Simplistic gameplay, a simple goal, and an erratic enemy combine to make a fun, addictive game that's not like anything else out there. In Qix, the name of the game is acquiring territory, using lines drawn by a cursor. Using a slow draw garners more points than a fast draw. When an area is enclosed, it fills in and adds to your percentage of board taken. The smaller portion is always filled in, unless occupied by the Qix. Each board has a target percentage that when reached advances you to the next level, with bonuses added for exceeding the goal. Of course, enemies are needed to hamper your progress, and the Qix is a very dastardly enemy. A hard-to-describe creation of lines rotating around a central point, which sometimes stays near motionless, and other times rockets from one end of the board to another with frightening speed. If it touches the line you are drawing, you lose a life. There are also Stix and Sparx. Stix are constant enemies, forever moving about the perimeter of the board and previously enclosed spaces, forcing you to not wait forever to draw your next line. Sparx run along your line like a fuse if you hesitate too long while drawing. If it reaches you, you die. Further levels will have two Qix, and if you can separate them you advance to the next stage and further points get a multiplier bonus. For the simple goals set before you, the gameplay is simple and highly intuitive. The graphics come very close to the actual arcade game, but the sound does not quite reach that level. The game can be a bit repetitive, though at higher levels the Qix become more erratic and speedy, adding to the challenge. This is certainly a "thinker's" game, and can be enjoyed even by those without lightning fast reflexes. Pick it up on eBay. It'll be a nice addition to your old-school collection.
