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View Full Version : Vexx for PS2/GC/Xbox - At least give it a chance!


MrAngryFace
03-15-2003, 09:40 AM
Im not telling anyone they have to buy this, cause I know a lot of gamers are attached to icons like plumber hats. I just wanted to give this game some credit for being a blast to play, and hopefully get some more people to at least give it a rent for some great platforming.

The mechanics of the game are nothing new, but what Vexx does right are the Amazing levels and objectives within those levels. I haven't seen level design this good in a VERY LONG TIME. Each level is packed with a number of dark hearts you must collect to open new worlds, getting them is always something new. In the first level I faced off in the ring with a giant disgusting fat sumo wrestler. We had to knock each other out of the circle 3 times to win. I didn't lose health when he hit me, and its not counted as a death, so it was just a FUN exercise. Something different that is challenging in a new way!

Then there's the underwater maze, which takes some brain power and sharp eyes to complete. Each objective also has a riddle, and these riddles help you understand what must be done. Nothing MIND BENDING but the fact that you can stop and think about it, and be rewarded with enlightenment instead of running around HUGE levels without any idea where you are going is awesome in my book.

Vexx controls amazingly well. From the get go you are given a large number of combat moves as well as jumping and climbing moves which allow you to traverse the levels with ease, and give you the option to go almost anywhere you can see. The combat moves are easily combo-ed and offer the player (at least at the start) some variety in how you can pull it off. The bigger the combo the more energy you get for use of your super powered mode where you can run really fast, shoot fireballs, and hit hard. There was one point where I was juggling 3 enemies in the air, and when they hit the ground I threw a ball of energy at the ground to explode them, that's just cool. Vexx can climb, long jump, high jump, swim, and wall jump.

The game suggests more moves or techniques will be unlocked to you as you play more of the game, which is really cool cause I cant wait to work it into my combos.

The ART in this game is decidedly western. Most of you guys are PC gamers so im sure you wont have elitist japanese worship get in the way of finding chewy gameplay. Vexx looks SORTA doofy, but his claws are friggin badass. The enemy designs are ALL very creative and should get some credit. The level designs are AMAZING. Even the ps2 version which is supposedly the weakest visually looks fantastic. Vexx apparently supports progressive scan too if you guys like that stuff. I cant even use it so I dunno.

The music is fantastic too. It changes between night and day. Its all very well done stuff with pianos and epic sounding scores. Just solid damn shit. Love it!

So anyway, if you see this on the rental shelf or can borrow it from a friend, do so. The game can get a little hard in parts, but I remember the old days when that wasn't an issue.

Also try Maximo, Ratchet and Clank, Klonoa 2, and Sly Cooper.

Matthew Gallant
03-15-2003, 09:57 AM
Is Acclaim unable to publish games unless multiple x's are in the title?

scharmers
03-15-2003, 10:24 AM
Was that an independent review, or an Acclaim XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXTREME!!!!!!!!!!!!! PR guy posing as one?

--scharmers

MrAngryFace
03-15-2003, 10:25 AM
I post over on a few forums. I just tend to try and spread the word on games I like :p

Dave Long
03-15-2003, 11:43 AM
It probably plays fine, but man, the characters are awful, especially Vexx himself. It's like they took all the 80's American-made cartoons they could find and rolled them into Vexx himself with an "edgy" look just so the Xbox crowd wouldn't think it's "teh kiddie".

Whatever the reasoning, ever since I first saw the character my interest was next to nil. Since you say the gameplay is there and I've seen a few other people saying similar things, I'll probably rent it...if I can. Seems harder and harder to find certain games for rental, especially those that aren't MONSTER hits before they even come out. Hell, Blockbuster isn't even renting Xenosaga!

--Dave

Andrew Mayer
03-15-2003, 12:30 PM
I played around with this one at E3 for a while.

For the amount of heat and light they were pouring on this thing I thought it was shrugworthy game fearturing the bastard love child of Blasto and Aero the Acrobat.

Your Power Pill (http://www.levelupdesign.com/gamelog)

Anonymous
03-15-2003, 12:50 PM
I think I tried this out on one of the recent Xbox demo discs, it could have been a real early glimpse at the game in development, because the camera and framerate were cringe-worthy. Frankly I didn't spend much time with it at all, partly for those reasons but I do recall the combat being pretty spiffy. Clawing things felt very nice in between collecting an assortment of whatever junk they have you parading around for.

I did really love Ratchet and Clank as well as Sly Cooper though, both of which I never expected to garner as much enjoyment from as I did. Unless this thing is absolutely brilliant though, it'll have to wait. I can only intake a select few of these attitude-enhanced, corporate mascot treasure hunt games within a 6 month period before fallout.

Dave Long
03-15-2003, 04:20 PM
We were playing Klonoa 2 (again) here today. Man, that game just rocks my socks. It's the perfect platform game from top to bottom. Weird but appealing characters in weird and appealing worlds with tight, tight control and no wonky cameras to worry about. Lots of variety too.

We've finished it at least twice and my kids never get sick of it even though they can remember a lot of the puzzles from the last play through. I'm going to import the soundtrack because it's so damn good. I really hope Namco doesn't let it end at two for the consoles. They keep cranking out the GBA versions, but I really want another full-blown TV adventure.

Since this is a platforming thread of sorts, did anyone pick up Rayman 3? I'm on the fence because of the reviews I've seen. Rayman 2 was the bee's knees. I really hope R3 is as good because my oldest will be devastated if it's not up to par. He loves Rayman.

Hey, Scharmers...can you take a few X's out of your XXXXXTreme thing so this thread goes back to normal width?

--Dave

xahlt
03-15-2003, 05:14 PM
Don't compromise your integrity. The comedy is lessened with every X you remove.

Brad Grenz
03-15-2003, 09:03 PM
A carriage return would suffice.

scharmers
03-15-2003, 09:06 PM
A carriage return would suffice.

10 REM L33T CODE FROM A _HAXOR_ !!!!
20 PRINT CHR$(13)
30 END

There. A carriage return. Does that work?

--scharmers

Anonymous
03-15-2003, 11:27 PM
Vexx is pretty darn fun. It gleefully rips off Mario 64, but it does so competently and accurately. The level design and boss fights are really good.

wumpus
03-15-2003, 11:52 PM
There are a lot of console games like this. They're good enough to play, but not so fantastic that every man, woman, and child on earth should be compelled to run out and buy it immediately. The reality is that only a handful of games per year are that good, despite the intense convictions of others on this boards. If you listen to Dave Long for any length of time, you'd certainly be led to believe otherwise-- every game he enjoys is the Best. Game. Ever.

Many times I've gone out and purchased games based on overly enthusiastic discussions here.. and just about every time I've been sorely disappointed. For example: Ratchet and Clank, Barking Dog's Treasure Planet game, etcetera.

MrAngryFace
03-16-2003, 12:13 AM
Yeah I didnt totally get the Treasure Planet love either.

gnmarsh
03-16-2003, 12:53 AM
my son loves vexx, so much so that he picked it as the game he wanted to buy this week (got some belated christmas money). Not sure why he liked it so much, but he picked it over sly cooper, mario, others in the same genre.

Anonymous
03-16-2003, 01:42 AM
my son loves vexx, so much

When first read this I thought it said "sex," not "vexx." Did a bit of a double-take. Paging Dr. Freud...