X-Out: Resurfaced Review – Who Said Water Levels Can’t Be Good?

The 1990s were brimming with captivating shoot ’em up games, yet none delved as deep beneath the ocean like the game X-Out. Unlike dodging asteroids and spaceships, you’re maneuvering a formidable submarine through lethal reefs. If the underwater setting doesn’t set this shoot ’em up apart enough for you, its extensive customization options for the fleet should. However, please note that X-Out: Resurfaced is a remake rather than a direct port, so while there are some new additions and user-friendly features, there may not be as many as one might expect.

In terms of gameplay, the standout feature in X-Out is the convenience of predefined loadouts, which replaces the time-consuming process of customizing a fleet of ships with various weapons and accessories that was present earlier. Instead of going through the tedious task, you can now select from three pre-set options and dive right into the action.

Given the increasing difficulty in the later stages of the game, it might be beneficial for you to select a more advanced submarine than the starting Trilobite. You have four options to choose from – you can either pick pre-built configurations using the prefabricator or personally customize your submarine within the shop.

“The biggest addition from a gameplay perspective is the option to have preconfigured loadouts”

Submarines can be armed with cannons, automatic weapons, additional weaponry, and rotating turrets (essentially turrets). One might wonder, “With so many weapon choices, what sets apart the four types of subs?” To answer that question, it’s important to note that the number of weapons and accessories you can equip on a sub is limited. The pricier submarines like the Shark permit up to 10 options, whereas the Trilobite only allows for 3. So, why opt for a Trilobite sub? Because it’s more affordable, enabling you to procure more submarines for your fleet with the saved credits.

As a gamer, let me tell you, your fleet acts as my lifelines during each gaming session. That’s true! Each run comes with a limited number of lives and credits. Deciding whether to invest in one heavily armed Shark or five lightly equipped Trilobites is an exhilarating risk versus reward situation that I haven’t encountered often in shoot-em-ups. The shop gives me the freedom to tailor the challenge of each run, providing a more immersive experience than a simple difficulty setting. Customizing the shop adds a touch of strategy to every run, making me feel like a tactical commander rather than just a pilot blasting through levels.

The standout feature of X-Out lies in its impressive ship customization system, allowing gamers to personalize their fleets with various armaments and upgrades.

In addition to the existing loadout configurations and detailed descriptions for each weapon/accessory in the shop, this updated version of X-Out features soundtracks from all versions of the game. You can relive the audio experience of X-Out on the Amiga by navigating to the options menu and selecting any one of the three available versions. The revamped music retains the original’s charm while also offering four fresh tracks, but beware that the soundtrack for the Commodore 64 might be a bit harsh due to its low-quality bit rate.

The soundtrack selections are pleasant, but it’s a bit frustrating we don’t have the ability to switch between classic and remastered graphics concurrently. Fortunately, the improved visuals are a delight, accurately preserving all the background elements and enemy designs from the original in high-definition splendor. When viewed together, there’s only a minimal distinction between the sprite designs and movements. The visual enhancements mainly shine through in the lighting and resolution. However, I must admit I’m disappointed that we can’t display the entire alien submarine commander’s portrait as we could in the original version.

“This remake includes soundtracks of every version of X-Out.”

As an ardent fan, let me voice a concern: The absence of online cooperative play is a bummer. It’s fantastic to have more local co-op adventures like this, but in today’s era, online functionality ought to be considered essential, especially for a game as straightforward as the thrilling X-Out. Regrettably, I won’t get to share this experience with my online pals. Nevertheless, the game offers a heap of enjoyable moments. Navigating through intricate deep sea caves while controlling a shark sub, armed with three satellites that obliterate hordes of deadly fish, delivers the classic shoot-em-up excitement on par with the greats. The shooting is undeniably fun, but it would be even more gratifying if there were rewards for precise and strategic shooting instead of just holding down the button continuously.

In the intense game of X-Out, a significant focus is placed not only on aggressive tactics, but also on skillfully navigating obstacles and projectiles. However, your submarine suffers severe consequences if it collides with walls or solid objects – a steep penalty for minor mistakes. Interestingly, the game’s environment seems more destructive to your sub than enemy missiles and lasers. Yet, the game provides limited means to overcome these obstacles. You can adjust between four speeds and use a shield with limited uses, but that’s about it. Every submarine is roughly the same size, and there are no additional purchases in the shop to rotate, shrink, or enhance your ship’s defense. This gives the game an imbalanced feel, as you’re heavily penalized for crashing into walls, yet given relatively few tools to prevent such collisions. In essence, X-Out offers a powerful offensive arsenal but falls short on providing adequate defensive tools.

“Your submarine gets immediately obliterated when crashing into walls and hard obstacles.”

In X-Out, it’s not impossible for a strong offense to overcome challenges, but there are some hurdles that can be particularly tricky. For example, those tough crystal block formations can be broken with powerful cannons, but the numerous static walls that lead to immediate destruction and lack of counter tools other than skillful navigation make progress challenging. Fortunately, the game provides a soft landing with built-in cheats like reduced collision damage and a stage select. However, I’ve only managed to unlock the reduced collision cheat so far, which was due to dying frequently. I’m still figuring out how to access the additional cheats, of which there are quite a few. Remember that activating cheats disables achievements in the game.

Players might find themselves relying on a collision cheat since the game X-Out: Resurfaced lacks save-states or the ability to rewind. Typically, remakes or ports include these features as extras. For instance, the initial Mega Man Legacy Collection and Sega Genesis Collection allowed players to save at any moment; it’s quite handy. However, much like in arcade games, you only get one try, and you must start over from the beginning once your lives are depleted.

“It’s mostly in the lighting and resolution where the visual enhancements really pop.”

Instead of just mentioning that a new game plus feature would have been beneficial after completing a playthrough, let me elaborate on why this addition could significantly enhance player experience.

Upon reaching the final stage, players are generously rewarded with a substantial amount of credits. However, these hard-earned rewards vanish once the end screen appears. The credit system in the game functions linearly from one level to another, but by level six, you’re usually swimming in more than you know what to do with. It’s unfortunate that these credits cannot be carried over to mirror mode, a fascinating aspect of the game.

Moreover, introducing a New Game+ would not only alleviate this issue but also boost replayability. While loadout customization and mirror mode certainly make each run feel unique, the eight levels can pass by rather quickly. A New Game+ mode could allow players to continue their progress, keeping things fresh while extending the game’s longevity.

During the review editing process, I found myself somewhat uncertain about how to rate the game titled “X-Out: Resurfaced“. While I appreciate the base game and the additional enjoyment the enhancements provide, there are too many missed chances in this remake that can’t be ignored. Consequently, it averages out as an ordinary reboot. However, it’s terrific that more classic games like “X-Out” are being made available on contemporary systems, especially considering its uniqueness, fun factor, and challenging nature.

Nevertheless, when you compare shoot-‘em-ups such as “Bio-Hazard Battle” to other games in the same price range, like the Sega Genesis Collection, which includes 50 other games, it’s tough to argue that “X-Out: Resurfaced” is a worthwhile purchase for $20, especially if you’re not already a fan of the genre.

This game was reviewed on the PlayStation 5.

2025-02-25 19:43

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