Radix: Beyond the Void

The Good
The 3D engine was strong for its' day, and the dev kits for building the levels was very cool (I still have it and their instructional video). They had sloped floors and floors that could be stacked way before Doom was able to pull it off. However, the company was run by a bunch of kids that had no idea how to run a business or treat others fairly and this game leaves a sour taste in my mouth.

I had worked on another Union Logic Game and my brother was asked to design some levels and graphics. After submitting them, we heard the game was not going to be released only to find out the textures had been copied with slight changes and the game released with other people's names in the credits.

Ah well, the real designer went on to have three patents with Microsoft's Softimage 3D software, and works at Creative Labs today. These lying monkeys are probably still in the gutter.

The Bad
One level was all you needed....no online (IPX) play, or compelling storyline to keep you going.

The Bottom Line
Take Doom, add a few extensions to their simple 3D engine and make the character be able to move up and down, draw it as a spaceship and there you have it.

The Good
While this comparison may sound like oversimplifying the issue, it is a good way to describe Radix. It is a first-person shooter that focuses on fighting against an alien invasion within various outdoor and indoor environments, ultimately leading to the invader’s home dimension (like Doom). But it also puts the player in the cockpit of a starfighter and gives them more freedom to move around and fly around the levels (like Descent). Think of it as Doom with a jetpack.

The engine is fairly similar to Doom’s but adds a few extra effects, e.g. slopes, directional (gravitational) pull, colored lighting, etc.

I should note that the game’s original (1.0) and latest (2.0 Remix) version are pretty different, especially in terms of controls. The original has constant flying and could feel like a flight sim at times, whereas the Remix has Descent-like controls and feels a lot more like an actual FPS. It is also notable that some levels have been updated and a few have even been completely replaced in the latest version.

The story, as mentioned earlier, is fairly similar to Doom’s - evil invaders from another dimension, infested human colony, etc. Except that this time it’s with a more hi-tech twist instead of a demonic theme.

Gameplay-wise, Radix tries to escape from the Doom formula with its objective-driven levels. Each level has two objectives, with the Primary one being mandatory and usually involving the destruction of something (though there are cases when you have to activate something). Secondary objectives are usually optional (with a few exceptions) and sometimes yield some kind of reward (like gaining access to a room with goodies inside). The game has a nifty feature that allows you to see the objectives for the current level (along with small screenshots of the target, if available).

In terms of structure, Radix is just like Doom - three episodes of 9 levels each (the ninth one being a secret level). Something I definitely liked was the extra effort the developers took for the secret levels - the exits to them are hidden very well. Also, one cannot simply “warp” to a secret map with a cheat, which makes them more exciting.

Radix’s strongest advantage is combat. It looks and feels great, especially in version 2.0 where explosions, smoke and debris have been considerably improved. Being able to (literally) fly circles around your enemies makes it even crazier. Enemies include some alien creatures (aptly named “fodder” because they are so weak), various alien mechs, and several types of alien ships, which are equal to (or stronger than) your own ship.

Battles are often huge and messy with LOTS of enemies on the screen (more than you’d see in Doom). Luckily, you will have some powerful weapons when you face those fleets of enemy starfighters. The “standard” blasters, machine guns and plasma cannons are complemented by several types of missiles (including nukes) that make a good “boom” and a gravity wave weapon that wreaks havoc on par with Doom’s famous BFG 9k.

The Bad
I have a few complaints about level design, especially in the second episode. Many levels feature long featureless tunnels, which don’t really serve a purpose. I suppose this was the reason why some levels were completely replaced in 2.0 - due to poor level design. Compared to its contemporaries (Doom, Descent, Rise of the Triad, Heretic, Hexen, etc.) Radix levels may look a little bland.

Despite its new features, Radix still feels like a Doom clone and this will turn away players looking for new experiences.

The Bottom Line
Radix is a game suitable for a curious retro gamer and/or DOSBox enthusiast.

People who enjoy Doom and/or Descent might also get some fun out of this one.