X-Out: Resurfaced Image
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Mixed or average reviews - based on 6 Critic Reviews What's this?

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  • Summary: You thought they’d come from space? Wrong!
    It’s up to you alone to stop an alien invasion from the depths of the ocean in this legendary, home computer era shoot ‘em up, dredged up and faithfully rebuilt for modern platforms – X-Out: Resurfaced!
    Resurfaced: In 1990, the year of X-Out’s
    You thought they’d come from space? Wrong!
    It’s up to you alone to stop an alien invasion from the depths of the ocean in this legendary, home computer era shoot ‘em up, dredged up and faithfully rebuilt for modern platforms – X-Out: Resurfaced!

    Resurfaced:
    In 1990, the year of X-Out’s initial release on Amiga, it stood out as a breath of fresh seaside air in the stale shoot 'em-up space.

    It didn’t take place in “space” as so many games of its genre did (and still do) but instead went for a dive through underwater worlds.
    But what really pushed it further than its side-scrolling competitors was its shop system, allowing players to mix and match from a wide variety of ships, weapons, and other accessories to build their fleet. This made every playthrough (attempt) feel different and unique.

    In 2024 the highly challenging underwater shoot ‘em up from the game development legends at Rainbow Arts is finally returning.
    ININ and Ziggurat have collaborated to bring you a faithful remake completely rebuilt from the ground up and greatly improved.

    Redrawn:
    The impressive sprite work of yesteryear has not only been remade into even more impressive modern high-resolution sprites but also greatly expanded upon with particle and lighting effects. 8 varied stages, the enemies, the bosses, the ships, the projectiles—everything shines in a brand-new light!

    Remixed:
    Apart from the visual journey of each playthrough, you’ll embark on a musical one as well: epic synth soundscapes that drive you forward by the magnificent Chris Hülsbeck. In addition to him remastering his original works, we have created six entirely new tracks as well.
    Expand
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 6
  2. Negative: 0 out of 6
  1. Feb 20, 2025
    80
    X-Out Resurfaced is a very simple, no frills shooter that provides a moderate to steep challenge for even the toughest players. Its presentation and gameplay doesn’t try to compete with the bigger releases and it really doesn’t have to. It stands on its own as a fun action shooter game that many will find charming. Don’t expect a mind-blowing story, quirky characters or any wild plot twists with this one, but do expect a fun and challenging ride that will stay with you for a while.
  2. Apr 8, 2025
    75
    X-Out: Resurfaced is a great game in its own right, but considering that many players may not know its origins, the chance to include the original title was something that could not be missed. However, the idea of bringing in the original composer to create modern versions of his work and modernize the visuals without disrespecting his original characterization gives a retro charm to this remake that may have a certain appeal with fans of the genre.
  3. Feb 25, 2025
    70
    X-Out: Resurfaced is a pretty straightforward remake of an excellent 90s shoot-em-up set in the depths of the ocean. The enhanced visuals of the deep sea stages look vibrant and faithful, though a classic graphic toggle would've been nice. A new mirror mode, some added cheats, and a preconfigured submarine loadout screen are nice additions and all, but the lack of save options or online co-op is a missed opportunity. Still, what's here is solid stuff, especially if you like a well-earned challenge. This is a strong recommendation for fans of the game or shoot-em-up enthusiasts, but the $20 price tag might be too much to swallow for others.
  4. 60
    A solid remaster of an Amiga-era shoot 'em up. We're here for the nostalgia but the game does feel a bit limited and might not appeal to newer shoot 'em up fans.
  5. Feb 22, 2025
    60
    X-Out: Resurfaced is one of the easiest shoot 'em ups that I've ever played but its ship customisation is so fun that it's still a solid game.
  6. May 17, 2025
    60
    X-Out: Resurfaced comes close to hitting the mark but doesn't quite make it. It stays true to its era and is overall a solid shooter, offering a refreshing experience that stands out both in gameplay and audiovisual presentation. However, its punishing difficulty level inevitably pushes less experienced players away, making it hard to recommend without reservations — except to fans of the original game and the most dedicated bullet-dodgers. That said, if you're feeling lucky and looking for new challenges in the realm of 2D shooters, feel free to add an extra star to the score. Once you master X-Out’s intricacies, it rewards you handsomely. Now, we can only hope that its sequel also makes its way to modern platforms for everyone to experience.