XENOTILT: HOSTILE PINBALL ACTION
- August 18, 2023
- FLARB LLC
Get on Steam"Xenotilt: Hostile Pinball Action" is a fast-paced pinball game set in a sci-fi universe. Players must navigate through hostile environments, battling enemies and bosses using pinball mechanics. With various tables, upgrades, and abilities, it offers a unique twist on traditional pinball gameplay.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Xenotilt is a vibrant and chaotic pinball experience that combines elements of bullet-hell gameplay with traditional pinball mechanics, making it highly engaging and addictive.
- The game features stunning visuals, a killer soundtrack, and innovative mechanics like turrets and a ball lock perk system, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.
- Players have praised the game's replayability and depth, with many stating it surpasses its predecessor, Demon's Tilt, in terms of content and enjoyment.
- Some players find the visuals too cluttered and overwhelming, making it difficult to track the ball during gameplay, which can lead to frustration.
- There are complaints about the physics feeling inconsistent, with some players noting that the ball moves too quickly and lacks weight, making it hard to control.
- The game currently has limited content with only one table available, leading some to feel that it does not justify its price point, especially in early access.
- gameplay116 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a blend of traditional pinball mechanics and innovative features, such as shooting and turret mechanics, which create a chaotic yet engaging experience. Players appreciate the depth and complexity of the game, with many side objectives and a variety of mechanics to explore, although some have noted inconsistencies in tilt mechanics and performance issues. Overall, the game is praised for its stylish visuals, addictive gameplay, and replayability, making it a standout title in the digital pinball genre.
“The intense aesthetics and frantic gameplay mask the strategic gameplay underneath.”
“The ability to shoot guns by cradling the ball and then upgrading those guns like a shoot-em-up is wild and leans into the experimental/non-traditional pinball gameplay I'm here for.”
“It takes everything great about pinball and cranks it up into absolute face-melting gameplay with a ton of replayability.”
“I've had a few performance problems with this game and generally have found the tilt mechanics less consistent (they worked everywhere in the other game, and only in specific places in this one) and the board and callouts more difficult to interpret, so I recommend anyone debating between the two play Demon's Tilt first both to learn and explore the mechanics they have in common and for a generally more stable, complete experience.”
“One of the core mechanics of the game involves utilizing a catch, so not being able to do this easily is very frustrating.”
“They give you a few basic hints and instructions, like how unlike most pinball games, you're not only encouraged to tilt, but it's a core mechanic, and how to use the guns (yes, this has guns), but beyond that, you're given this dense, three-layer pinball table and left to your own devices.”
- music86 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its retro-inspired 16-bit soundtrack and vibrant sound design that enhances the overall gameplay experience. While the soundtrack is described as "killer" and reminiscent of 80s synth music, some players expressed a desire for a larger selection of tracks. Overall, the combination of engaging music, sound effects, and voice work contributes significantly to the game's immersive atmosphere.
“Killer 80's-ish synth soundtrack.”
“They nailed the 16-bit Mega Drive feel and what an amazing soundtrack.”
“This game has a soundtrack that can push you into the zone, striking visuals, awesome bosses, and fast engaging gameplay.”
“The sound mixing is still strange; the announcer sounds like you're hearing someone with a strange accent or lisp talk to you through a 2-way radio; clear enough without music but often garbled and lost when the soundtrack is really pumping.”
“It's worse than Demon's Tilt in every aspect -- soundtrack, table design, visuals, ball physics.”
“Can we have the soundtrack from Demon's Tilt please? I'm enjoying the game, just not liking the music as much.”
- graphics80 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics in this pinball game are widely praised for their vibrant, psychedelic aesthetics and engaging design, with many reviewers highlighting the impressive 16-bit visuals and immersive soundscapes. However, some players noted that the busy visuals can occasionally make it difficult to track the ball, detracting from the overall experience. Overall, the game's art style and graphical fidelity contribute significantly to its appeal, making it a standout title for fans of the genre.
“Art style, design, soundtrack, voice, sounds - everything is on point!”
“Its vibrant visuals and immersive soundscapes create an otherworldly experience that keeps me enchanted for hours on end.”
“Graphically, it's gorgeous, the colors are outrageous.”
“This was annoying from the start where the main menu doesn't allow you to change any graphics settings before entering the game.”
“The graphics can get rather busy too often, making it hard to see the ball. The ball trail is unhelpful, kind of ugly, and doesn't match the rest of the aesthetic, which applies to the ball as well.”
“It's worse than Demon's Tilt in every aspect -- soundtrack, table design, visuals, ball physics.”
- replayability8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its exceptional replayability, featuring innovative mechanics and a focus on self-improvement and leaderboard competition. Players appreciate the combination of engaging gameplay and impressive aesthetics, which enhance the overall experience and encourage repeated play.
“Brilliantly designed and super replayable with awesome aesthetics.”
“A lot of new mechanics -- and as per usual the replayability for self-improvement and climbing the global leaderboards is still there.”
“It takes everything great about pinball and cranks it up into absolute face-melting gameplay with a ton of replayability.”
“As others have said, this game manages to expand on Demon's Tilt in many ways, from sound design to game objectives to even replayability.”
- optimization6 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing performance issues and inconsistent tilt mechanics compared to its predecessor. While it demands more graphics power and features enhanced visuals, these effects can be disabled for lower-end systems. Overall, players recommend trying the previous game first for a more stable experience.
“I've had a few performance problems with this game and generally have found the tilt mechanics less consistent (they worked everywhere in the other game, and only in specific places in this one) and the board and callouts more difficult to interpret.”
“I've had a few performance problems with this game and generally have found the tilt mechanics less consistent (they worked everywhere in the other game, and only in specific places in this one) and the board and callouts more difficult to interpret. I recommend anyone debating between the two play Demon's Tilt first to learn and explore the mechanics they have in common and for a generally more stable, complete experience. However, I do enjoy this one!”
“Performance-wise, this game seems to require more graphics power to run.”
“The game is also a ton prettier with loads more effects going off (though these can be turned off for lower performance rigs) along with the new weapons system, which can be used to both clear up the table of enemies as well as reset your tilt meter while keeping your hit combo active.”
- stability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users report significant stability issues, including frequent black screens and freezes that require reinstallation. Additionally, there are persistent bugs affecting leaderboards, menu functionality, and gameplay mechanics, such as the ball getting stuck or being improperly launched.
“The screen just turns black and freezes up when I open it sometimes, and I just have to reinstall.”
“Great pinball but still buggy: the leaderboards are not working, also menu buttons, ball focus sometimes fails, sometimes the ball gets stuck forever, and sometimes it is fired out of the table.”
“Great pinball but still buggy: the leaderboards are not working, also menu buttons, ball focus sometimes fails, sometimes the ball gets stuck forever, and sometimes it is fired out of the table.”
- story2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The story involves completing various quests or protocols to earn 'wizard' points, with the option to replay them in different orders for additional points. This structure encourages exploration and replayability within the narrative.
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with players noting its immersive quality that elevates the experience to extraordinary levels, likening it to an adventure beyond the confines of Earth, complete with engaging and dynamic elements like space monsters.
“Knocked it out of the park so far; it left the atmosphere and found some angry space monsters to play with.”
