Xeno Crisis

Xeno Crisis is a 2019 multidirectional shooter video game developed and published by Bitmap Bureau. It is well known for its homebrew releases on a plethora of retro consoles, in addition to official releases on personal computers and current home consoles. The premise takes place in Outpost 88, a scientific research facility overrun by aliens. The facility sent a distress signal, leading Commander Darius dispatching space marines John Marsh and Sarah Ridley to confront the aliens. Gameplay revolves around players defeating enemies, rescuing survivors, collecting in-game currency for upgrades, and facing against bosses. Critical reception for Xeno Crisis has varied depending on the version; the Mega Drive/Genesis release garnered generally favorable reviews, while the Switch port received average reviews. Praise was given to its graphical presentation, soundtrack, arcade-style gameplay, controls, and cooperative multiplayer, but some reviewers felt mixed regarding the bosses and certain design decisions. Criticism was geared towards its difficulty, short length, and issues when playing with the Mega Drive's three-button controller.