- Release Date: 1992
- Genre: Action
- Style: 2D Action
Game Description
In Qix, players control something similar to a pen nub. Using this cursor, called a "Qix," players must draw lines in the square game board. In each board there are one or more "Stix," odd-looking series of lines that bounce around the board and change direction. The goal of the game is to draw lines that block off sections of the board from the Stix.Starting from any edge or previously drawn line, players use the Qix to draw lines. When the Qix touches a board edge or another previously drawn line, the drawing is complete, the territory is claimed, and the section is colored in. Players can change course while drawing, to try to claim as much or as little territory as they want think they can get. A certain percentage of the board must be filled each round, within a limited amount of time.
If the Stix touches a player's Qix, or any part of the Qix's line while it's being drawn, a life is lost. If players hesitate too long while drawing lines, a "Sparx" fuse starts at the beginning of the drawing and chases after the Qix until the current line is finished. Two Sparx roam around the edges and lines in the board freely, and if they touch the Qix, players also lose a life.
~ Kyle Knight, All Game Guide
Roots & Influences
Qix might be considered a precursor to the puzzle genre.~ Kyle Knight, All Game Guide
Review: Overall
While some puzzle games like Tetris have spun off into huge franchises, others have been forgotten by time. Qix is one of those games. While it wasn't particularly successful as anThere's not a great deal you can do to the graphics for a game like Qix to make them stand out. Instead of just plain coloring for sectioned off areas, there are different designs. But these designs are generally bland variations of basic tile and brick patterns, and really don't add much more to the game. The developers could added pictures; instead, they chose the conservative and ultimately mediocre approach to visuals. The sound effects are likewise simply functional. Everything has a grainy sound, with the end result being that everything sounds like variations of the same basic grainy static. There is no music in the game except for a short, generic tune between levels.
Qix's gameplay is about as unique as they come. Once you grasp the basic premise, there's really quite a bit of variety. You could take the prudent course of action and start walling off sides and corners away from the Stix, or you could go boldly through the center of the screen as your first move. When you slowly draw lines, the game rewards you with more points. And if you have the courage to split two Stix down the middle you're rewarded with point multipliers that last the rest of the game. Of course, you don't have to do any of that. Your survival rate would probably be significantly higher if you just took the prudent way. But the reckless way is so much more fun.
The one drawback is that Qix is based as much on luck as skill. No matter how great your reflexes, at any point the Stix could take a bad turn and head straight for you or your line. If you play prudently, this isn't a problem early on, as you can easily keep far away from where the Stix is. But in the later levels, you have to take more risks.
With its original and unique gameplay, every gamer interested in puzzle games should experience Qix at least once. But the Lynx version might be a pretty hard sell. The graphics and sounds are very simple, and there's little to no improvement to the gameplay. If you've already had an experience with the game, the Lynx version won't offer you anything new or interesting.
~ Kyle Knight, All Game Guide
Review: Enjoyment
The unique puzzle gameplay is quite enjoyable.~ Kyle Knight, All Game Guide
Review: Graphics
Dated looking graphics.~ Kyle Knight, All Game Guide
Review: Sound
Poor sound effects that all sound like variations of the same static buzz.~ Kyle Knight, All Game Guide
Review: Replay Value
There are several ways to complete levels depending on how much risk you're willing to take.~ Kyle Knight, All Game Guide
Review: Documentation
Decent documentation.~ Kyle Knight, All Game Guide
