Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Part of the Arcade Gears series, this compilation features two old Irem scrollers: ImageFight and X Multiply. From the opening seconds, ImageFight’s precise, weighty controls demand respect—your ship moves with deliberate inertia, forcing you to anticipate enemy waves and environmental hazards well in advance. By contrast, X Multiply leans into rapid vertical motion, with your bio-mechanical craft darting through twisting tunnels and defending against alien organisms that burst from the scenery.

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Both titles share a familiar shoot-’em-up formula—upgradeable weapons, limited smart bombs, and one-hit deaths—but they each add unique wrinkles. In ImageFight, collecting power pods gradually expands your armament, rewarding careful targeting and survival under relentless pressure. X Multiply introduces a detachable drone that can be slung forward or retracted to adapt to tight corridors, giving you a strategic tool for crowd control and environmental puzzles.

The difficulty curve is unapologetically steep, replicating that arcade quarter-eater ethos. Enemies swarm in carefully choreographed formations, and boss encounters demand split-second decisions. Beginners may struggle initially, but the sense of accomplishment when you master a complex pattern or eke out an extra life is exceptionally satisfying. Both games encourage repeated attempts, with hidden routes and weapon combinations waiting to be discovered by dedicated players.

Graphics

Despite their 1980s pedigree, the pixel art in ImageFight and X Multiply remains a highlight. In ImageFight, stark starfields and neon-tinged spacecraft convey an urgent, high-velocity spacelane aesthetic. Enemy sprites are crisp and distinct, making it easier to track small missiles or incoming projectiles even amid screen-shaking explosions. The color palette, while limited, is used effectively to differentiate between hazards and power-up items.

X Multiply takes a different approach, leaning into organic, biomechanical visuals. Hallway walls pulse with veins and alien growths, creating an unsettling, living environment. The contrast between sleek player sprites and grotesque background elements heightens the tension. Animations are surprisingly fluid for their era, especially the transformations as your ship upgrades or when environmental hazards erupt into life.

The Arcade Gears port itself is faithful to the original hardware, with crisp scaling options and near-flawless input response. On modern displays, you can choose between sharp pixel mode or a gentle CRT filter that evokes the original arcade cabinet experience. Occasional frame-drops are minimal and rarely impact gameplay, preserving the visual identity that fans of classic Irem shooters will appreciate.

Story

Both ImageFight and X Multiply keep narrative exposition to a minimum, focusing instead on delivering pure arcade action. In ImageFight, the premise is simple: pilot an experimental fighter craft to stop the hostile Ptolemy war machine before it overcomes Earth’s defenses. That barebones setup serves only as backdrop for the relentless waves of alien invaders you’ll face on each level.

X Multiply offers a slightly more vivid scenario. Humanity’s space colony vessel collides with a mysterious lifeform, mutating the ship’s corridors into living passageways. You take control of a bio-mech probe designed to extricate crew members and neutralize the organism from within. Though the story unfolds mostly through sparse text interludes, it provides enough context to fuel the game’s eerie, claustrophobic atmosphere.

While neither title offers deep character development or branching narratives, the storytelling is effective for its genre and era. Brief cut-scenes and status readouts between stages reinforce your mission objectives without interrupting the flow of action. For fans of arcade shoot-’em-ups, the lean storytelling keeps the focus where it belongs: on skill-driven gameplay and high-score mastery.

Overall Experience

Image Fight & X Multiply represents a compelling package for aficionados of classic side-scroll shooters. The compilation nails the balance between arcade authenticity and modern presentation, with customizable display filters, save-state support, and optional rewind features to ease the punishing difficulty curve. This blend of old-school challenge and contemporary convenience makes it accessible to newcomers while satisfying series veterans.

Controls feel taut and responsive on both keyboard and controller, preserving the precision required to navigate bullet barrages and environmental hazards. Leaderboard integration and local high-score tables add a competitive edge, inviting players to climb the ranks or challenge friends to see who can endure the longest or rack up the most points.

Ultimately, this collection is best suited for players seeking a hardcore retro shoot-’em-up experience. If you crave relentless action, razor-sharp controls, and pixel-perfect nostalgia, Image Fight & X Multiply delivers in spades. Even if the story is minimal and the learning curve steep, the undeniable thrill of conquering each stage and uncovering hidden secrets ensures a rewarding playthrough that’s well worth the investment.

Retro Replay Score

null/10