Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Agent X delivers a multifaceted gameplay experience that quickly shifts gears—literally and figuratively. The opening driving section challenges players to navigate a diagonally-scrolling highway, ramming enemy vehicles into oncoming hazards while dodging traffic yourself. This portion feels fast-paced and frantic, demanding quick reflexes and careful timing to maintain your vehicle’s integrity and preserve precious energy.

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Once you clear the roadblock gauntlet, the action transitions into shooting galleries that evoke classic arcade tension. Armed with a basic sidearm, you’ll face waves of henchmen and automated turrets set against varied backdrops. The shooting mechanics are straightforward but satisfying, with tight hit detection and a steady difficulty curve that ramps up as you progress through each load segment.

Further into the game, Agent X morphs into a beat ’em up reminiscent of old-school Green Beret brawlers. Here, hand-to-hand combat takes center stage, and you’ll need to juggle punches, kicks, and evasive moves to outlast waves of well-choreographed adversaries. The energy meter, cleverly visualized as your agent’s sprite trudging toward a gravestone, keeps you on edge—one wrong move can send you spiraling toward a game over, making each encounter feel meaningful.

Graphics

For a budget-price release, Agent X’s graphics punch well above their weight class. The diagonal scrolling in the driving sections is surprisingly smooth, with parallax effects that hint at depth and speed. Vehicle sprites are detailed enough to distinguish between cars, trucks, and various hazards, ensuring you can plan your ram attacks with clarity.

Shooting gallery stages adopt a more static, side-on perspective, but the backgrounds are richly textured, featuring metallic corridors, brick walls, and flickering lights that set an ominous tone. Enemy designs vary from basic grunts to more elaborate robotic sentries, keeping the visuals fresh as you blast your way through each stage.

The beat ’em up segments utilize well-animated sprites for both Agent X and his foes. Each punch, kick, and knockdown is conveyed with enough frames to feel weighty, and the energy-depletion graphic featuring the gravestone motif serves as a constant visual reminder of your dwindling life. While the color palette leans toward muted tones, it reinforces the game’s high-stakes, thriller atmosphere.

Story

At its core, Agent X presents a thrilling narrative: a mad professor has kidnapped the President and threatens to turn him into a war-mongering maniac. The premise may sound tongue-in-cheek, but it underpins every level, giving your actions a palpable sense of urgency. From the moment you accept the mission, the game’s world feels alive with conspiracies and high-tech peril.

Narrative beats are delivered through brief interstitial screens between load segments, offering just enough context to propel you forward. Although there’s no deep dialogue tree or branching choices, the straightforward rescue plot keeps the momentum bracingly brisk. You’re always aware of the looming threat: fail, and the President will be lost forever to brainwashing.

What the story lacks in complexity, it compensates for with pure adrenaline. Agent X doesn’t waste time on filler; every level ties back to your objective, whether you’re ramming enemy convoys, gunning down guards in neon-lit corridors, or scrapping your way through underground bunkers. By the final showdown with the professor, you’ll be invested enough to feel the weight of the climax.

Overall Experience

Agent X stands out as a commendable budget-priced action title that refuses to feel cheap. Its multi-section design, though driven by technical memory constraints, actually enhances the pacing, giving each chapter its own distinct flavor and challenge. The quick load times between sections make the segmentation feel intentional rather than clunky.

The balancing act between driving, shooting, and brawling keeps the gameplay nimble, and the unique gravestone-based energy indicator injects a touch of dark humor. While veteran players might find individual sections familiar, the seamless blend of genres provides a fresh twist on retro-action formulas. Casual gamers will appreciate the intuitive controls, and completionists will have fun mastering each segment’s nuances.

In summary, Agent X offers solid value for its price point. With engaging gameplay variations, surprisingly polished graphics, and a straightforward yet effective storyline, it’s an easy recommendation for fans of action-packed, old-school thrills. Whether you’re in it for the high-speed ramming runs or the knockout punch finales, Agent X delivers a rescue mission worth undertaking.

Retro Replay Score

null/10