Xeno Crisis
A homebrew multidirectional shooter ported to numerous retro and modern platforms.
Xeno Crisis is a multidirectional shooter homebrew game developed and published by Bitmap Bureau, originally released in 2019 for multiple platforms and later ported to the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Its premise follows space marines dispatched to a research facility overrun by aliens. Critical reception varied by version, with the Mega Drive release receiving generally favorable reviews and the Switch port averaging mixed scores.
Quick Facts
- Director
- Matthew Cope; Mike Tucker
- Artist
- Henk Nieborg; Catherine Menabde
- Composer
- Daniel Bärlin
- Genre
- Multidirectional shooter
- Modes
- Single-player, multiplayer
Facts from the source article.
Gameplay
Xeno Crisis is a multidirectional shooter similar to Robotron: 2084 and Smash TV. Players control space marines John Marsh or Sarah Ridley, dispatched by Commander Darius to Outpost 88 after a distress signal. The game features seven procedurally generated levels, each room containing enemies and ending with a boss battle. Defeated enemies may drop items, weapon pickups, health, or dogtags used as currency for upgrades like extra health or speed. The starting machine gun has limited ammunition, and weapon pickups are time-limited, requiring players to seek ammunition boxes. Survivors can be rescued and released to safety. The twin-stick control scheme uses the d-pad or left joystick for movement and buttons or right joystick for firing direction. Players have a limited supply of grenades that obliterate enemies in their blast radius. If out of ammunition, a close-range melee attack is available, and an evasive roll maneuver helps dodge enemy fire. Over ten weapon pickups include flamethrowers, homing shots, lasers, rocket launchers, and shotguns. Characters can withstand limited hits; health depletion ends the game, though elixirs purchased in-game allow continuation. Options include control and difficulty configuration.
Release
Bitmap Bureau took Xeno Crisis to Kickstarter in December 2017, and the campaign hit its £18,261 target within a few days. Stretch goals unlocked ports for Dreamcast, Linux, macOS, Windows, and Nintendo Switch. The fundraiser closed on January 10, 2018, with £72,569 raised. The game was first scheduled for October 2018 to mark the Mega Drive’s 30th anniversary in Japan, but production delays pushed it back. Later, ports for Neo Geo, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One were announced. Physical editions for Switch and PlayStation 4 came through a partnership with Strictly Limited Games. In December 2018, pre-orders opened for digital and physical copies of the Mega Drive, Dreamcast, and Neo Geo versions, with the Neo Geo port offered in MVS, AES, and CD formats. Bitmap Bureau published the Mega Drive, Linux, macOS, Windows, Switch, and PlayStation 4 versions on October 28, 2019, followed by the Xbox One port two days later. DO Games handled the Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One ports. Strictly Limited Games offered regular and collector’s editions for Switch and PlayStation 4, the latter including an artbook and soundtrack CD. The Dreamcast port went gold and launched on June 16, 2020, with a narrated intro and VMU support. Eastasiasoft published the PlayStation Vita port, releasing it in Japan on September 17, 2020, and in North America on September 22 as a limited run of 2,000 copies. Eastasiasoft also distributed the Switch and PlayStation 4 ports in Japan.
Reception
Xeno Crisis on Nintendo Switch received mixed or average reviews on Metacritic. Nintendo Life's Jason Brown praised the design, fast-paced gameplay, and cooperative mode, but criticized the difficulty as off-putting for inexperienced players. Vandal's Ramón Nafria commended the graphics, audio, and two-player mode, noting difficulty for single players. 4Players' Matthias Schmid highlighted visuals, controls, soundscape, challenge, and character leveling, but saw shortcomings in playability, scope, and bosses. Sega-16's Ken Horowitz gave the Mega Drive version positive remarks for arcade-style gameplay, artwork by Henk Nieborg, and soundtrack by Daniel Bärlin, but noted difficulty and short length. M! Games' Thomas Nickel commended the Switch port's frenetic action, large bosses, difficulty, controls, multiplayer, and pixel art. Retro Gamer's Darran Jones called it one of the best arena shooters on the Mega Drive, highlighting action, co-op, and bosses, but noted difficulty and issues with the three-button controller; he called the Nintendo 64 version superb but desired customizable controls. Wireframe's Ryan Lambie praised polish and gameplay but criticized design decisions like weapon upgrades and melee. Hardcore Gamer's Marcus Estrada, reviewing the Evercade compilation, stated difficulty and random stages made it replayable.
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