Darxide

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Darxide Title.png

Darxide
System(s): Sega 32X
Publisher: Sega
Developer:
Peripherals supported: Six Button Control Pad
Genre: Simulation

















Number of players: 1
Official in-game languages:
  • English
  • Deutsch
  • Français
  • Español
  • Release Date RRP Code
    Sega 32X
    EU
    84580-50
    ELSPA: 3+ OK
    Sega 32X
    UK
    £44.9944.99[3][4] 84580-50
    ELSPA: 3+ OK

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    Darxide is a Sega 32X shoot-'em-up game developed by Frontier Developments and published by Sega in early 1996. It is notable for being one of two 32X games only to be released in Europe, and the only one which is region locked.

    Darxide was developed with the canceled Sega Neptune, a Sega Mega Drive/Sega 32X hybrid console in mind (with the aim of becoming a launch title), but delays in production and the subsequent halting of the Neptune project meant it premiered as one of the last 32X games in Europe (with North America seeing their last game, Spider-Man: Web of Fire in early 1996). Darxide was once set for release in North America but the plans fell through for unknown reasons.

    Gameplay

    The game is a 3D shooter, similar to Asteroids but with an extra dimension. The player's task is to eliminate all asteroids and alien ships within a certain time limit, and is said to be extremely difficult as a result. It is one of the few 32X games to make use of textured polygons and basic lighting, setting it aside from most other 32X games which stuck with two dimensions. The entire game is in fact rendered by the 32X hardware, unlike most other 32X titles which share responsibilities with the Mega Drive components.

    During gameplay, Darxide usually runs between 10FPS and 20FPS, depending on how active the screen is at any one time. However, the game can drop to single digit frame rates when presented with polygons being rendered close to the camera. All textured polygons are handled in software, and as no perspective correction is used, textures "warp" when viewed from oblique angles (something more commonly seen on the original PlayStation).

    History

    Legacy

    Despite receiving mixed reviews from the press at the time, in recent years Darxide has become one of the rarest (or at least, most sought-after) 32X games, with copies being known to sell for $700-$1000 USD second-hand. Frontier released a sequel (or partial remake), Darxide EMP for Pocket PCs and the Nokia Series 60 in 2003/2004.

    Production credits

    • Designed by: Peter Irvin, David Braben
    • Programmed by: Peter Irvin
    • Assisted by: Chris Mullender
    • Produced by: Duncan Kershaw
    • Music and Sound Effects by: Adam Salkeld
    • 3D Shapes by: Aggy Finn
    • 2D Graphics by: Aggy Finn, Chris Mullender, Reece Millidge
    • Additional Thanks to: James Dixon, Jonathan Roach

    Source:
    Official gameographies[5]


    Magazine articles

    Main article: Darxide/Magazine articles.

    Artwork

    Physical scans

    Sega Retro Average 
    Publication Score Source
    51 №39, p58/59
    Sega 32X
    51
    Based on
    1 review
    Sega Retro Average 
    Publication Version Score
    (ES) PAL
    87
    [6]
    (DE) PAL
    36
    [7]
    (DE) PAL
    63
    [8]
    (UK) PAL
    79
    [1]
    (DE) PAL
    82
    [9]
    (CZ) PAL
    80
    [10]
    (UK) PAL
    59
    [4]
    (UK) PAL
    85
    [3]
    (DE) PAL
    72
    [11]
    Sega 32X
    71
    Based on
    9 reviews

    Darxide

    32X, EU
    Darxide 32X EU Box.jpg
    Cover
    Darxide 32X EU cart.jpg
    Cart
    Darxide 32X EU Manual.jpg
    Manual

    Technical information

    Main article: Darxide/Technical information.

    References


    Darxide

    Darxide Title.png

    Main page | Magazine articles | Reception | Region coding | Technical information


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