Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Xonox Double Ender’s most striking feature is its reversible cartridge design, offering two very different experiences in one package. On one end you have Artillery Duel, a head-to-head artillery game where you and an opponent adjust elevation, power and account for wind to obliterate each other’s position. Flip the cartridge around and you’re playing Spike’s Peak, a single-player vertical challenge that tasks you with scaling a treacherous mountain filled with hazards.

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Artillery Duel is a classic two-player strategy romp. Each turn you input an angle and a power setting, watching the shell arc across the screen. The destructible terrain adds a satisfying strategic layer—altering the landscape can expose your enemy or leave yourself vulnerable. Simple switches between wind strengths keep every match fresh, and the predictable physics let you master shots over time.

Spike’s Peak shifts gears completely: instead of calculating ballistic arcs you’ll focus on timing and precision. Your climber must avoid rolling boulders, snapping spikes, and roaming creatures as you hop between ledges and ladders. The pace picks up as you ascend, with new obstacles introduced at regular intervals. The one-life-per-level design raises the stakes, encouraging careful planning and deliberate jumps.

Graphics

Artillery Duel employs minimalist visuals that punch above their weight. Terrain is rendered as monochrome hills with simple slope shading, while the two cannons are distinct and easy to track. Explosions are represented by a burst of pixels that briefly light up the screen—enough to be satisfying without overstaying their welcome. The uncluttered display keeps the focus on calculating your next shot rather than admiring flashy effects.

Spike’s Peak presents a more colorful but equally modest presentation. The background features a scrolling mountain panorama in pastel tones, and the climber sprite is small but clearly animated. Spikes, boulders and creatures each have unique shapes and colors, making them easily identifiable at a distance. Parallax scrolling is non-existent, but the layering of platforms against the backdrop creates a convincing sense of height.

Both games run smoothly, with responsive controls and steady frame rates even in more hectic moments. There’s a charming consistency between the two titles: they both embrace the limitations of early 8-bit hardware by prioritizing clarity and playability over ornate detail. For collectors, the double-ender cartridge itself is a graphical talking point—a physical embodiment of the era’s inventive packaging.

Story

Neither Artillery Duel nor Spike’s Peak focuses heavily on narrative, but each sets up just enough context to frame the action. In Artillery Duel, you’re cast as one of two military commanders engaged in a standoff. The story emerges organically through gameplay—each missed shot and changing terrain tells a small tale of battle and revenge.

Spike’s Peak offers a bare-bones premise: you’re an intrepid climber aiming to conquer a deadly mountain. Between levels you might see a brief screen reminding you of your goal—to reach the summit and claim the prize—but there’s no deep backstory or dialogue. The tension comes from the climb itself, and the sparse storytelling leaves room for you to imagine why this mountain matters.

For players seeking sprawling plots, this compilation may feel light on lore. However, in a retro context, the minimalist approach is part of the charm. These games invite you to supply your own narrative—whether it’s picturing rival generals trading barbs in artillery or imagining the lost treasure at Spike’s Peak’s summit.

Overall Experience

Xonox Double Ender: Artillery Duel and Spike’s Peak is more than just two cartridges in one; it’s a nostalgic time capsule of early console innovation. The double-ended design remains a conversation starter, while each title delivers clean, focused gameplay. Switching between the turn-based artillery tension of Artillery Duel and the reflex-driven climb of Spike’s Peak feels refreshing even decades later.

Value-wise, you get two distinct genres for the price of one. Artillery Duel shines in couch competition, offering quick matches that hinge on skill and strategy. Spike’s Peak stands alone as a challenging single-player quest, testing your patience and precision. Both games are easy to pick up but difficult to fully master, lending them strong replay appeal.

While modern gamers may find the graphics and sound simplistic, these titles hold enduring charm for collectors and retro enthusiasts. The novelty of inserting the cartridge from one end or the other, combined with the solid core mechanics, makes this compilation a worthwhile addition to any classic console library. Whether you’re settling in for a duel or reaching for the summit, Xonox Double Ender delivers two bite-sized experiences that continue to entertain.

Retro Replay Score

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