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X-Men (arcade game)
Encyclopedia
X-Men is an arcade game
produced by Konami
in 1992
. It is a side-scrolling beat 'em up
based on the characters of the same name
under license from Marvel Comics
. The animation of the X-Men and the supervillains are based on the 1989
X-Men pilot
episode titled X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men. An HD port of the game by Backbone Entertainment
was released on PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade
on December 14, 2010 and December 15, 2010 respectively.
, Colossus
, Wolverine
, Storm, Nightcrawler
, or Dazzler. Their objective is to stop the villain Magneto
from wreaking havoc on human civilization. They must fight through an army of hundreds of Sentinels and supervillains such as Pyro
, Blob
, Wendigo
, Nimrod
, The White Queen
, Juggernaut
, and Mystique
. Later, Magneto kidnaps Professor X
and Kitty Pryde, prompting the heroes to go on a rescue mission. The heroes fight their way to Island M and ultimately to Magneto's base on Asteroid M where the final battle with the "Master of Magnet" (sic) takes place.
's magic powers). In the Japanese version, the power items are used up before the health, and there are also power-ups and health packs throughout the level.
.
On October 9, 2010 Konami revealed that the game would be coming to PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade
. The game was ported by Backbone Entertainment
with the original US and Japanese ROMs and was released on December 14, 2010 and December 15, 2010 respectively. The Xbox 360 and PS3 port features drop-in local or online multiplayer for up to six players (only four local players possible on the XBLA version), as well as custom matchmaking and adjustable difficulty. Players can also choose between the USA and Japanese versions of the game, the latter of which features power-ups and health packs. All of the voices were re-recorded by Bang Zoom Entertainment, but the script retained the infamous lines
from the original game, including "I am Magneto, master of magnet!" and "Welcome to die!". In the re-recorded script, only two voice actors were used for male and female characters (Kyle Hebert
and Mela Lee
, respectively).
On June 2, 2011 Konami also released the game in the iTunes App store to be played on iPod Touch, iPhone, and iPad, as well as in the Android Market. The game remained identical to the original, with the addition of on-screen controls for smartphones. It was launched at the price of $2.99.
gave the HD port of the game a score of 7.5, saying "The game is incredibly simple and repetitive... And yet it works. It's simply a blast to play with friends." Many websites and reviewers such as Gouki.com stated that having unlimited Continues without penalty for all modes has cheapened the classic experience, especially Online play. Players will intentionally abuse the use of Mutant Powers and intentionally die just to refill on Mutant Powers and get a high score.
Arcade game
An arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine, usually installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars, and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, and merchandisers...
produced by Konami
Konami
is a Japanese leading developer and publisher of numerous popular and strong-selling toys, trading cards, anime, tokusatsu, slot machines, arcade cabinets and video games...
in 1992
1992 in video gaming
-Events:-Notable releases:* Gremlin Graphics releases Zool, Amiga's answer to Mario and Sonic. It goes on to become the best selling Commodore Amiga game, boosting the already popular computer to be the leading gaming machine in Europe....
. It is a side-scrolling beat 'em up
Beat 'em up
Beat 'em up is a video game genre featuring melee combat between the protagonist and a large number of underpowered antagonists. These games typically take place in urban settings and feature crime-fighting and revenge-based plots, though some games may employ historical or fantasy themes...
based on the characters of the same name
X-Men
The X-Men are a superhero team in the . They were created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, and first appeared in The X-Men #1...
under license from Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
. The animation of the X-Men and the supervillains are based on the 1989
1989 in television
For the American TV schedule, see: 1989–90 United States network television schedule.The year 1989 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1989.-Events:-Debuts:-1950s:...
X-Men pilot
Television pilot
A "television pilot" is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell the show to a television network. At the time of its inception, the pilot is meant to be the "testing ground" to see if a series will be possibly desired and successful and therefore a test episode of an...
episode titled X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men. An HD port of the game by Backbone Entertainment
Backbone Entertainment
Backbone Entertainment is an independent video game development company located in Emeryville, California.Backbone Entertainment is the result of a 2003 merger between Digital Eclipse Software and ImaginEngine...
was released on PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade
Xbox Live Arcade
Xbox Live Arcade is a type of video game download distribution available primarily in a section of the Xbox Live Marketplace, Microsoft's digital distribution network for the Xbox 360, that focuses on smaller downloadable games from both major publishers and independent game developers...
on December 14, 2010 and December 15, 2010 respectively.
Plot
The player chooses one of six X-Men: CyclopsCyclops (comics)
Cyclops is a fictional character, the leader of the X-Men superhero team in the . A mutant, Cyclops emits a powerful energy beam from his eyes...
, Colossus
Colossus (comics)
Colossus is a fictional character, a superhero in the Marvel Comics universe. Created by writer Len Wein and illustrator Dave Cockrum, he first appeared in Giant-Size X-Men #1...
, Wolverine
Wolverine (comics)
Wolverine is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Born as James Howlett and commonly known as Logan, Wolverine is a mutant, possessing animal-keen senses, enhanced physical capabilities, three retracting bone claws on each hand and a healing...
, Storm, Nightcrawler
Nightcrawler (comics)
Nightcrawler is a fictional character, a comic book superhero in the Marvel Universe. He has been associated with both the X-Men and Excalibur, originally appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Len Wein and artist Dave Cockrum, he debuted in Giant-Size X-Men #1...
, or Dazzler. Their objective is to stop the villain Magneto
Magneto (comics)
Magneto is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. He is the central villain of the X-Men comic, as well as the TV show and the films. The character first appears in X-Men #1 , and was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby...
from wreaking havoc on human civilization. They must fight through an army of hundreds of Sentinels and supervillains such as Pyro
Pyro (comics)
Pyro is a fictional character in Marvel Comics and an enemy of the X-Men. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist/co-writer John Byrne, he first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #141 ....
, Blob
Blob (comics)
The Blob is a Marvel Comics supervillain, an adversary of the X-Men. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-writer Jack Kirby, he first appeared in X-Men #3 ....
, Wendigo
Wendigo (comics)
Wendigo is a fictional monster in the Marvel Comics universe. He is based on the mythical creature of the same name...
, Nimrod
Nimrod (comics)
Nimrod is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #191 , and was created by writer Chris Claremont and artist John Romita, Jr. Hailing from the "Days of Future Past" timeline, Nimrod is a powerful, virtually...
, The White Queen
Emma Frost
Emma Grace Frost is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #129 , and was created by writer Chris Claremont and artist/co-writer John Byrne....
, Juggernaut
Juggernaut (comics)
The Juggernaut is a fictional character that appears in publications published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in X-Men #12 , and was created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-plotter Jack Kirby....
, and Mystique
Mystique (comics)
Mystique is a fictional character associated with the Marvel Comics' franchise X-Men. Originally created by artist David Cockrum and writer Chris Claremont, she first appeared in Ms...
. Later, Magneto kidnaps Professor X
Professor X
Professor Charles Francis Xavier, also known as Professor X, is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics superhero known as the leader and founder of the X-Men....
and Kitty Pryde, prompting the heroes to go on a rescue mission. The heroes fight their way to Island M and ultimately to Magneto's base on Asteroid M where the final battle with the "Master of Magnet" (sic) takes place.
Gameplay
The object of the game is to progress as far as possible while surviving attacks from Magneto and his minions. The character is controlled with a standard joystick, an attack button, a jump button, and a mutant power button. In addition to right and left, the character can move up and down the screen as well which adds a three-dimensional feel to the game. Every character is able to fight with punches, kicks, or other close combat attacks. Each character also has a unique mutant power which can be used to defeat all or nearly all enemies on the screen. The use of a mutant power is very effective, but also costly since it causes a character to lose three health points. Normally, a character who drops below four health can no longer use any mutant powers, but it is also possible for characters to obtain bonus mutant powers which can be stored like items (similar to Golden AxeGolden Axe
Golden Axe is a side-scrolling beat 'em up and hack & slash arcade video game released in 1989 by Sega for the System 16-B arcade hardware. It is the first game in the Golden Axe series....
's magic powers). In the Japanese version, the power items are used up before the health, and there are also power-ups and health packs throughout the level.
Development and marketing
Depending on the machine, the maximum number of simultaneous players varies from two to six. The six-player version is particularly unusual because it has two contiguous screens (one screen in the usual place for an arcade game, and other in the cabinet below, reflected by a mirror one side of the screen) which created the effect of a single, "double-wide" screen set up, similar to The Ninja WarriorsThe Ninja Warriors
is a side-scrolling beat'em up video game developed and released by Taito in 1988.-Story:The game is based in a dystopian future where Banglar, the President of the United States in 1993, issues martial law on the nation, with the military having total control over the law. A group of anarchist...
.
On October 9, 2010 Konami revealed that the game would be coming to PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade
Xbox Live Arcade
Xbox Live Arcade is a type of video game download distribution available primarily in a section of the Xbox Live Marketplace, Microsoft's digital distribution network for the Xbox 360, that focuses on smaller downloadable games from both major publishers and independent game developers...
. The game was ported by Backbone Entertainment
Backbone Entertainment
Backbone Entertainment is an independent video game development company located in Emeryville, California.Backbone Entertainment is the result of a 2003 merger between Digital Eclipse Software and ImaginEngine...
with the original US and Japanese ROMs and was released on December 14, 2010 and December 15, 2010 respectively. The Xbox 360 and PS3 port features drop-in local or online multiplayer for up to six players (only four local players possible on the XBLA version), as well as custom matchmaking and adjustable difficulty. Players can also choose between the USA and Japanese versions of the game, the latter of which features power-ups and health packs. All of the voices were re-recorded by Bang Zoom Entertainment, but the script retained the infamous lines
Engrish
refers to unusual forms of English language usage by native speakers of some East Asian languages. The term itself relates to Japanese speakers' tendency to inadvertently substitute the English phonemes "R" and "L" for one another, because the Japanese language has one alveolar consonant in place...
from the original game, including "I am Magneto, master of magnet!" and "Welcome to die!". In the re-recorded script, only two voice actors were used for male and female characters (Kyle Hebert
Kyle Hebert
Kyle Henry Hebert is an American voice actor and podcaster who works with anime films, television series, as well as video games...
and Mela Lee
Mela Lee
Mela Lee is an American singer and voice actress. She is known for voicing roles in Japanese anime and video games...
, respectively).
On June 2, 2011 Konami also released the game in the iTunes App store to be played on iPod Touch, iPhone, and iPad, as well as in the Android Market. The game remained identical to the original, with the addition of on-screen controls for smartphones. It was launched at the price of $2.99.
Reception
IGNIGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
gave the HD port of the game a score of 7.5, saying "The game is incredibly simple and repetitive... And yet it works. It's simply a blast to play with friends." Many websites and reviewers such as Gouki.com stated that having unlimited Continues without penalty for all modes has cheapened the classic experience, especially Online play. Players will intentionally abuse the use of Mutant Powers and intentionally die just to refill on Mutant Powers and get a high score.