A.R.E.S.: Extinction Agenda

Lore & Background

The game is set in a future where Earth is contaminated by pollution. Scientists trapped in the Deep Space Reprocessing station after a collision with a mysterious asteroid emitting fluorescent gas discovered that machines became violent after exposure to the gas. They sent a sample to the United Earth Headquarters, naming the gas Zytron. Players control Ares, the first Zytron-immune robot, on a mission to rescue the survivors.

Reader's Guide

A.R.E.S.: Extinction Agenda is notable as a Thai independent game that gained recognition by winning second prize in Microsoft's 2010 Dream.Build.Play. contest. Its updated version, Extinction Agenda EX, was released on Xbox Live Arcade and later on Steam. The game received 'average' reviews on Metacritic, with critics praising its soundtrack and vibrant artwork but criticizing its short length. The soundtrack was later released as downloadable content on Steam. The game's original title was Trashman, changed to appeal to international audiences.

Did You Know?

• The game was originally called Trashman before being renamed for international audiences.
• A.R.E.S. won second prize in the 2010 Microsoft Dream.Build.Play. contest.
• The soundtrack was released as downloadable content on Steam on January 2, 2012.
• Players can collect Datacubes to unlock background information, but upgrades to Ares' abilities are obtained through other means.

The Story of Zytron

In a future where Earth's atmosphere has been poisoned by widespread pollution, a catastrophic event strikes a Deep Space Reprocessing station. A mysterious asteroid, trailing an unidentified fluorescent gas, slams into the facility and traps a team of scientists inside. The gas, later designated Zytron, triggers a horrifying transformation: every machine within the station turns hostile toward its human operators. The surviving researchers manage to transmit a sample of the substance back to United Earth Headquarters, hoping their colleagues can devise a rescue plan. Into this desperate situation steps Ares, the first robot ever engineered to be immune to Zytron's corrupting effects. The player guides Ares through the compromised station, fighting waves of malevolent machines to reach and save the trapped scientists. The narrative frames the entire game as a rescue mission through a hostile, gas-infested environment where the very infrastructure has become the enemy.

Combat, Crafting, and Progression

A.R.E.S. Extinction Agenda blends side-scrolling platforming with mouse-aimed shooting, giving players a dual-control scheme where WASD keys handle movement while the mouse directs Ares' attacks. The protagonist can double jump and roll to dodge incoming fire and environmental hazards, adding a layer of agility to the gunplay. Mid-run, players can swap Ares' suit, altering both his visual design and his active abilities. One standout tool is the Vakyl Cannon, a rechargeable orbital weapon that obliterates every enemy currently on screen. Beyond direct combat, the game rewards exploration: parts dropped by defeated foes feed a crafting system for items and weapon upgrades, while Datacubes hidden across each stage unlock lore about characters and enemies and grant passive perks like reducing the parts cost of crafted items. New weapons arrive with every stage, and each level culminates in a boss encounter. An in-game menu also lets players revisit earlier stages at will.

From Trashman to the World

The game was born in the workshop of Extend Studio, a Thai independent development team. Interestingly, the project originally carried the working title Trashman before the team decided a more internationally appealing name was needed, ultimately settling on A.R.E.S. Extinction Agenda. The original release targeted Windows, establishing the title as a PC-side platform shooter. The game's momentum carried it into an expanded edition, Extinction Agenda EX, which broadened its reach to console and digital storefront audiences. The EX version launched on Xbox Live Arcade on October 2, 2013, followed by a Windows release through Steam on October 3, 2014. This two-platform rollout within a year and a half of the original PC release gave the title a second life and introduced it to a wider gaming community beyond its initial PC audience.

Critical Response and Industry Recognition

On Metacritic, both the original Extinction Agenda and its EX sequel landed in the 'average' range, reflecting a mixed critical consensus. Reviewers from major outlets consistently highlighted two strengths: the game's soundtrack and its detailed, vibrant visual art. The primary criticism centered on the game's brevity, with many feeling the experience wrapped up too quickly. Despite the middling aggregate scores, the title earned meaningful recognition in the indie space. In 2010, A.R.E.S. took home second prize at Microsoft's Dream.Build.Play contest, sharing the stage with other well-known independent titles like Beat Hazard. The soundtrack's popularity proved strong enough that Extend Studio released it as a standalone downloadable content pack on Steam on January 2, 2012. Extinction Agenda EX received similar 'average' ratings on both its platforms, suggesting the core experience, while appreciated for its art and audio, remained a short but memorable indie outing.