A new arcade-style first-person-shooter has just launched on Xbox Live Arcade, but it’s not the type of FPS most gamers might expect to see during the mad rush of holiday releases. Called Xotic, the game has players build their scores by maintaining a chain reaction of points and power-ups. Xotic costs 800 Microsoft Points, mimicking the $9.99 price of the Windows PC version that’s been available since September.
Xotic is a vibrant arcade-style FPS with unique chain-reaction gameplay and point multiplier mechanics that come together in a sort of hybrid style. In the game, players explore a unique bio-diverse environment while aiming to rack up millions of points. Like a great arcade shmup or racing game, each level offers plenty of opportunity to improve your score with every playthrough.
Players can compare their shooter skills to their friends’ list on the leaderboard. Rack up chain combos by shooting targets like the life-choking Scab plants around each level, picking up Orb Essence, and, of course blasting enemies. Balancing all of these elements while attaining the best time in each level is the key to becoming the top scorer. In their quest to become number one, players also earn experience points they can use to upgrade skills and weapons and to pick up power-ups around each level.
Xotic also has RPG elements, as players earn XP as they play and use it to upgrade skills and weapons.