What if an Etch-a-Sketch line had deadly enemies to contend with while it tried to draw its fun little squares? That’s the gist of arcade puzzler Qix, originally published by Taito in 1981. I just found out that the title is pronounced like “Kicks” and not “Quicks,” so I’m horribly embarrassed by the fact that I’ve been saying it wrong for years. How many times must I endure the hot sear of shame before I will be granted clemency by the Nintendo gods? How many times?
Sorry, I go down some weird roads while writing these reviews. What were we talking about again?
Oh yeah. Qix.
The goal of Qix is to take as much territory as possible without getting killed. You do this as the aforementioned Etch-a-Sketch line “cuts out” sections of the field to reveal a pattern behind it, which means that territory is yours. But as with most things in life, it’s easier said than done. Weird, abstract enemies such as majestically spinning pixie sticks and little stars are out to cut your merriment short. If they touch you, you’re toast. Die four times, and you’re done line dinner. Luckily, figuring out new strategies and playstyles on the fly is half the fun. There’s technically no ending to work towards, so Qix is all about racking up the highest score you can before you bite the biscuit. Sorry, I’m not sure what’s up with all these unintentional references to food. There’s no food, or anything resembling food in Qix. I’m so hungry.
As far as gameplay goes, this is as solid as they come. It’s easy to understand and plays just right. What’s not to like? Very little. There’s no music outside of the title screen and victory jingles, and the graphics leave something to be desired. Other than black borders and the basic pattern you reveal more of, there’s not much to look at. Though even if it’s lacking in the audio and visual departments, Qix must be approached with extreme caution because this thing is ADDICTING. I sat down thinking I’d give it a twenty minute spin, and before I knew it I blinked and two and a half hours were GONE. If that’s not a testament to how much fun it is, I dunno what is.
Anyway, that’s about all there is to say on Qix. It rules, so if you like puzzlers, check it out!
NESJunk 