A.R.E.S.: Extinction Agenda

A.R.E.S. Extinction Agenda is a 2.5D side-scrolling platform shooter for Microsoft Windows. It was developed by a Thai independent developer Extend Studio. An updated version called Extinction Agenda EX was released for Xbox Live Arcade on October 2, 2013, and for Windows via Steam on October 3, 2014.

A.R.E.S. Extinction Agenda
Developer(s)Extend Studio
Publisher(s)Origo Games
Aksys Games
EngineMicrosoft XNA
Platform(s)
ReleaseWindows
December 14, 2010
January 19, 2011 (Steam)[1]
Extinction Agenda EX
XBLA
October 2, 2013
Windows
October 3, 2014
Genre(s)Platform, shooter
Mode(s)Single-player

Plot

The game takes place in a future setting where the Earth is contaminated by pollution. A group of scientist were trapped in the Deep Space Reprocessing station after a mysterious asteroid emitting an unknown fluorescent gas collided into the station. The survivors then discovered that machines in the station became violent towards them after being exposed to the gas. Eventually, they managed to send the sample of the gas to the research team back at the United Earth Headquarters to find out a way to rescue them and called the gas Zytron. Player takes control of the game protagonist Ares, the first Zytron immune robot created to battle machines that became malevolent from being exposed to the Zytron gas, in a mission to rescue the survivors from a deep space station.

Gameplay

Players control Ares' movement with WASD keys on the keyboard and aim with a mouse. Ares can double jump and roll to avoid attacks and obstacles and can change his suit during the course of the game which gives him a different aesthetic appearance and abilities. He can also activate Vakyl Cannon, a rechargeable orbital cannon which destroys all of the enemies on screen. Players can collect parts from destroyed enemies to craft items and upgrade weapons. They can also collect Datacubes which are scattered throughout the stages which not only unlock background information about certain characters and enemies, but also improve Ares' abilities such as lowering the number of parts required to craft items. Throughout the game players are able to obtain new weapons in each stage. At the end of each stage, Ares will have to defeat bosses in order to progress. Players can go back between stages during the game by accessing the in-game menu.

Development

A.R.E.S. Extinction Agenda was originally called Trashman, but the development team changed the name to appeal more to international audiences.[2]

Reception

Extinction Agenda

Extinction Agenda received "average" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[3] Critics from major publications praised the game for its soundtrack and detailed vibrant artwork while criticizing the length of the game to be too short.

Due to its popularity, the soundtrack of the game was eventually released on Steam as a downloadable content on January 2, 2012. A.R.E.S. won second prize in 2010 Microsoft's Dream.Build.Play. contest along with other notable independent games such as Beat Hazard.[8]

Extinction Agenda EX

Extinction Agenda EX received "average" reviews on both platforms according to Metacritic.[9][10]

References
  1. IGN staff (2011-01-20). "A.R.E.S: Extinction Agenda Released on Steam". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 2021-07-27. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
  2. Gumustdo (2010-03-04). "Title Change". Extend Studio. Archived from the original on 2010-08-21. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
  3. "A.R.E.S. Extinction Agenda for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on 2023-05-29. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
  4. Reed, Kristan (2011-01-28). "Download Games Roundup (Page 3)". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on 2014-03-29. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
  5. Moriarty, Colin (2011-02-25). "A.R.E.S.: Extinction Agenda Review". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 2021-07-30. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
  6. "A.R.E.S. Extinction Agenda". PC Gamer UK. Future plc. June 2011. p. 77.
  7. "Review: A.R.E.S. Extinction Agenda". PC PowerPlay. No. 188. Next Media Pty Ltd. April 2011. p. 68.
  8. North, Dale (2010-05-04). "Microsoft's Dream.Build.Play 2010 winners announced". Destructoid. Gamurs. Archived from the original on 2023-08-14. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
  9. "A.R.E.S. Extinction Agenda EX for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on 2020-11-28. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
  10. "A.R.E.S. Extinction Agenda EX for Xbox 360 Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on 2022-08-29. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
  11. Venter, Jason (2013-10-04). "A.R.E.S. Extinction Agenda EX Review (X360)". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on 2015-02-03. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
  12. Cartmel, Ryan (2013-10-06). "Review: A.R.E.S. Extinction Agenda EX (X360)". Hardcore Gamer. Archived from the original on 2022-11-15. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
  13. Hernández, David Alonso (2013-10-16). "Análisis de A.R.E.S. Extinction Agenda EX para Xbox 360". HobbyConsolas (in Spanish). Axel Springer SE. Archived from the original on 2022-11-15. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
  14. "A.R.E.S. Extinction Agenda EK". Official Xbox Magazine UK. Future plc. Christmas 2013. p. 107.
  15. Lewis, Cameron (2013-10-04). "A.R.E.S. Extinction Agenda EX review". Official Xbox Magazine. Future US. Archived from the original on 2013-10-05. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
  16. Meekin, Paul (2013-10-14). "A.R.E.S. [Extinction Agenda EX] (XBLA) Review". 411Mania. Archived from the original on 2013-10-21. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
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