Vexx is an action/adventure platform game released in 2003 by Acclaim Studios. In Vexx, the goal is to travel across several unique worlds in an attempt to collect various objects, which in turn allow you to access more worlds. In case you haven’t picked up on it yet, Vexx is a blatant clone of Super Mario 64. With that said, this review will not make any comparisons between the two, and will be judging Vexx based solely on its own merits. Now let’s take a closer look, and see if this obscure Xbox game is worth a playthrough.

Graphics: 9
Vexx’s greatest strength is easily the level of detail and skill put into the graphic designs of the game. Though the graphics carry the distinct plastic-like appearance of their generation, the makers of the game were very careful in their level design. Each world has its own unique feel, some even inspiring a level of awe. The character design of this game should not be overlooked either. Every character from the pointy eared Vexx to the flabby Sumo Kin, has their own unique and clever design. The graphics of Vexx really represent what the Xbox is capable of.

Sound: 7
Trailing along right behind the graphics would be the sound. The music in Vexx is definitely on the right track. Though it doesn’t rival what are often considered the greatest video game soundtracks, the soundtrack in Vexx is perfectly capable of pulling its own weight. Each world has its own specific music, which really adds to the game as a whole. The sound effects are also worth noting, though they can grow old and they begin to sound generic over time. Vexx’s main weakness as far as sound goes is the voice acting. At best, the acting is mediocre. Cheesy at worst. The characters take themselves far too seriously and lack any real emotion.

Addictive: 6
The goal in Vexx is to travel the various worlds to collect the wraithhearts. How addictive this game is depends on how much patience you have for this style of gameplay. If you spend most of you gaming time searching through the game for every collectible, then Vexx is for you. But if you’re not in the mood to figure out this particular puzzle or you just can’t stand it when you’ve searched everywhere but it’s nowhere to be found? If that’s the case, this game will probably have you bored and frustrated shortly after you’ve found all of the easy ones.

Story: 3
In Vexx, the evil shadowwraith Dark Yabu has invaded Astara and captured Vexx’s grandfather. Vexx boards Yabu’s ship and accidentally finds the Astani War Talons. They bond to Vexx, giving him the power he needs to fight Yabu. Now he must travel through the words and collect the wraithhearts, using their power to activate the warp gate. This rather generic story isn’t even referenced in the game that often. There are about three or four (optional) cutscenes in the entire game, and the only other references to the story are the “Reia’s Diary” collectibles you find in each world. The plot is nothing more than a rushed synopsis to get the game started.

Depth: 5
Most of Vexx’s gameplay is fairly monotonous. You explore, you collect, and you slice up hundreds of faceless bad guys in the process. The interesting parts come in once you’ve found a heart and you have to solve some sort of puzzle to get it. It is very rare that you will simply be allowed to walk up to a heart and take it. Instead, Vexx provides a large assortment of puzzles, challenges, boss fights, and other unique methods before it gives you what you want. Though this does provide an interesting twist, most of the game will still consist of the same exploring and attacking.

Difficulty: 5
As the core gameplay feature in Vexx is to find collectibles, it is unavoidable that some parts of the game will be harder than others. Even beginner plays shouldn't’t have too much of a problem with the hearts found in the first world. On the same note, only the greatest platformer players stand a chance at collecting every heart, especially those found in the final world. With that said, a casual player should be able to come up with the 60 hearts necessary to win the game, but a 100% is going to be a little more difficult.

Overall: 7.5
Vexx is a fairly simple game, though it still has a lot to offer. The game design is its high-point, though more detail still could have been added, particularly for the story. With everything said and done, Vexx is a decent game, but it's no masterpiece.