Search for… ‘X-Orbtek II’

Search for… is a series which champions hidden gems you may not be aware of.

Search for… is a series which champions hidden gems you may not be aware of. Regardless of platform, age, or popularity, if an indie game is worth digging for we’ll feature it. You can find previous entries here.

Game: X-Orbtek II Developer: Oxygen Addict Platform: PC, Xbox 360 Price: Free (PC) / $1.00 (Xbox 360)

X-Orbtek II is one of those games I’ve been meaning to write about for a while, but just haven’t had the chance. When you write about games regularly, there are often very worthy and interesting titles that sadly get lost in the storm — slapped on the bottom of a lengthy to-do list with the best intentions, but ultimately neglected. By the time you find the time to cover them, their very narrow window of ‘relevance’ is over, and it’s difficult to find an angle. Thankfully, Search for… is a flexible enough feature for me to return to some of these games, and give them the coverage they deserve.

And I can think of no game more generous or deserving of that coverage than X-Orbtek II, a game that is an outrageous bargain at $1.00 for Xbox and a literal steal for the free PC version. It’s the sort of game that actually makes me feel guilty each time I play it — I didn’t pay anything for it, I have no right to be enjoying it this much!

Much like the previously covered X-Orbtek II is essentially about dodging. Fast-paced reaction is key as you zoom around arenas tightly packed with enemies and deadly projectiles. The easiest genre comparison here is the shoot-’em-up, and this second iteration into the X-Orbtek series leans further towards that format, with limited bullets and smart bombs on offer. However, just like in the first game, survival is twofold: avoidance and speed. Just as crucial to your survival is chasing down the ever-shrinking blue orbs, which brings to mind the frantic final laps of a racing game. Let the orbs deplete into nothingness, you’re dead. High stakes indeed.

Boasting three game modes and 1-4 player local multiplayer, you won’t find better value than X-Orbtek II , even if you grab the Xbox version for $1.00. The IndieCity versioncomes with achievements, which is a nice extra, or alternatively you can got to Oxygen Addict ‘s itch.iopage for a direct, client-free, pay-what-you-want download.

For more from Oxygen Addict ,  head to his siteor follow him on Twitter.