Gem'X
| Industry | Video game development |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1990 |
| Headquarters | Germany |
| Products | Gem'X, Super Gem'Z (Gem'Z) |
Gem'X is a puzzle title launched in 1991 for the Amiga, Commodore 64, and Atari ST platforms. It was created by the German developer Kaiko and distributed by Demonware. Initially, Kaiko operated as a publishing imprint under A.U.D.I.O.S before evolving into an independent brand. The game is characterized by its Japanese-influenced visual style, incorporating mildly erotic anime-themed cutscenes.
Gameplay
In this game, players interact with two rectangular gem grids, aiming to adjust the left grid so it mirrors the right one within a set time frame. Selecting a gem decreases its color level by two steps, while adjacent gems reduce by one step. The colors cycle through red, green, blue, pink, and yellow; when a yellow or pink gem’s color level is lowered, it detonates, altering the configuration of the grid.
Each stage imposes restrictions on moves and time; failing to complete the puzzle results in losing a life and restarting that level. Players have the option to undo previous moves or skip levels, both at the expense of one life. The game consists of 26 mines, each containing 16 levels; however, only a randomly chosen subset of levels must be cleared. Progressing through mines follows a branching path system and provides passwords to resume gameplay later.
Throughout the game, the character Kiki offers motivational messages. After completing levels, players unlock progressively revealing images of Kiki’s friends, culminating in a final image upon finishing the entire game.
Development
Gem'X marked Kaiko’s debut game, developed during 1990. Programming was handled by Torsten Lamparter, with Frank Matzke responsible for artwork and Peter Thierolf overseeing project management. The game was crafted to replicate Japanese-style titles, featuring anime-inspired visuals and adopting a Japanese-sounding company name to appeal to that demographic. Chris Hülsbeck composed the soundtrack, while Stephanie Padilla-Kaltenborn provided Kiki’s voice in the Amiga edition.
A follow-up titled Gem'Z (also known as Super Gem'Z) was created for Amiga and MS-DOS in 1992. The MS-DOS version’s programming credits go to Marc Kamradt and Matthias Wiederwach. Unfortunately, after the master copy was stolen at the 1992 Cologne Computer Fair and circulated as an unauthorized pre-release, Kaiko could not rebuild the game from backups. Publisher Software 2000 declined to release it officially, resulting in its cancellation. This sequel incorporated gameplay elements reminiscent of Sokoban and Bomberman, introducing multiplayer modes. Later on, it was reimagined as Inspector Gadget: Gadget's Crazy Maze, published by Ubisoft in 2001.
On 11 November 2014, KTX Software and Signo y Arte launched Leona's Tricky Adventure for Windows via Steam and Sega Dreamcast. This puzzle game draws inspiration from Gem'X and features newly arranged music composed by Hülsbeck alongside Fabian Del Priore, Marcus Lind, and Carmen Konrad.
Coinciding with this release date, Chris Hülsbeck issued the Gem'X Extended Soundtrack through his label Chris Hülsbeck Productions on Bandcamp. The album contains original tracks from both Gem'X and Super Gem'Z, remixes, as well as compositions from Leona's Tricky Adventure.
Reception
Gem'X was met with largely favorable critiques, particularly noted for its depiction of female characters in a Japanese anime-inspired style. In the UK, the game received scores of 88%, 75%, 64%, 64%, and 85% from the publications Amiga Power, Amiga Action, Computer and Video Games, ST Format, and Zzap!64, respectively.