I’m a fan of a twin stick shooter, it needs to be stated, and fortuitously Xatrom Command from 9Ratones and Ratalaika Video games is such a recreation. It’s offered in a retro model, only for a change, so can this deliver something new to the desk or is it extra a case of “seen all of it earlier than, bruv”. Strap in your weapon of selection as we try and go and shoot all of the issues.
You shouldn’t be coming to Xatrom Command on the lookout for a lot of a story. Granted, there may be an try at a narrative, however it’s fairly laughable, the standard form of guff that’s repeatedly related to such a recreation, specializing in a high secret authorities facility, an experiment that went improper, and a few aliens who’ve now arrived. Feels like Half Life? Effectively, it isn’t 1,000,000 miles away by way of the story line, however that’s about so far as it goes. Principally, you’ll need to terminate all of the aliens with excessive prejudice, then get residence in time for tea and medals. What might presumably go improper?
Xatrom Command is fairly rudimentary by way of the presentation too because it sees us taking up the function of a blocky soldier capturing blocky spider-looking aliens of various sizes. There are inexperienced issues dotted across the numerous ranges that we additionally need to shoot, every stage working as a discrete room, loaded in after the earlier room has been cleared of enemies and inexperienced issues. The motion is seen from a top-down perspective, very like my all time favorite, Smash TV (ask your dad and mom, youngsters).
And there’s some sound to get pleasure from too – primarily coming within the type of gunfire (each weapon has a unique sound), just a few squeaks from dying aliens and grunts as we get injured. The motion does transfer at a good outdated tempo, however given there may be nothing right here a PS1 would wrestle with, that’s hardly shocking. In a phrase or two, Xatrom Command is okay, however not wildly thrilling.
So what concerning the meat of the sport, the precise approach that it performs? Effectively, Xatrom Command is at its coronary heart, a twin stick shooter. You already know the form of factor – you progress your character round with the left stick, and goal with the precise, firing with a press of the RT button. Just about the identical controls as each twin shooter ever made.
However there are 3 ways to play Xatrom Command – Story mode, Boss Rush mode or Survival. These can all be taken in as solo affairs or in sofa co-op, and it performs equally nicely throughout each settings. Enjoying with a good friend on the sofa is a dying artwork lately it appears, so it’s good to see that is included; it really works properly with two of you going on the alien hordes.
The precise capturing motion is fairly good too. The essential gun that you just begin with has infinite ammo and by no means wants reloading, which is a plus. Nevertheless the adverse with it’s that it isn’t that highly effective, and the later enemies and managers do turn out to be a bit bullet-spongey, so it doesn’t lower the mustard for lengthy. Fortunately there are a few totally different weapons that may be picked up, most notably a pink unfold shot that bounces, or a blue unfold shot that doesn’t. Enemies can drop these weapons, or they are often discovered within the unusual inexperienced issues that we have now to destroy as we go, together with first support kits that can refill well being when wanted. If something, there are just a few too many first support kits, to be trustworthy, as I performed by the whole recreation with out dying as soon as on Regular issue. Even the bosses have such predictable patterns that there isn’t any actual hazard and no actual jeopardy to the proceedings.
The achievements are additionally given up very simply, however no less than Xatrom Command is no less than a bit higher in that regard than the usual Ratalaika recreation – you do even have to complete the marketing campaign to get the entire achievements. After all, having completed that, there isn’t an excessive amount of incentive to return for extra.
In conclusion, Xatrom Command is a good twin stick shooter that can present a success of brief time period enjoyable, in addition to some 1000 Gamerscore with out being overly taxing. It’s fairly straightforward to play and there are many ranges to blast by, however even then, it gained’t take lengthy to finish.
Xatrom Command is a good recreation, however nothing extra, and there are definitely higher twin shooters on the market.
