Sound:  
Vexx boasts some excellent sound as well. Each level has its own theme, all of which are top-notch. Level music has an epic feel to it, and every time you collect a heart, the music lets you know that you earned it. The voices are also well done, and are very easy to understand, even at certain times when there are no subtitles. I suppose it is just an amazing coincidence that the inhabitants of Astara all speak English.

The sound effects themselves are good, but much like the graphics, not amazing. Overall, the quality of sound in Vexx is pretty much what we’ve come to expect in a well put-together 3D platformer.

Gameplay:  
Now the gameplay is where Vexx really shines. Before, I mentioned that this game does not sacrifice quality over quantity, and this is why. Most companies that make games with mature overtones are more concerned with the level of maturity that often times they forget about the importance of gameplay, which is integral in initial enjoyment as well as overall replay. Acclaim does an excellent job of combining the two to yield a great game. OK, enough with the boot licking, here’s the gist of the game:

Vexx, like many platforms before it, uses the familiar concept of “villain does bad things, hero embarks on long, arduous journey to stop villain.” Sure, this is the basic outline of most games, but Vexx takes a slightly different approach. When evil overlord Dark Yabu unleashes his minions upon Astara, they take the peaceful inhabitants of the village of Overwood captive and force them into slavery (Vexx and his grandfather Vargas included). One day, while toiling, Vexx becomes enraged at his current situation and lashes out at his captors. Unfortunately, Dark Yabu was there to thwart this, and before he could destroy Vexx, Vargas steps in to sacrifice himself to save his grandson. Vexx is made to watch as the evil demon reduces Vexx’s grandfather to ashes. Overcome by grief and anger, Vexx sneaks away in the middle of the night, where he finds a pair of mystical, powerful talons, and thus his journey begins to rid his world of evil.

Once you get through the training scenario, you start off in a central hub, with access to only one level. Your goal in each level is to collect up to 10 hearts per level by completing certain objectives. Once a set number of hearts are acquired, a new level opens up – similar to what we’ve seen in many other platformers. Only when enough hearts are found can you take on Dark Yabu himself.

Yes, Vexx has level themes that are universal across almost all platform games – an ice level, water level, a wooded level, the ancient city – but it in completing the objectives themselves that makes Vexx such an enjoyable experience. There are your usual “point A to point B” objectives, the “collect a certain number of specific objects” objectives, etc, but the remaining 90% of objectives are as original as any game can get – which is quite a feat considering how many games of this genre have been released since 1996. One of my personal favorites is the Manor level, where you need to hop on a giant control stick and win a game of Breakout in order to earn a heart. Not only that, but the levels are so challenging, that you may be able to finish this game on a rental – if you play nonstop for the 5 or so days that the rental lasts.

The only real issue with Vexx is the camera. You can use the C-Stick to control the camera, but at some points the camera is blocked, and you cannot move it to where you would prefer. This can get annoying if you are carefully treading across a wooden plank or need to make a perfect jump from one rope to another. Had Acclaim spent some more time perfecting the camera issue, the game would have been all that much better, but despite this small problem the game is still excellent.

Control:
Take the traditional Mario, Banjo-Kazooie control scheme, add some Street Fighter-esque combos, throw in a pinch of Metal Gear espionage, and you’ve got the controls for Vexx. You have your usual jumps, wall climbs, and attacks, but Acclaim added a basic, albeit enjoyable, combo system. You can execute a combo by knocking an enemy into the air, and juggle your enemy by air kicks or uppercuts. You can also combo by repeatedly punching your enemy. As you rack up the hits, a power bar will fill up. Once it is completely filled, you can power up Vexx by pressing the R button, making him faster, stronger, and able to shoot energy bolts at your enemies. Although it would have been nice to see a much more detailed combo system, what we are given is excellent. Let’s hope the sequel has an extended version of this combo system.

The controls are very quick and responsive, which comes in handy when performing such actions as timing a jump or landing a precise hit on a boss. The only thing I wish was added to the controls was a “lock-on” feature. Even though the game would have been better if this was implemented, the controls are still perfect.

Multiplayer:
Unfortunately, there is no multiplayer mode in Vexx. This is disheartening, because some of the objectives could have made perfect mini-games to add to the replay value. Regardless, the game is still enjoyable.

OVERALL:
Vexx is one of the best adventure-platformers out right now. The controls are easy to learn, and the mature overtone of the game won’t make you feel embarrassed about playing a type of game labeled as “kiddy.” Acclaim did such an amazing job of combining an excellent storyline with original level objectives that the end result is a perfect videogame recipe that every gaming company should use.

 

The Lowdown on  Vexx Aesthetics: Very Good Control: Awesome Gameplay: Very Good Multiplayer: Sound: Very Good Innovation: 5/6 Lasting Appeal: 4/6 Rating Explanation Overall: Awesome! "Top of the Genre"