Xybots Longplay (Arcade) [4K] [50 Levels] [No Warps]

Original author：AL82 Retrogaming Longplays

Original source：https://www.youtube.com/embed/WpXSIkhXESU

Game Info --------------------------------------------------- Developer: Atari Games Publisher: Atari Games Year of Release: 1987 Game Review & Impressions --------------------------------------------------- I didn't see many of Atari's coin-op games in the wild when growing up, but Xybots is the exception. I have a vague memory of encountering it in a seaside arcade in Great Yarmouth some time between 1987 and 1990, and while I never played it, I recall thinking the third-person display and pseudo-3D visuals were really cool. Despite being ported to the Commodore 64 and Amiga, these versions also escaped me, so the recording of this video was the first time ever that I'd actually played the game! For some context, Xybots was originally envisioned as the third game in the Gauntlet franchise, but was changed when Atari's marketing department felt something fresh was needed. Some of the Gauntlet DNA is evident, however, because the dungeon-like level layouts, hunting for items and killing enemies whilst looking for the level exit is no different to Gauntlet. The difference is the sci-fi setting and 3D viewpoint, with the player's character viewed in third-person, traversing maze-like levels where hordes of robotic enemies stalk the corridors, lurking behind locked doors and in dark corners. You'll need to blast these with your ray-gun to dispose of them, hunting for gold coins that allow you to purchase both permanent and temporary upgrades from the supply store between levels. You'll also have to deal with the Master Xybot every 10 to 15 levels, and defeating it leads to the next batch of levels. The arcade version has no ending that I'm aware of, and will continue ad infinitum until you run out of energy. As with all of Atari's coin-ops, Xybots is brutally tough. Each player has a finite amount of energy stored in their back-packs, and it's game over if it runs out. Energy is lost whenever you fire your blaster, whenever you take damage, and simply decays over time. Energy cells can be found in each level that top this up, but these become few and far between once you progress past level 15. The game loop becomes a precarious juggling act of earning as many coins as possible whilst minimising expenditure of energy, and making sure you can reach the level exit without running out of juice. Purchasing permanent upgrades to movement speed and blaster power are vitally important, but the importance of the temporary upgrades which reveal level layout and enemy positions cannot be understated. Unless you're incredibly lucky, you'll almost certainly run out of energy while searching for the exit, so knowing where both it and energy cells are located becomes paramount. Although critics and games journalists were generally positive about Xybots, earnings for the game were below expectations, so no sequel was developed. Creator Ed Logg believed the control scheme and more complicated game mechanics put players off, something I can understand. The game requires forethought, planning and strategy, and is perhaps too in-depth for a coin-op audience used to the more immediate thrills of your typical shoot 'em up or racing game. The design seems more suitable to a home setting, where audiences typically appreciate games with greater longevity and more depth. On reflection, I really quite enjoyed my time with Xybots. The presentation is great, and the game design is quite innovative for its time. I reckon that, with a bit of work, Xybots would work really well as a Rogue-lite; the level design and upgrade system would be a ideal fit. Whether Atari would ever do something with the Xybots IP remains to be seen, but even in it's coin-op form, it's a cool game worth experiencing. Video Notes --------------------------------------------------- - Features the first 50 levels (the arcade version has no ending) Chapters --------------------------------------------------- 0:00:00 Attract mode 0:03:28 Levels 01 to 14 0:38:18 Level 15 (Master Xybot) 0:39:08 Levels 16 to 24 0:56:45 Level 25 (Master Xybot) 0:57:17 Levels 26 to Level 34 1:13:58 Level 35 (Master Xybot) 1:14:29 Levels 36 to 44 1:29:54 Level 45 (Master Xybot) 1:30:34 Levels 46 to 50 1:42:14 Game over