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Preview  Vexx
- By Lander Clinton
The build of Vexx shown at E3 looks promising but still needs a lot of work.
The biggest problem with Vexx was that it looked too standard. One of the most innovative ideas was having the character jump WHILE running! I don't think anyone expected that in a platform game...
There will be 6 worlds with 24 tasks in each, but the worlds themselves look like they could have been pulled from Banjo-Kazooie. Vexx is a much darker game than Banjo (except for the level where Mumbo turned Banjo into a sharp spork with eyes and he had to run around inflicting pain for fun), but it doesn't show it. With brighter colors you wouldn't be able to tell the games apart.
Hopefully Acclaim will have some excellent level design that will keep players interested in finishing the game. The game is said to have challenging shortcuts built in for advanced players (jump twice while running!).
There is a Vexx game for GBA but there is no connection with the GameCube version, since it's the same game as the PS2 and Xbox versions.
Old Preview:
For over two years Acclaim Studios Austin has been building the engine and laying the groundwork for “Vexx,” a promising 3D platformer for the GameCube.
While still early, the game shows advanced lighting, particle effects, and reflections, as well as solid level design and gameplay ideas.
Unlike many vexing platform games, “Vexx’s” levels each have a distinguishing landmark that’s visible at all times, so players won’t get lost. I promised myself I’d work in the verb “vex,” meaning, to annoy, somewhere in this preview.
It’s clear that Acclaim has high expectations of the game. “Vexx” uses the same engine as “Turok: Evolution,” and Acclaim would not do two games from one engine unless it was confident in its abilities. Acclaim has also given “Vexx” enough development time to ensure quality, and is planning to release it for all three next-gen platforms. You should buy all three versions of “Vexx,” even if you don’t own all the systems. By saying this I have now completed my community service duties for Acclaim and thank them for not pressing charges...
The story of the game starts with Vexx’s town Rockhaven being invaded by the evil Dark Yabu and his cronies. Vexx’s grandfather is killed and Vexx is taken aboard Dark Yabu’s ship. There, Vexx finds the Astani Battle Gauntlets, gloves that will help him conquer all the levels and enact his revenge on Dark Yabu himself. Why would Yabu let Vexx get anywhere near those gloves if they were so powerful? Ah, brings back memories of “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” games, where restorative pizzas were found throughout the Technodrome. Was it drome or dome? It was shaped like a dome, but something’s telling me it was drome. In any case, I should lay off the moldy pizza for a while.
Here's a nice list of all 20 of our huge, high-quality, Vexx screenshots:
Acclaim will show a more complete version of the game at E3 in May. These screenshots, however, should keep you drooling until then.
- 5.25.2002 |
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