Insector X
{{short description|1989 video game}}
{{More citations needed|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox video game
|title = Insector X
|image = InsectorXBoxShotGenesis.jpg
|developer = Hot-B
|publisher = {{vgrelease|WW|Taito}}{{vgrelease|JP|Hot-B (MD)}}{{vgrelease|JP|Taito (Famicom)}}{{vgrelease|NA|Sage's Creation (Genesis)}}
|composer =
|designer =
|engine =
|released = Arcade{{vgrelease|JP|August 1989{{cite book |last1=Akagi |first1=Masumi |title=アーケードTVゲームリスト国内•海外編(1971-2005) |trans-title=Arcade TV Game List: Domestic • Overseas Edition (1971-2005) |date=October 13, 2006 |publisher=Amusement News Agency |language=ja |location=Japan |isbn=978-4990251215 |pages=42|url=https://archive.org/details/ArcadeGameList1971-2005/page/n43/mode/2up?view=theater}}|NA|1989}}Mega Drive{{vgrelease|JP|September 7, 1990{{cite web |title=Software List (Software Licensee Release) |url=https://www.sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software_l.html |website=Sega Hard Encyclopedia |publisher=Sega Corporation |access-date=May 15, 2023 |language=ja}}|NA|October 1990{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/Electronic_Gaming_Monthly_15/page/n73/mode/1up|title=Fact File: Insector X|magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly|issue=15|date=October 1990|page=74|accessdate=January 10, 2022}}}}Famicom{{vgrelease|JP|September 20, 1990}}
|genre = Scrolling shooter
|modes = Single-player
|platforms = Arcade, Mega Drive, Famicom
}}
{{nihongo|Insector X|インセクターX|Insekuta X}} is a horizontally scrolling shooter developed by Hot-B and released in arcades by Taito in 1989. It was ported to the Mega Drive and Famicom.
Gameplay
The player controls an insect-sized warrior named "Kai" (named "Yanmer" in the arcade version), who takes on a vast army of cyborg insects to free the insect world from the dark ruler queen. The game uses two buttons: one for an upgradable main shot, and another for a seemingly random selection of secondary weapons.
Release
File:Insector X Comparisons.png
Hot-B converted Insector-X to the Famicom for Taito with minor changes, as well as their own revised version for the Sega Mega Drive. The original arcade version is included in Taito Legends 2.
The Mega Drive version has a number of differences: "realistic" sprite work (compared to the "cute" style of the original), brand new music, a reworking of the secondary weapon system, the removal of the autofire powerup, and new stage sections, among other things. Hot-B's original design for the game was better realized on the Mega Drive, as Taito requested a more comical style of game for the original release.{{cite magazine|title=『オーバーホライゾン』開発者: 佐武義訓氏|magazine=Shooting Gameside|volume=5|publisher=Micro Magazine|date=31 May 2012|pages=94–96|lang=ja|ISBN=978-4896373899}} ([http://shmuplations.com/yoshinorisatake/ Translation] by Shmuplations. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191012120706/http://shmuplations.com/yoshinorisatake/|date=2019-10-12}}). It was published in Japan by Hot-B themselves, and in North America by Sage's Creation.
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| rev1 = Console XS
| rev1Score = 94% (SMD){{Cite journal |date=June 1992 |title=A-Z Software |url=https://archive.org/details/console-xs-01/page/130/mode/2up |journal=Console XS |issue=1 |pages=131 |access-date=April 1, 2022}}
| rev2 = Megatech
| rev2Score = 74% (SMD){{Cite journal |date=December 1991 |title=Game index |url=https://archive.org/details/UneditedUK_marktrade/MegaTech_01/page/n77/mode/2up |journal=MegaTech |issue=1 |pages=78 |access-date=April 1, 2022}}
| rev3 = Raze
}}
In Japan, Game Machine listed Insector X on their October 15, 1989 issue as being the twenty-fourth most-successful table arcade unit of the month.{{cite magazine|title=Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - テーブル型TVゲーム機 (Table Videos)|magazine=Game Machine|issue=366|publisher=Amusement Press, Inc.|date=15 October 1989|page=25|lang=ja}} Console XS gave an overall score of 94%, praising the graphics and sound and called the game a superb shoot-'em-up.{{Cite journal |date=June 1992 |title=A-Z Software |url=https://archive.org/details/console-xs-01/page/130/mode/2up |journal=Console XS |issue=1 |pages=131 |access-date=April 1, 2022}} MegaTech gave an overall review score of 74%, commending its graphics and sound, but they felt that the game's action offers very little in original features and said there are better shoot-em-ups then Insector X.{{Cite journal |date=December 1991 |title=Game index |url=https://archive.org/details/UneditedUK_marktrade/MegaTech_01/page/n77/mode/2up |journal=MegaTech |issue=1 |pages=78 |access-date=April 1, 2022}} Raze magazine gave a score of 80%, praising the detailed backgrounds and the well animated and intricately drawn characters, and also commended the game's music and sound effects.{{Cite journal |date=December 1990 |title=Insector X |url=https://archive.org/details/RAZE_Issue_02_1990-12_Newsfield_Publishing_GB/page/n37/mode/2up |journal=Raze |issue=2 |pages=38 |access-date=December 24, 2022}}
References
{{Reflist}}