Xeno Crisis

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In "Xeno Crisis," players control a squad of soldiers battling aliens in a futuristic setting. The game features top-down shooter gameplay with a retro aesthetic and supports both single-player and local co-op modes. With a variety of weapons and enemies, Xeno Crisis offers a challenging and engaging experience for fans of the genre.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Co-Op Team up with friends to complete levels or missions together
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

Reviews

66%

Audience ScoreBased on 104 reviews

music12 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

Xeno Crisis features fantastic pixel art and a nostalgic soundtrack that captures the essence of classic 16-bit games.
The gameplay is fast-paced and challenging, providing a rewarding experience for players who enjoy mastering difficult mechanics.
Local co-op mode enhances the fun, allowing players to strategize and coordinate with friends during intense gameplay.

The game suffers from visibility issues, as enemy projectiles often blend into the background, leading to unfair hits.
Controls can feel clunky and unintuitive, with no option to remap keys, making it frustrating for players accustomed to more flexible control schemes.
Some design choices, such as enemy spawn mechanics and the limited ammo system, can lead to cheap deaths and disrupt the flow of gameplay.

music
25 mentions
48 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its nostalgic Sega Genesis style and high-quality composition. The soundtrack is described as a standout feature that enhances the overall experience, inspiring players to explore music creation themselves. Overall, the combination of engaging tunes and retro sound design contributes significantly to the game's appeal, making it a must-have for fans of the genre.
- “The soundtrack alone makes it worth the purchase.”
- “I had never known, and I believe I'm not alone when I say that this soundtrack is the first in a long time that had me thinking how underutilized the Sega Genesis sound chip was.”
- “The fantastic soundtrack and visual design (including some delightfully grotesque bosses) further solidifies Xeno Crisis' package, and if you're looking for a traditional twin-stick shooter that's easy to pick up and play, but challenging to master, this game will serve you well.”
- “The graphics, music, and sound are all very Sega Genesis.”
- “I had never known, and I believe I'm not alone when I say that this soundtrack is the first in a long time that had me thinking about how underutilized the Sega Genesis sound chip was.”
- “You can't change any other settings in-game like the amount of continues, lives, hearts, or adjusting sound and music volume.”
graphics
20 mentions
55 % positive mentions
30 % neutral mentions
15 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are praised for their retro pixel art style, reminiscent of the Sega Genesis era, with many reviewers highlighting the vibrant visuals and strong aesthetic presentation. However, some players noted issues with low-resolution graphics causing enemy projectiles to blend into the background, which can detract from gameplay. Overall, the graphics are well-received, contributing to a nostalgic and engaging experience, complemented by a fitting soundtrack.
- “The aesthetics are top notch.”
- “Great presentation including graphics, sounds, music, and the cut scenes.”
- “I'm a fan of pixel art graphics and I'd say this looks particularly good and the soundtrack kicks along with headbanging tunes too.”
- “The problem is that with the low-res pixelated graphics, enemy projectiles often blend into the background.”
- “The graphics, music, and sound are all very Sega Genesis.”
- “There are no graphics options either, but given the art style, I assume that's a choice.”
gameplay
16 mentions
56 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
19 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its retro aesthetic, tight controls, and addictive mechanics, offering a mix of challenging boss fights and fast-paced action. However, some players criticize the game for punishing engagement with its mechanics and lacking variety, with a short campaign and minimal upgrades. Overall, while the gameplay is enjoyable and visually appealing, it is marred by design choices that can frustrate players.
- “I love the retro gameplay and fun boss fights.”
- “Highly addictive gameplay and replay value.”
- “Gameplay is quick, smooth, action-packed and unforgiving as you shoot, dodge and melee your way through hordes of enemies that come out of the walls while navigating a maze-like stage that's randomized every time you play it to keep each play-through fresh and new.”
- “The game is designed to punish players for using game mechanics that the developers provide.”
- “Upgrades are non-existent, so there is very little point in talking about them, since the game doesn't want you to use any of these mechanics, and only reserves shooting and grenades for bosses and such.”
- “Gameplay lacks variety, with a short campaign featuring repetitive scenarios; it could use additional modes.”
replayability
8 mentions
25 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
38 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players find the infinity mode and random generation of elements enhance replay value, others feel that the lack of captivating bosses and limited content diminish it. The challenge presented in gameplay does encourage some players to return, but the semi-fixed level arrangement may limit long-term engagement.
- “There is an infinity mode after clearing the game which adds a nice touch of replayability.”
- “Highly addictive gameplay and replay value.”
- “Not really much replay value.”
- “The boss rush is okay, but the bosses are not particularly captivating enough to make much difference in replayability.”
- “From what I can see, the level arrangement is semi-fixed, but it does appear that the game has some variables in terms of what spawns in any given room, adding to replayability, and I've certainly had a range of surprises in successive runs.”
grinding
3 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, with levels that feel overly long and enemies that act as "HP sponges." While character upgrades are accessible, the overall experience can become frustrating and boring, particularly in later levels where the gameplay drags on.
- “The levels go on a bit too long, which gets repetitive and grindy, feeling like it's not what you want in a game like this.”
- “While Xeno Crisis can be very grindy with enemies that feel like HP sponges, making your thumbs numb, you can easily upgrade your character within a couple of levels, depending on how you want to go about it.”
- “You get an easy mode that locks you out of the good ending (just the same as using one of the three continues provided), but my patience ran dry on the fifth level; it's just all incredibly tedious and boring, with some levels featuring teleporting enemies that feel like they drag on forever.”
story
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
-67 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
The story in Xeno Crisis is minimal and primarily serves as a backdrop for gameplay, featuring familiar sci-fi action tropes like space marines and iconic weapons. While it captures an arcade feel, the plot lacks depth and is largely forgettable, functioning mainly as an excuse for the action.
- “The plot is only surface level, relying on favored tropes of the sci-fi action genre, such as space marines, big guns, and xenomorph-like monsters, which adds a nostalgic arcade feel to the game.”
- “While the story may not be groundbreaking, it serves as a good excuse to enjoy the gameplay experience.”
- “The game pays homage to classic sci-fi action elements, creating a familiar and engaging atmosphere for players.”
- “The plot is only surface level, relying on favored tropes of the sci-fi action genre, such as space marines, big guns, and xenomorph-like monsters, which detracts from a deeper narrative experience.”
- “There is no score counter during the mission, only a summary at the end, which makes it difficult to engage with the story as it unfolds.”
stability
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Overall, users report that the game demonstrates excellent stability, running smoothly without significant issues.
- “The game runs great.”
- “I haven't experienced any crashes or bugs, which is impressive.”
- “The performance is smooth, and I can play for hours without any issues.”
humor
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players find humor in the game's mechanics, particularly the amusing automatic melee attacks that characters perform when not actively shooting, often resulting in unexpected and comical moments.
- “The funny thing is, if you are not shooting at the moment it happens, the character will automatically one-shot it with a melee attack.”