X-Squad

 PlayStation 2
Metascore
64

Mixed or average reviews - based on 18 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 18
  3. Negative: 3 out of 18
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  1. Hot Games
    90
    Probably one of the top five PS2 launch titles in both graphics and gameplay, X Squad shouldn't be passed up.
  2. GamePro
    80
    Even though it doesn't push the envelope, X Squad is a unique and very entertaining ride.
  3. Maxim Online
    80
    Two guns up.
  5. Happy Puppy
    75
    This is a tremendous one-player shooter with a level of intensity and suspense that reminds me of when super-graphic gaming was a brand-new thing.
  6. Electric Playground
    75
    A video game that should have been percolated a bit longer.
  7. Games Radar
    75
    Progression through the levels is expectedly linear but it also tends to be the same open-door-with-switch-call-lift-fight-end-of-level-boss structure. The formula never alters - no puzzles, no significant alternate routes, no variety.
    All this publication's reviews
  8. IGN
    68
    As good as is it did get, there was never a point in the game where I really felt that I was playing an A-quality title that I would want to own as part of my PlayStation 2 software library.
  9. CNET Gamecenter
    60
    Although X Squad is fraught with many ups and downs, it's still a refreshing foray into tactical territory usually reserved for the PC world.
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  10. Da Gameboyz
    60
    On the bad side, we have shallow gameplay, unbalanced game elements (even when squad members are killed, they just pop back up later when the storyline needs them), and boring level design.
    All this publication's reviews
  11. TotalGames.net
    59
    That’s not to say X-Squad is hopelessly flawed – if taken as more of a no-brainer than intended, it provides a serviceable blast, and the well-spaced restart points do dampen the almost random battle outcomes fairly well.
    All this publication's reviews
  12. GameSpot
    53
    If it weren't for the overly touchy control and the game's overall lack of difficulty and length, X-Squad could have been a contender.
  13. PSX Nation
    50
    Rent it, beat it, forget it ever existed and start drooling over the upcoming "Winback" remake.
  14. Daily Radar
    50
    X Squad was to be the first squad-based game on PS2, but its AI is so bad that it really becomes a basic third-person action title with only some nice effects and a huge weapons cache to show for it.
    All this publication's reviews
  15. All Game Guide
    50
    As it stands, it is an average action game that is bettered by a number of original PlayStation titles, which is unacceptable.
  16. GamerWeb Sony
    50
    Try it out if you must, but don't blame me if you PS2 ends up flying out your bedroom window. Mine almost did.
  17. Game Revolution
    42
    Too typical and boring. Moving from level to level cutting down waves of baddies isn't really what we need on the PS2.
  18. Gaming Age
    42
    Actually a decent squad-based action title that's not quite in the column of worth purchasing, but gamers looking for some mindless action with a few annoying problems will find X-Squad to be a weekend rental diversion.
  19. GamePen
    40
    It's merely a re-run of countless action games that have come before it: a futuristic setting with lots of weapons, shooting, and running around... but not much after that.

Awards & Rankings

34
#34 Best PS2 Game of 2000
29
#29 Most Discussed PS2 Game of 2000
26
#26 Most Shared PS2 Game of 2000

User Reviews

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User Score
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No user score yet- Awaiting 1 more rating

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 3
  3. Negative: 2 out of 3
  1. Canadyan
    May 28, 2018
    5
    X Squad is average in every sense of the word. It’s not terrible and it’s not great.

    It’s a third-person shooter for the Playstation 2 that    X Squad is average in every sense of the word. It’s not terrible and it’s not great.

    It’s a third-person shooter for the Playstation 2 that puts the player in control of a squad of four operators. You can issue commands to the other three members when they are present in the missions, though it’s surprisingly rare to have all four with you at once in the game. I never found a need to even bother giving them commands, especially in the later levels where they were incapacitated within the first few gun battles and I couldn’t use them anymore. Essentially you’re playing the game by yourself and sometimes if the AI Squad is around, they may shoot a few enemies for minimal damage.

    The level designs are very repetitive in the missions, all of them boiling down to following some corridors, gun fight in large room, find switches to open doors, repeat until you reach the boss.

    The story is extremely simple, borderlining on being unfinished. The cutscenes between the missions sometimes just sound like voice actors reading lines that could have been placed anywhere in the game and have no connection to what is actually going on. It’s all just a means to connect the levels together.

    There is also a corner-peeking mechanic where you can lean out to shoot enemies, however, this quickly becomes useless because the more dangerous enemies carry grenade launchers and rockets which detonate when hitting the corner, resulting in damaging your character as well. I found it much easier to actually just run-and-gun and strafe into rooms holding the trigger down.

    All this being said, it’s not a bad game at all. It’s actually a competent shooter with some unique mechanics (for its time, it was a PS2 launch title) in place to earn points in the missions and buy new weapons and gear between them, giving you a sense of accomplishment and choice. The game isn’t terribly long, clocking in around 4-5 hours but this is actually for the better, since as mentioned above, the levels aren’t very unique from each other and the length feels right in terms of not fatiguing the player with repetition.

    The game can be difficult at certain points and feel a bit cheap when you turn corners to immediately get hit by rocket launchers but there is a decent Checkpoint system that doesn’t force to much backtracking and the enemies are very generous with ammo drops after being killed.

    All in all, X Squad is a serviceable Playstation 2 game. It will likely be hard to try and play at this point if you’ve never spent any real time with a Playstation 2 and that era of gaming but for those who are looking to explore the catalogue of games and don’t mind the dated graphics, difficulty spikes and bland story, it’s worth a nostalgic visit.    … Full Review »
  2. SnellyAcE
    Jun 1, 2003
    3
    Um, this game is crap. Although i like the idea of enabling to control your sqaud group and tell them what to do, this game is useless. Crap Um, this game is crap. Although i like the idea of enabling to control your sqaud group and tell them what to do, this game is useless. Crap controls, crap graphics, crap guns, CRAP GAME.… Full Review »
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