A.R.E.S.: Extinction Agenda
{{Short description|2010 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
|title = A.R.E.S. Extinction Agenda
|collapsible =
|state =
|image = Aresextinctionagenda.png
|caption =
|developer = Extend Studio
|publisher = Origo Games
Aksys Games
|series =
|engine = XNA
|platforms = {{unbulleted list|Windows|Xbox 360|Cloud (OnLive)}}
|released = Windows
December 14, 2010
January 19, 2011 (Steam){{cite web|author=IGN staff|date=2011-01-20|title=A.R.E.S: Extinction Agenda Released on Steam|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2011/01/20/ares-extinction-agenda-released-on-steam|website=IGN|publisher=Ziff Davis|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210727151741/https://www.ign.com/articles/2011/01/20/ares-extinction-agenda-released-on-steam|archivedate=2021-07-27|url-status=live|accessdate=2023-08-14}}
Extinction Agenda EX
XBLA
October 2, 2013
Windows
October 3, 2014
|modes = Single-player
}}
A.R.E.S. Extinction Agenda is a side-scrolling platform shooter for Windows. It was developed by Thai independent developer Extend Studio. An updated version called Extinction Agenda EX was released for Xbox Live Arcade on October 2, 2013, and for Windows via Steam on October 3, 2014.
Plot
The game takes place in a future setting where the Earth is contaminated by pollution. A group of scientist were trapped in the Deep Space Reprocessing station after a mysterious asteroid emitting an unknown fluorescent gas collided into the station. The survivors then discovered that machines in the station became violent towards them after being exposed to the gas. Eventually, they managed to send the sample of the gas to the research team back at the United Earth Headquarters to find out a way to rescue them and called the gas Zytron. Player takes control of the game protagonist Ares, the first Zytron immune robot created to battle machines that became malevolent from being exposed to the Zytron gas, in a mission to rescue the survivors from a deep space station.
Gameplay
Players control Ares' movement with WASD keys on the keyboard and aim with a mouse. Ares can double jump and roll to avoid attacks and obstacles and can change his suit during the course of the game which gives him a different aesthetic appearance and abilities. He can also activate Vakyl Cannon, a rechargeable orbital cannon which destroys all of the enemies on screen. Players can collect parts from destroyed enemies to craft items and upgrade weapons. They can also collect Datacubes which are scattered throughout the stages which not only unlock background information about certain characters and enemies, but also improve Ares' abilities such as lowering the number of parts required to craft items. Throughout the game players are able to obtain new weapons in each stage. At the end of each stage, Ares will have to defeat bosses in order to progress. Players can go back between stages during the game by accessing the in-game menu.
Development
A.R.E.S. Extinction Agenda was originally called Trashman, but the development team changed the name to appeal more to international audiences.{{cite web|author=Gumustdo|date=2010-03-04|title=Title Change|url=http://blog.x10studio.com/?p=416|website=Extend Studio|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100821083219/http://blog.x10studio.com/?p=416|archivedate=2010-08-21|accessdate=2023-08-14}}
Reception
=''Extinction Agenda''=
{{Video game reviews
| title = A.R.E.S. Extinction Agenda
| MC = 68/100{{cite web|title=A.R.E.S. Extinction Agenda for PC Reviews|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/a-r-e-s-extinction-agenda/critic-reviews/?platform=pc|website=Metacritic|publisher=Fandom|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230529222339/https://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/ares-extinction-agenda|archivedate=2023-05-29|url-status=live|accessdate=2023-08-14}}
| EuroG = 6/10{{cite web|last=Reed|first=Kristan|date=2011-01-28|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/download-games-roundup-review-46?page=3|title=Download Games Roundup (Page 3)|website=Eurogamer|publisher=Gamer Network|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140329184722/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-01-28-download-games-roundup-review?page=3|archivedate=2014-03-29|url-status=live|accessdate=2023-08-14}}
| PCGUK = 79%{{cite magazine|title=A.R.E.S. Extinction Agenda|magazine=PC Gamer UK|publisher=Future plc|date=June 2011|page=77}}
| PCPP = 5/10{{cite magazine|title=Review: A.R.E.S. Extinction Agenda|magazine=PC PowerPlay|publisher=Next Media Pty Ltd|issue=188|date=April 2011|page=68}}
}}
Extinction Agenda received "average" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. Critics from major publications praised the game for its soundtrack and detailed vibrant artwork while criticizing the length of the game to be too short.
Due to its popularity, the soundtrack of the game was eventually released on Steam as a downloadable content on January 2, 2012. A.R.E.S. won second prize in 2010 Microsoft's Dream.Build.Play. contest along with other notable independent games such as Beat Hazard.{{cite web|last=North|first=Dale|date=2010-05-04|title=Microsoft's Dream.Build.Play 2010 winners announced|url=https://www.destructoid.com/microsofts-dream-build-play-2010-winners-announced/|website=Destructoid|publisher=Gamurs|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230814225245/https://www.destructoid.com/microsofts-dream-build-play-2010-winners-announced/|archivedate=2023-08-14|url-status=live|accessdate=2023-08-14}}
{{clear}}
=''Extinction Agenda EX''=
{{Video game reviews
| title = A.R.E.S. Extinction Agenda EX
| MC = (PC) 70/100{{cite web|title=A.R.E.S. Extinction Agenda EX for PC Reviews|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/a-r-e-s-extinction-agenda-ex/critic-reviews/?platform=pc|website=Metacritic|publisher=Fandom|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128090012/https://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/ares-extinction-agenda-ex|archivedate=2020-11-28|url-status=live|accessdate=2023-08-14}}
(X360) 66/100{{cite web|title=A.R.E.S. Extinction Agenda EX for Xbox 360 Reviews|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/a-r-e-s-extinction-agenda-ex/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-360|website=Metacritic|publisher=Fandom|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220829164058/https://www.metacritic.com/game/xbox-360/ares-extinction-agenda-ex|archivedate=2022-08-29|url-status=live|accessdate=2023-08-14}}
| GSpot = (X360) 6/10{{cite web|last=Venter|first=Jason|date=2013-10-04|title=A.R.E.S. Extinction Agenda EX Review (X360)|url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/a-r-e-s-extinction-agenda-ex-review/1900-6415301/|website=GameSpot|publisher=Fandom|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203024553/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/a-r-e-s-extinction-agenda-ex-review/1900-6415301/|archivedate=2015-02-03|url-status=live|accessdate=2023-08-14}}
| HC = (X360) 71%{{cite magazine|last=Hernández|first=David Alonso|date=2013-10-16|title=Análisis de A.R.E.S. Extinction Agenda EX para Xbox 360|url=https://www.hobbyconsolas.com/reviews/analisis-ares-extinction-agenda-ex-para-xbox-360-58182|language=es|magazine=HobbyConsolas|publisher=Axel Springer SE|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20221115061400/https://www.hobbyconsolas.com/reviews/analisis-ares-extinction-agenda-ex-para-xbox-360-58182|archivedate=2022-11-15|url-status=live|accessdate=2023-08-14}}
| OXMUK = (X360) 7/10{{cite magazine|title=A.R.E.S. Extinction Agenda EK|magazine=Official Xbox Magazine UK|publisher=Future plc|date=Christmas 2013|page=107}}
| OXM = (X360) 4/10{{cite magazine|last=Lewis|first=Cameron|date=2013-10-04|title=A.R.E.S. Extinction Agenda EX review|url=http://www.oxmonline.com/ares-extinction-agenda-ex-review|magazine=Official Xbox Magazine|publisher=Future US|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005074526/http://www.oxmonline.com/ares-extinction-agenda-ex-review|archivedate=2013-10-05|accessdate=2023-08-14}}
| rev1 = 411Mania
}}
Extinction Agenda EX received "average" reviews on both platforms according to Metacritic.
{{clear}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://x10interactive.com/ares-ex/}}
- {{moby game|id=/50358/ares-extinction-agenda/}}
- {{moby game|id=/68812/ares-extinction-agenda-ex/|name=A.R.E.S. Extinction Agneda EX}}
{{Portal bar|Video games}}
Category:Science fiction video games
Category:Side-scrolling platformers
Category:Single-player video games
Category:Video games about robots
Category:Video games developed in Thailand
Category:Video games set in outer space
Category:Video games set in the 2090s