Vixplode

The Good
I’m glad to see that Abrasco did something original with this board game, not just a clone of Othello or Reversi. Vixplode comes complete with instructions on the cassette, which are easy to follow and provide examples. After selecting the level of play, players are presented with a six-by-six grid in which they – and the computer – lay down their counters. Each square can be occupied by up to four counters. The aim is to create a “vixplosion” of your opponent’s counters, and this is done by making sure the number of counters on a given square equals the number of adjacent squares. When you have occupied the most squares, you win the game.

There are six levels that determine how smart the computer opponent is. You want to play on the first two levels so you can get a feel of the game. Once you have beaten your opponent a few times, you are free to experience the higher levels and try your luck there. The blurb claims that the computer is hard to beat on level four.

Vixplode uses the standard PETSCII character set to draw the grid, and the counters are represented as numbers. Your opponent’s pieces are inverted numbers, making them distinguishable from yours. I like how the game is presented with the grid on the left and the scores on the right. Whenever you place a counter on a square occupied by another counter, the counter on the square gets incremented by one, and I think this is neat.

There are virtually no sound effects in the game, though I think you don’t need them in a simple game like this. Before the instructions, a siren is heard while the game tells you not to rewind the tape, but that is all. The game can be replayed for a different experience every time.

The Bad
Nothing is bad about this game.

The Bottom Line
Abrasco should be applauded for thinking of an original concept. The game is simple once you get used to it. Instructions are included for anyone new to the game. Although six levels of play are available and you can play against the VIC, it would have been nice if a two-player option was available that isn't the computer itself. In my opinion, this is the type of board game that can only be played on a computer. Adding real counters to a board to simulate a chain reaction would be ridiculous.