Vexx is a 2003 platform game developed by Acclaim Studios Austin and published by Acclaim Entertainment for the GameCube, PlayStation 2 and Xbox. The game was released in North America on February 11, 2003, and in Europe on April 4, 2003. It follows the main character, Vexx, as he searches different worlds for the wraithhearts to power the rift between worlds and defeat Dark Yabu to avenge his grandfather's death. The game began development in 1999 and underwent a strained development process, during which many features and levels were cut. Vexx received mixed reviews.

Gameplay

Vexx is a 3D platformer that takes place across a series of nine nonlinear open levels. A set of wraithhearts are hidden in each level, and the player must find where they are located and, in some cases, complete challenges to obtain them. Collecting a sufficient number of wraithhearts unlocks the next level, and players are free to travel between the levels to collect 60 wraithhearts to fight the final boss. Combat takes place primarily through the use of the Astani War Talons, which allow for melee attacks that can be used in several combinations and can be charged to shoot flames for a brief time.

The gameplay has been compared to 3D games in the Mario franchise, such as Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine.

Plot

In the past, the Astani people of Astara created a rift system that allowed them to move between worlds. However, the Shadowraiths came through the rift, drained it of its energy, and destroyed Astara. Hundreds of years later, Dark Yabu (voiced by Brian Cox), the leader of the Shadowraiths, discovers the village of Overwood and enslaves the Valdani people that live there so they can find the wraithhearts to power the rift. Vexx attempts to resist, but he is spared from Yabu's wrath by his grandfather Vargas, who is killed in the ensuing fight. Vexx sneaks away and discovers the Astani War Talons, which bond to him.

Vexx awakens in the Hall of Heroes, where previous wearers of the Talons are entombed. An old man named Darby (also voiced by Brian Cox) appears and informs him he carried Vexx to the Hall after thinking he was dead. He also tells Vexx that Yabu completely destroyed the village, and that Vexx and Darby are the only survivors. Darby is too old to fight, so he instructs Vexx to collect the wraithhearts and use them to power the rift and find and stop Yabu before he opens the gate to his own world. Before Vexx departs, Darby warns him the Shadowraiths are shapeshifters and to "trust no one along your journey".

After collecting several wraithhearts, Vexx meets up with Darby inside the Landspire, and they encounter Reia, the last remaining Astani warrior. Reia exposes Darby, who is revealed to be Dark Yabu in disguise. Both Reia and Vexx try to attack Yabu, but he escapes, taking Reia's magical staff with him. It is revealed that by collecting the wraithhearts, Vexx was helping Yabu power the gate to his own world. Since the only way to close the rift is with Reia's staff, Vexx has to activate the rest of the gates and catch up to Yabu to get it back.

After collecting 60 wraithhearts, Vexx finds Yabu in the Shadow Realm, and the two fight one last time. During the battle, Vexx manages to take Yabu's amulet, which gives him more power. Vexx wins and retrieves the staff, but Yabu's death causes the platform on which he and the portal back to Astara stand to crumble. Unable to get back through the portal, Vexx throws the staff through, closing the rift and saving Astara, but trapping himself in the shadow realm.

Development and release

Creation and character design

Development of Vexx began in late 1999 by Acclaim Studios Austin, with the studio wanting to create a mascot platformer for the then-next generation consoles. The development team was led by creative director David Dienstbier and designer Thomas Coles and varied in size, ranging from around 22-40 people who had worked on some of Iguana's previous titles, such as Turok: Dinosaur Hunter. Coles cited several platform games as inspiration for the game, specifically Super Mario 64 and Banjo-Kazooie.

The game was initially titled Clip and Mischief, and starred a rodent-like creature named Clip, who had a small, reptilian sidekick named Mischief. This idea was shelved when the development team thought the concept was too similar to Jak and Daxter. The character was renamed Vexx out of the notion that he would try to turn his bad luck onto his enemies. As development progressed, the team branched out and had people working on all three versions simultaneously.

| MC_PS2 = 63/100

| MC_XBOX = 70/100

| Edge_NGC = 3/10

| Edge_PS2 = 3/10

| EPD_XBOX = 7/10

| EuroG_PS2 = 3/10

| GI_NGC = 8.25/10

| GI_PS2 = 6.75/10

| GI_XBOX = 8/10

| GSpot_NGC = 6.3/10

| GSpot_PS2 = 6.3/10

| GSpy_NGC = 2/5

| GSpy_PS2 = 2/5

| GSpy_XBOX = 2/5

| GameZone_NGC = 7.5/10

| GameZone_PS2 = 8.9/10

| GameZone_XBOX = 8.3/10

| IGN_NGC = 7.2/10

| IGN_PS2 = 7.4/10

| IGN_XBOX = 7.6/10

| NP_NGC = 3.3/5

| NWR_NGC = 7.5/10

| OXM_XBOX = 7.9/10

| XPlay_XBOX = 3/5

| rev1 = Maxim

| rev1_NGC = 8/10

| rev1_PS2 = 8/10

Notes

References

  • at the Internet Archive