Get your Qix
QIX++ is an upgraded version of a Taito arcade classic, QIX. Conceptually the game is very simple. A large rectangle is displayed on screen. The user controls and triangular icon along the lines of the rectangle. There is an animated object, the Qix that moves within the rectangle, generally bouncing off walls. The user must cut across the rectangle (picture Tron light cycles) to create a line that would enclose the Qix. If the Qix touches your line before you close your enclosure, your shield gets reduced by 1. Each level there is a target percentage you must reduce the rectangle to. The higher the percentage, the more points you get.
Everytime the user clears a level they are awarded a certain amount of upgrade points based on their score. There are 4 types of upgrades the user may select:
Shield: Increases the amount of hits the user can endure.
Speed: Increases the speed by which the user can navigate along its line.
Cutter: Increases the speed by which the user can cut across the rectangle.
Luck: The Qix will bounce more favorably for you.
The game is near perfect but falls short in two departments. The graphics are minimalist and dull, while the music is very generic techno. Neither of these flaws hinders the game from being fun and extremely addictive.
QIX++ is a solid arcade game. It’s easy to pick up, yet hard to put down. I highly recommend this title to anyone who enjoyed the original, or anyone who enjoys classic style arcade games.
