Qix

• Release Date: 1982
• Genre: Action
• Style: 2D Action
• Similar Games: Amidar (Commodore 64/128), Pepper II (Arcade), Amidar (Atari Video Computer System), Amidar (Arcade), Ultimate Qix (Sega Genesis), Pepper II (ColecoVision)

Game Description

Qix for the Atari 5200 is a game of drawing lines (called Stix) and filling in space. While enclosing space with a diamond-shaped marker that you use to form boxes, rectangles, and other straight line shapes, you can draw slowly or quickly. Slowly drawn lines net you twice the points as those made in haste.

As you move your marker around the screen, you must avoid the Qix and Sparx. Each Qix is a wing-shaped row of eight lines that move randomly around the play field, disrupting your progress as you fill in space. Sparx are little spark-like characters that move along the lines you draw and along the boundary lines of the play field. Let your marker come in contact with the Sparx or let the Qix touch a line that you are in the process of drawing, and you lose a life. If you stop for too long while in the process of drawing a line, a fuse appears at the end of the line, and it will chase you. If touched by this fuse, you will die. Eventually, Sparx will turn into Super Sparx, which are capable of venturing onto the Stix you have drawn. A level is complete when you have filled in a certain percentage of the play field. The higher percentage of a level you fill in, the more points you'll get. The game is over only when all of your markers are destroyed.

Roots & Influences

Qix for the Atari 5200 is based on the 1981 Taito Arcade game.

Review: Overall

When Qix (pronounced Kicks) was new in the arcades, gamers were puzzled by its

lack of cuteness and/or violent content. There was nothing to shoot at, no ladders to

climb, no mazes to navigate, no characters to love, and no airplanes or spaceships to pilot;

the game was all about drawing simple lines to fill in sections of the playfield, not exactly

an exciting concept, at least on the surface. However, the first brave souls to approach

Qix were rewarded with an entirely unique and addictive gaming experience. Word

spread quickly, and Qix eventually became a cult classic.

Like most ports for this system, Qix for the Atari 5200 is a very good rendition of

the arcade game. The infamous non-centering 5200 joysticks give Qix less than

perfect controls, but the game looks and plays about like it should. All the strategies (such

as building columns or creating small rooms in which to trap the Qix) fans of the

arcade game learned or copied off other players can be applied perfectly to this home

version.

Qix never made it to the ColecoVision, Atari 2600, or Intellivision, so

diehard Qix fans soon became diehard 5200 fans. Qix is a great game to have

for a home system, because there are literally trillions and trillions of ways to fill in at least

75% of the screen, which is your goal in each level. No two games are ever the same.

Qix plays nothing like Tetris, but the two games do have much in common. Both

are simple graphically and conceptually, while at the same time offering intellectual

challenges galore. Also, both games appeal to a wide variety of demographics groups. If

you want something to introduce a non-gaming friend to the wonderful world of video

games, Qix may be your best bet.

Review: Enjoyment

I love the fact that drawing slow nets you more points than drawing fast. This leads to many different strategies.

Review: Graphics

The graphics are simplistic, but fantastic visuals are not what this game is about.

Review: Sound

The sound effects are decent, but the ever-present buzzing noise is annoying.

Review: Replay Value

Since no two games are the same, {*Qix} holds up very well over time.

Review: Documentation

The manual is colorful and informative, and it offers tips and strategies on how to play the game well.