''MorphX'' (known in Russia as ''Simbiont'' (), also known as ''The Swarm'' (working title) is an

action-adventure video game An action-adventure game is a video game hybrid genre that combines core elements from both the action game and adventure game genres. Definition An action adventure game can be defined as a game with a mix of elements from an action gam ...

developed by

Targem Games Targem Games is a Russian video game developer, based in Yekaterinburg, Russia, geographically in Ural (region), Ural. Established in 2002 in video gaming, 2002, the company has created several PC and console games of various genres. The company r ...

and published by

Buka Entertainment Buka Entertainment JSC () — is one of the oldest Russian video game developers and publishers. Headquartered in Moscow, the company was officially established in 1994. Since 2008, it is a part of the 1C Company. Although Buka produces its own ...

in Russia and

505 Games 505 Games S.p.A. is an Italian video game publisher based in Milan. It was founded in 2006 as a subsidiary of Milan-based Digital Bros. History 505 Games was founded in 2006 in Milan as a subsidiary of Digital Bros. The company found its earl ...

in the west. A

light gun shooter Light-gun shooter, also called light-gun game or simply gun game, is a Shooter game, shooter video game video game genres, genre in which the primary design element is to simulate a shooting gallery (carnival game), shooting gallery by having ...

arcade game An arcade game or coin-op game is a coin-operated entertainment machine typically installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are presented as primarily game of skill, games of skill and in ...

adaptation was released in 2013 by

Global VR Global VR is a company based in San Jose, California, that makes arcade games. The company once manufactured virtual reality stands as well. It has also developed electronic kiosks and offers development services for mobile platforms. History ...

Synopsis

In 2008,

Earth Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only astronomical object known to Planetary habitability, harbor life. This is enabled by Earth being an ocean world, the only one in the Solar System sustaining liquid surface water. Almost all ...

was invaded by the alien swarm. Within the year, they had complete control of earth and had wiped out most of mankind. During 2009, the Swarm directed its effort to locate and wipe out the few remaining pockets of resistance. The year is now 2011, and mankind is still fighting to survive. Meanwhile, sightings of strange humanoid creatures are reported, their purpose unknown. Some believe they are the products of experiments the swarm has done on humans, while some believe it's the first of a new generation of swarm adapted to life on Earth. In 2012, one of mankind's last bastions dubbed "The Laboratory", resides beneath the ruins of

Moscow Moscow is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Russia by population, largest city of Russia, standing on the Moskva (river), Moskva River in Central Russia. It has a population estimated at over 13 million residents with ...

. There the survivors work tirelessly to stop this new threat.

Gameplay

''MorphX'' is a

science-fiction Science fiction (often shortened to sci-fi or abbreviated SF) is a genre of speculative fiction that deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts. These concepts may include information technology and robotics, biological manipulations, sp ...

action-adventure An action-adventure game is a video game genre, video game hybrid genre that combines core elements from both the action game and adventure game genres. Definition An action adventure game can be defined as a game with a mix of elements f ...

video game A video game or computer game is an electronic game that involves interaction with a user interface or input device (such as a joystick, game controller, controller, computer keyboard, keyboard, or motion sensing device) to generate visual fe ...

played from a

third-person perspective Narration is the use of a written or spoken commentary to storytelling, convey a narrative, story to an audience. Narration is conveyed by a narrator: a specific person, or unspecified literary voice, developed by the creator of the story to del ...

. The player can gain abnormal abilities by killing different aliens, and absorbing their genetic material to acquire their specific traits.

Development

Lead developer "JSinx" told ''

IGN ''IGN'' is an American video gaming and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa district and is headed by its former e ...

'' that the development team was inspired to set the game in their home city of Moscow as there were many tales about the end of the world in film, literature and videogames, but no famous story set in Moscow.

Reception

''MorphX'' received "generally unfavourable" reviews according to video game

review aggregator A review aggregator is a system that collects reviews and ratings of products and services, such as films, books, video games, music, software, hardware, or cars. This system then stores the reviews to be used for supporting a website where user ...

Metacritic Metacritic is an American website that aggregates reviews of films, television shows, music albums, video games, and formerly books. For each product, the scores from each review are averaged (a weighted average). Metacritic was created ...

. ''

GameSpot ''GameSpot'' is an American video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information on video games. The site was launched on May 1, 1996, created by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady, and Jon Epstein. In addition ...

'''s 4/10 review stated that "there are enough innovative ideas here with the alien metamorphosis mechanics that could have made this an inventive, captivating shooter", but lamented "design screwups

hat A hat is a Headgear, head covering which is worn for various reasons, including protection against weather conditions, ceremonial reasons such as university graduation, religious reasons, safety, or as a fashion accessory. Hats which incorpor ...

are so blatant that they get in the way of enjoying the weird stuff with alien genes and mutant powers".

References

2008 video games 505 Games games Action games Action-adventure games Buka Entertainment games Global VR games Science fiction video games Single-player video games Targem Games games Third-person shooters Video games about alien invasions Video games about extraterrestrial life Video games developed in Russia Video games set in 2012 Windows games Xbox 360 games {{Videogame-stub Video games set in 2008 Video games set in 2009 Video games set in 2011