Qix
System: NES
Release Date: January 1991
Developer: Novotrade International
Publisher: Taito
Genre: Puzzle
Contain the virus before it multiplies in Qix! The Qix is a computer virus that wants nothing other than to multiply and infect everything it possibly can. The only way to stop it is to contain it with the Stix. Do you have what it takes to be a hero and save all the computers?
You control the marker and have the ability to wall off areas of the screen to contain the cascading Qix. Move by holding the A or B Buttons to draw a line. The A Button draws quickly and the B Button draws slowly, but the slow lines are worth double points. When you connect your line to the outer edge or an already completed section, it fills in and the Qix can no longer go there.
The goal of each stage is to cordon off a certain percentage of the board. This is easy in the first couple levels, but quickly becomes more difficult. The Qix can destroy you if it touches a Stix that hasn’t been completed. You also need to keep an eye out for the Sparx that move along the edges of the screen and the Stix you’ve completed. They’ll chase you down and mess you up.
Starting on the third level, there are two Qix floating around the screen. If you can separate them between the Stix, you will double the amount of points you earn from then on. Even later levels introduce the Spritz, which move around slowly and offer bonuses for containing them.
The worst thing to happen is getting yourself stuck in a death spiral. Sometimes while drawing a Stix, you’ll start to panic to get away from the Qix, and turn in on yourself. It is easy to get yourself stuck and then your Stix will start to burn up or the Qix will hit you.
Graphics: 0.5
The graphics are straight out of 1981, which is when the arcade game was released.
Sound: 2.5
The songs after completing the levels are actually pretty nice and I like them.
Gameplay: 2.0
The rules are simple to learn, but difficult to master.
Difficulty: 2.5
The Qix moves unpredictably and can mess up the best of plans.
Fun Factor: 2.5
Watching my gameplay back, I have this itch to go back and play some more, as I wasn’t able to beat the high score.
Overall Rating: 2.0
Qix earns a C. I actually enjoy this game and will likely pop it out here and there when I have 15 minutes to kill.