, after the armoured hull, you can unlock 50,000 credits for a more powerful vessel. There is also an invincibility mode to be unlocked.
However, using the cheats means you don’t get to unlock the game’s achievements. They’re excellent training tools, though. The game itself is only around 20 minutes of playtime if you manage it without dying and are decisive with your loadout.
I think there is enough replayability and pretty graphics to keep you going back for more, though.
Ship choice and weaponry
As playable as this revival is, and as useful as the cheat loader is, the standout feature of X-Out Resurfaced dates back to the original game. The store, were a ship can be bought and kitted out with weaponry, is a key element, and will determine how successful you are in reaching the next stage (or not, as the case may be…)
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Four vessels are available, with several slots for saving different configurations of weaponry and shields. These can all be changed between levels, assuming you don’t die first. The loadouts you choose will have an effect on progress, so it might be worth keeping a note of your favourites (and, for that matter, the ones that don’t work for you).
Fortunately you can choose betwee four vessels, each more suited to the game as it progresses, with different weapons options. Presets are also available if you don’t want to make your own choices.
X-Out Resurfaced Score
X-Out Resurfaced: I played X-Out back in the 1990s, and wasn't a huge fan of it. Something has changed, and even though it misses some of the rewind/save state enhancements of modern re-releases, I'm finding it considerably replayable.If you're looking for a shoot 'em up that feels like a classic, this is it — and it is already a genuine classic. Smart graphic effect updates, superb soundtracks, and unlockable boosts to help improve playability make this an absolutely unmissable re-release. – Christian Cawley
(Honestly, if I was better at this game, I’d probably rate it higher… one day I’ll unlock the loader menu and maybe make it to the end…)
You can buy X-Out Resurfaced on Steam, the PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, and the Nintendo eShop. Physical special editions are available for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5 from ININ Games.
(Disclosure: free copy supplied for review.)
Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through those links. This comes at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support!
Christian Cawley is a writer and editor who covers consumer electronics, IT, and entertainment media. He has written for publications such as Computer Weekly, Linux Format, MakeUseOf.com, and Tech Radar.
He also produces podcasts, has a cigar box guitar, and of course, loves retro gaming.
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