Author: Mark Mackey Genre: Arcade License: Freeware Version: - Other Links: -

Downloads: for DOS 306 KB (Zip)

XQuisite

One of the most deliciously addictive arcade games to come out of the late DOS era, XQuest 2 is a frantic shooter where you'll need every ounce of your reflexes to survive. Based on the Apple Mac game Crystal Quest, the object is to collect all of the blue crosses that are randomly scattered across each level. This opens the exit door by which you can leave the level and progress onward.

By itself this is far too easy, so complications are added in the form of various enemies that are regularly spawned from the left and right sides of the arena. As you progress further, the rate at which they appear is increased, and nastier types of enemy are introduced. There are fifteen types in all, and while that may not sound much, they're sufficiently varied to make things challenging. They range from simple cannon fodder types to more aggressive homing drones, snipers, minelayers and even magnetic repulsors. On some levels certain enemies are cunningly mixed together to make things especially hazardous.

Between dodging hostile fire from the onslaught of monsters and trying to avoid crashing into the walls of the arena, you'll also have to weave your way around proximity mines - again, scattered randomly into the arena at the start of each level - and in the later levels deal with a moving exit that enjoys changing direction just as you're about to make a dash for it!

Each level has a timer that will bag you bonus points if you complete early. Letting the time run out is not immediately disastrous, but enemies will start to move and shoot faster until they become berserker killing machines. Fortunately if the going gets too tough a well-timed smart bomb can wipe out pretty much everything and help to clear your escape route.

To make your life slightly easier, a power-up crystal will occasionally spawn from an enemy generator and start bouncing around at high speed. If you can catch it, you will be given one of several things which might be either an upgrade to your weapons, a brief invulnerability shield, a special smart bomb which destroys all mines or a moving exit stopper.

With responsive mouse-based controls and strong "just one more go" gameplay, XQuest 2 remains a very entertaining game even today. Well worth a place in any DOS gamer's collection.

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