Xenophobe (video game)

Bally Midway

Company type	Private
Industry	Video games
Products	Video games (including Xenophobe)

Xenophobe is an action title released in 1987, created and distributed by Bally Midway for arcade platforms. It accommodates up to three participants who strive to eliminate alien threats within a set time frame.

Gameplay

In Xenophobe, players must eradicate all extraterrestrial enemies in each stage before the countdown reaches zero. Certain rooms indicate the level of alien infestation as a percentage and display a timer until self-destruction, which players can temporarily pause by pressing a nearby control. Levels often consist of multiple floors interconnected by elevators, where players can find enhanced weaponry to assist in their mission.

The alien creatures, known as Xenos, progress through various forms: initially appearing as Pods that hatch into Critters. These Critters latch onto players and drain their health. If left unchecked, they evolve into Rollerbabies that attack by rolling, and eventually transform into Snotterpillars capable of leaping or spitting at the players.

In both arcade and Lynx editions, the Festor enemy is encountered near doorways; it can hypnotize players and launch eggs that hatch into Pods if they land close to a player.

Players gather items scattered throughout the levels that either provide extra points or replenish health. Missions end in one of three ways: evacuation when time expires (resulting in losing the station), triggering self-destruction after eliminating some Xenos (yielding bonus points), or completely wiping out all aliens and securing the station for maximum rewards.

Certain versions enable players to assume control of a Snotterpillar, allowing them to hinder other players’ efforts to clear the station.

Characters

Xenophobe features nine selectable characters divided equally among three joysticks. The left joystick (red) controls Mr. M.Brace, Dr. Kwack, and Col. Poupon; the center joystick (yellow) manages Mr. Fogg, Col F. Truth, and Dr. Udderbay; the right joystick (blue) governs Mr. Eeez, Dr. Zordirz, and Col. Schickn. The roster includes both human and alien figures—such as Dr. Kwack, who has a duck’s head—and characters are identified by distinct colors corresponding to each player.

Ports

Atari Corporation released Xenophobe on multiple systems including the Atari 2600, Atari 7800, Atari ST, and Atari Lynx. The 7800 adaptation was developed by BlueSky Software, while Epyx was responsible for the Lynx version. A port for Atari 8-bit computers was created but never saw an official release.

The NES version was handled by Sunsoft, whereas Microplay Software produced the adaptation for the Commodore 64. Additional versions were made available for the Amiga, Amstrad CPC, and ZX Spectrum platforms.

Atari Lynx

Critics reviewing the Lynx version praised its captivating gameplay and strong audiovisual presentation despite some difficulties with controls. Clayton Walnum from STart remarked on inconsistent graphical detail and more complex controls compared to games like ElectroCop. Julian Rignall of CVG commended its "excellent" visuals and audio, awarding a score of 79/100 for its compelling gameplay.

Les Ellis of Raze Magazine rated it 94%, describing it as addictive with outstanding graphics. Robert A. Jung at IGN gave it an 8 out of 10, suggesting that Xenophobe on Lynx could be considered "arguably more enjoyable than its arcade original."

Legacy

In 2004, Xenophobe was included in Midway's compilation Arcade Treasures 2 for the PS2, Xbox, and GameCube. The following year, it appeared on the PSP in Midway Arcade Treasures: Extended Play. Later, in 2012, it was featured again in Midway Arcade Origins for both PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.