Thexder Neo Review

Have laser, will travel.

If you’ve never heard of Thexder, you’re not the only one.  It was a robot shooter initially made popular back in the 1980’s, when the NES was just getting started and the only PC gaming at the time was done with the Apple IIgs and the Amiga.  It did well in Japan, but didn’t strike much of a chord here in the US.  However, that didn’t stop Square Enix from remaking it for the PSP a couple of months ago.  Now that same game is available on the PlayStation 3, and it seems to work better on a home format.

You control a robot model that can transform into a small plane and back again, a task necessary to fit through some of the tighter spaces in each stage.  Along the way, you’ll obliterate enemies with a bright, pulsating laser and occasionally activate a glowing green shield, should you become overwhelmed (and mark our words, you will).  The only catch is that your offensive tactics use energy.  The longer you fire your lasers and activate your shielding, the lower it drains.  You’ll need to find robots carrying sufficient refills, or you’ll run out and end up as nothing more than scrap metal.

This approach may make the game more frustrating than needed.  We like the challenge it provides, but rookie players may become angry, throwing down the controller and going, “Why do I keep dying?!”  Once you understand how it’s supposed to work, however, you’ll find what it takes to survive and push ahead to the later levels.

That’s one thing we always liked about Thexder – the terrific level design.  There are twists and turns throughout, along with wide open spaces in which to lay the laser beam smackdown on baddie robots and hidden locales in which to find energy replenishment.  Square Enix, with some help from Zereo, stays faithful to the Game Arts design in this area, even though there are more “hot floors” (burners) strewn about than we would’ve preferred.

Aside from the stage design, the overall look of the game is handled nicely.  The 3-D visuals are better on a big screen than they are cramped on the PSP’s miniature display, and the animations (particularly Thexder’s snappy transformation) are above average.  We also got a kick out of the techno, Japanese anime-inspired music, including the recomposed Thexder theme.  It manages to repeat over the course of the stage, but it’s runs with enough energy that it doesn’t really matter.

As for extras, Thexder has something both good and not-so-hot.  On the bad side, there’s multiplayer, which has you and fellow friends shooting for high scores in competitive fashion.  It’s mostly pointless, and very few people are lurking the lobbies anyway, so you’re better off leaving it alone.  More appreciated is the inclusion of the game that started it all, the first Thexder.  While it looks completely primitive compared to the up-to-date version, it’s ideal for classic players and those of you curious to see where the little transformer got his start.

While its gameplay could’ve used perking up (and perhaps a little less challenge) and the multiplayer should’ve been done away with entirely, Thexder Neo is a mostly appreciative return of a long-lost 80’s favorite.  The presentation is better than expected for a game of this nature, and the crazy level design will keep you shooting around each other.  Add in the original that started it all and you have a decent time-waster, though not a bonafide classic.  There's a little rust on this robot.