X-Squad
{{Short description|2000 video game}}
{{More citations needed|date=May 2012}}
{{Infobox video game
|title = X-Squad
|image = X-Squad Coverart.png
|caption = North American PlayStation 2 cover art
|developer = Electronic Arts Square
|publisher = {{vgrelease|JP|Electronic Arts Square|NA/EU|Electronic Arts{{efn|Under EA Games label}}}}
|released = {{vgrelease|JP|August 3, 2000|NA|October 26, 2000|EU|December 8, 2000}}
|genre = Action, Third-person shooter
|modes = Single-player
|platforms = PlayStation 2
}}
X-Squad, known in Japan as {{nihongo|X-Fire/Crossfire|XFIRE ~クロスファイア~|XFIRE ~Kurosufaia~}}, is a PlayStation 2 launch title developed and published by Electronic Arts Square under the EA Games label.{{cite web|url=https://www.japan.ea.com/xfire/feature.html|script-title=ja:X-Fire|language=ja|publisher=Electronic Arts Square|access-date=April 21, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001002013700/http://www.japan.ea.com/xfire/feature.html|archive-date=October 2, 2000|url-status=dead}} It was released on August 3, 2000 in Japan, October 26 in the U.S. and on December 8 in Europe.
History
X-Squad served as the launch title for the Playstation 2 in North America when it was released on October 26, 2000 with 29 games.https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/10/28/the-ps2-launch-titles
Plot
Set in 2037, W-Squad has been defeated, Doctor Bianca Noble has been kidnapped and her experiment Project Medusa has been stolen. Ash, the leader of X-Squad, along with teammates Maya, Melinda and Judd, is deployed to rescue Dr. Noble and take down her kidnappers.
Gameplay
File:X-Squad screenshot command prompt.jpg
X-Squad takes the form of a third person shooter, with the two analog sticks moving the character and camera respectively. In the game the player leads a group of up to three soldiers through nine levels, giving them commands to perform helpful actions.{{cite web |last=Ahmed |first=Shahed |date=August 23, 2000 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/qanda-x-squad/1100-2618853/ |title=Q&A: X-Squad |website=GameSpot |publisher=Fandom |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010207170940/http://www.zdnet.com/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2618853,00.html |archive-date=February 7, 2001 |url-status=live |access-date=October 27, 2023}} The player can also use the R1 and L1 buttons strafe.{{cite web |last=Stahl |first=Ben |date=May 18, 2000 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/x-squad-hands-on/1100-2569348/ |title=X-Squad Hands On |website=GameSpot |publisher=Fandom |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220603230851/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/x-squad-hands-on/1100-2569348/ |archive-date=June 3, 2022 |url-status=live |access-date=October 27, 2023}}
Development
EA partnered with Animation Science Corp. for developing the game's 3D animation.https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/10/08/crossfire-supported-by-animation-science An early preview reported the game used 30 fps with a huge amount of motion capture sequences.https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/08/09/import-review-x-fire
The game was formerly known as X-Shooterhttps://www.ign.com/articles/1999/09/10/now-playing-in-japan-vol-3 prior to being known as X-Fire.https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/09/17/tgs-1999-square-shows-rpgs-instead-of-ps2-product X-Squad was first shown in Japan in 1999 during the TGS convention.https://pc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/article/990917/game01.htm EA showcased the game in the E3 2000 convention.https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/05/05/pre-e3-2000-eas-surprise-lineup
According to an interview with Mike Jeffress at Electronic Arts, the changes made for the non-Japanese version include English voiceovers, AI improvement, and changes to the story's plot to suit North American audiences.https://www.gamespot.com/articles/qanda-x-squad/1100-2618853/ He mentioned that plans were considered to add multiplayer, but it was later discarded due to time constraints and feedback that most players didn't want to fight each other in the game.
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| MC = 64/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/x-squad/ |title=X-Squad |website=Metacritic |publisher=Fandom |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231027222306/https://www.metacritic.com/game/x-squad/ |archive-date=October 27, 2023 |url-status=live |access-date=October 27, 2023}}
| Allgame = {{Rating|2.5|5}}{{cite web |last=Thompson |first=Jon |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=25246&tab=review |title=X Squad - Review |website=AllGame |publisher=All Media Network |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141116202326/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=25246&tab=review |archive-date=November 16, 2014 |access-date=March 28, 2020}}
| CNG = 6/10{{cite web |last=Steinberg |first=Scott |date=December 13, 2000 |url=http://www.gamecenter.com/Ps2/Reviews/Xsquad/ |title=X Squad [sic] |website=Gamecenter |publisher=CNET |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010124071900/http://www.gamecenter.com/Ps2/Reviews/Xsquad/ |archive-date=January 24, 2001 |access-date=December 31, 2021}}
| Edge = 6/10{{cite magazine |author=Edge staff |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/c/cd/Edge_UK_090.pdf |title=X-Fire |magazine=Edge |publisher=Future Publishing |issue=90 |date=November 2000 |pages=88–89 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230719112547/https://retrocdn.net/images/c/cd/Edge_UK_090.pdf |archive-date=July 19, 2023 |url-status=live |access-date=October 27, 2023}}
| EGM = 6.67/10{{cite magazine |last1=Kujawa |first1=Kraig |last2=Mielke |first2=James "Milkman" |last3=Lockhart |first3=Ryan |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/6/62/EGM_US_137.pdf |title=X-Squad |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |publisher=Ziff Davis |issue=137 |date=December 2000 |page=236 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220926162507/https://retrocdn.net/images/6/62/EGM_US_137.pdf |archive-date=September 26, 2022 |url-status=live |access-date=October 27, 2023}}{{efn|Three critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the game each a score of 6.5/10, 7.5/10, and 6/10.}}
| EPD = 7.5/10{{cite web |last=Carroll |first=Tom |date=January 22, 2001 |url=http://www.elecplay.com/review.html?article=5103&full=1 |title=X-Squad |website=The Electric Playground |publisher=Greedy Productions Ltd. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030304153543/http://www.elecplay.com/review.html?article=5103&full=1 |archive-date=March 4, 2003 |access-date=October 27, 2023}}
| Fam = 30/40{{cite magazine |url=https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=9358&redirect=no |title=プレイステーション2 - XFIRE ~クロスファイア~ |language=ja |magazine=Famitsu |publisher=Enterbrain |volume=915 |date=June 30, 2006 |page=86 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231027230147/https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=9358&redirect=no |archive-date=October 27, 2023 |url-status=live |access-date=October 27, 2023}}
| GI = 7.5/10{{cite magazine |last=Helgeson |first=Matt |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200011/R03.0806.1634.43316.htm |title=X-Squad |magazine=Game Informer |publisher=FuncoLand |issue=91 |date=November 2000 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031118083536/https://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200011/R03.0806.1634.43316.htm |archive-date=November 18, 2003 |url-status=dead |access-date=March 28, 2020}}
| GameFan = (J.W.) 80%{{cite magazine |last=Weitzner |first=Jason "Fury" |url=https://archive.org/details/Gamefan_Vol_8_Issue_11/page/n95/mode/2up |title=X-Squad |magazine=GameFan |publisher=BPA International |volume=8 |issue=11 |date=November 2000 |page=92 |access-date=September 10, 2020}}
75%{{cite magazine |last1=Mylonas |first1=Eric "ECM" |last2=Van Stone |first2=Matt "Kodomo" |last3=Ngo |first3=George "Eggo" |url=https://archive.org/details/Gamefan_Vol_8_Issue_11/page/n23/mode/2up |title=X-Squad |magazine=GameFan |publisher=BPA International |volume=8 |issue=11 |date=November 2000 |page=23 |access-date=September 10, 2020}}{{efn|In GameFan{{'}}s viewpoint of the game, three critics gave it each a score of 65, 82, and 77.}}
| GameRev = C−{{cite web |last=Liu |first=Johnny |date=November 2000 |url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/33544-x-squad-review |title=X-Squad Review |website=GameRevolution |publisher=CraveOnline |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150912225214/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/x-squad |archive-date=September 12, 2015 |url-status=live |access-date=March 28, 2020}}
| IGN = 6.8/10{{cite web |last=Zdyrko |first=David |date=October 24, 2000 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/10/25/x-squad |title=X-Squad |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221028200926/https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/10/25/x-squad |archive-date=October 28, 2022 |url-status=live |access-date=October 27, 2023}}
| NGen = {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite magazine |last=Nelson |first=Randy |url=https://archive.org/details/NextGen72Dec2000/page/n103/mode/2up |title=X Squad [sic] |magazine=NextGen |publisher=Imagine Media |issue=72 |date=December 2000 |page=102 |access-date=April 1, 2020}}
| OPM = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite magazine |last=Rybicki |first=Joe |url=https://archive.org/details/official-u.-s.-playstation-magazine-issue-38-november-2000/page/158/mode/2up |title=X Squad [sic] |magazine=Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine |publisher=Ziff Davis |issue=38 |date=November 2000 |page=159 |access-date=October 27, 2023}}
| rev1 = Maxim
| rev1Score = 8/10{{cite web |last=Fryman |first=Avi |date=October 26, 2000 |url=http://www.maximonline.com/articles/review_videogames.asp?videogame_id=748 |title=X Squad [sic] |website=Maxim |publisher=MaximNet, Inc. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010626150059/http://www.maximonline.com/articles/review_videogames.asp?videogame_id=748 |archive-date=June 26, 2001 |access-date=March 28, 2020}}
}}
The game received "mixed" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. Randy Nelson of NextGen called it "A concept game that unfortunately doesn't even get its concept right." In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of 30 out of 40.
In one review, Human Tornado of GamePro called it "a great game for the action gamer who longs for a little more to chew on. The graphics are fast and nimble, and the action can be very challenging especially on the higher difficulty level. Even though it doesn't push the envelope, X Squad{{sic}} is a unique and very entertaining ride."{{cite magazine |author=Human Tornado |date=October 19, 2000 |url=http://www.gamepro.com/sony/ps2/games/reviews/7064.shtml |title=X Squad [sic] Review for PS2 on GamePro.com |magazine=GamePro |publisher=IDG |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050212140902/http://www.gamepro.com/sony/ps2/games/reviews/7064.shtml |archive-date=February 12, 2005 |access-date=March 28, 2020}}{{efn|GamePro gave the game two 3.5/5 scores for graphics and sound, 4.5/5 for control, and 4/5 for fun factor in one review.}} In another GamePro review, Jake The Snake said, "If you can't get enough of third-person shooters, X Squad{{sic}} gives you plenty of trigger time, but nothing especially innovative or new."{{cite magazine |author=Jake The Snake |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/3/36/GamePro_US_146.pdf |title=X Squad [sic] |magazine=GamePro |publisher=IDG |issue=146 |date=November 2000 |page=120 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230717185751/https://retrocdn.net/images/3/36/GamePro_US_146.pdf |archive-date=July 17, 2023 |url-status=live |access-date=October 27, 2023}}{{efn|GamePro gave the game two 4/5 scores for graphics and control, and two 3.5/5 scores for sound and fun factor in another review.}}
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Notes
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References
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