The sixth title in exA-Arcadia’s “EXA LABEL” series is now available for arcades to order, this time the remake coming with Toaplan’s 1992 top-down run’n gun shooter, FixEight. Units ordered now will begin shipping in October, so let’s take a look!
The FixEight Original
As a pseudo-sequel to another run’n gun game, Out Zone, FixEight is not as well known as that half-predecessor. Various elements of their gameplay were shared, including the general setting that was a new take on ’80s shooters like Front Line, Commando, and Ikari Warriors. FixEight changed up some things from Out Zone, such as allowing for eight selectable characters(each with a unique set of weapons), along with how power-ups and deaths would work. Both games never saw a contemporary home port, only getting such attention in very recent times. Now, FixEight returns thanks to exA-Arcadia.
FixEight EXA LABEL
Announced earlier this year, FixEight is getting the “EXA LABEL” treatment for coin-op exA-Arcadia platforms. As with other titles that have enjoyed this rejuvenation, this remake keeps all of the original gameplay intact, while improving certain elements and correcting some bugs that existed in in the first pass of the game. From the official game page:
Developed by exA-Arcadia in cooperation with original TOAPLAN staff members, Nanpei Kaneko returns as the Illustrator and Scenario Director. Keishi Yonao directed the new arranged soundtrack and newly added character voices.
The improvements you will find in this version include:
- Up to four players can play simultaneously
- 1 frame of input lag (“2x faster than the original edition”)
- 5 game modes (see below)
- New graphics by FixEight’s original artist & game designer, Nanpei Kaneko
- Two soundtracks, the original and a new arranged track by Keishi Yonao
- Voice overs for each character by professional anime voice actors.
- Operable in vertical or horizontal modes (vertical recommended)
- Numerous bug fixes
There was one change to the controls, where holding down button 3 will allow you to strafe with certain weapons (others, it will do a charge shot when B3 is held down).
Here is a video of the game as seen at Amusement Expo 2024. It’s an early build that didn’t have all of those improvements in place yet.
On the game modes, here are what they entail:
- Original – The original game in all its glory
- Original (Dash) – Single loop version of the OG game, with bug fixes and other improvements
- EXA LABEL – Focuses on Scoring and usage of bombs; this is much faster paced than the original game. There are also changes to what happens when you run out of energy.
- Score Attack – Practice any 1 stage and difficulty for top points
- Extreme – “The ultimate challenge for soldiers of fortune”
Kit Options
There are two kits available for interested buyers to pick up from their preferred exA sales source: A standard and a Limited Edition kit.
Here is what you get with a Standard kit:
The Limited Edition is only a few hundred dollars more and comes with more art options, including some standee options, where each character is available:
Thoughts
We have long covered how exA-Arcadia has revitalized many genres that has once been a crucial part of the arcade landscape, and FixEight EXA LABEL marks another notch in that journey of the top down run’n gunner. It’s a genre that I’ve always enjoyed playing, particularly with Taito’s Front Line and Capcom’s Commando, so it’s nice to see it get some love again. I haven’t played either this nor Out Zone enough to say which one I would prefer to see get this treatment, although what I played at Amusement Expo was enjoyable.
That said, I have no idea how current arcade audiences might take to it. It is a great looking game, but in staying true to the retro look, it will likely do better at a venue that caters towards classic gamers as opposed to the casual crowd that looks for the latest and greatest in graphics (or is just there at the arcade to win prizes).
It should be noted that this is also the first 4-player exA title that we’ve seen come along in some time, the last one was P-47 Aces Mk. II, which came out two years ago. It will soon be joined by Jitsu Squad however, which has been seeing testing over in Japan and is still aiming to get out the door before the year is up. Either way, it will be nice for owners of a 4-player exA cabinet (like myself) to have more content for it.
What do you think about this one?
