Jetpac Re-imagined

Before Rare was even called Rare, the critically acclaimed British developer had already cranked out its first hit game: Jetpac. The flight-based arcade shooter broke ground with top-tier visuals, addictive design, and a level of difficulty that only an arcade game could provide. It seemed only a matter of time before Rare would reach back and pluck this gem out for Xbox Live® Arcade consideration.

Jetpac looking good.

A Classic Redesigned
Unwilling to settle for a simple port of their classic, Rare's Jetpac Refuelled is an all new title, with high-definition gaming, gorgeously designed levels, and all new enemies and special effects. Where the original Jetpac boasted sixteen distinct levels, Jetpac Refuelled offers 168 unique levels, each more difficult than the last.

What hasn't changed, however, is the fundamental design that served the original so well. You still play as the same hero, flying through levels and obliterating waves of enemies in your pursuit to repair and refuel your rocket. You still collect treasures to raise your score, and earn extra lives.

There are a few additions to the classic gameplay, however. Look for EMP bombs allowing you to clear the whole screen with the press of a button. Your laser rifle can be upgraded from a regular shot to a straight and vertical shot, to a scatter gun, and then back to a much more powerful single shot. The game also saves your progress every five levels, allowing you to come back to your game without losing progress.

Going Retro
Though Rare saw fit to retool the Jetpac franchise with an upgraded look, all new levels, and a touch of enhanced gameplay, you can still play the classic Jetpac game in all its old-school glory. Unfettered by new graphics and features, the Retro version, available in the single-player menu, is the same game we know and love.

Might be time for an EMP.

Next-Gen Perks
Of course, it isn't just the gameplay and the graphics that have been given a thorough polishing. The standard perks of next-gen gaming on Xbox 360™ shine through as well, including multiplayer matches over Xbox Live®, offering the standard Player and Ranked matches, but also available in 5, 10, 15, or 20 minute marathons!

Track your scores with leaderboards, and earn up to 200 points towards your gamerscore with twelve new achievements, ranging from passing three levels without shooting to scoring a million points. And check out The Ultimate History, which explores the history of the Jetpac franchise and the company that created it, offering a unique perspective on classical gaming.

The powerful scatter shot.

Essential Tips
Don't be fooled into thinking that the upgraded weaponry and EMP bombs make for scaled down difficulty. If anything, Jetpac Refuelled is an even more challenging game than its arcade-classic predecessor. Consider the following tips to get started on the right foot:

• Fuel Cell Protection: If you're carrying a Fuel Cell, you get a free hit. You will drop the Fuel Cell, but you will not take any damage. Use this to your advantage to get heavily guarded upgrades or treasure.
• Scatter Shot: Once you've upgraded your weapon to scatter shot, use the left stick to aim it diagonally up and down, giving you a nearly 180 degree field of fire.
• Trackers: Most enemies zip along the environment horizontally, but keep a sharp eye out for enemies that slowly track you, moving closer and closer. There's no way to avoid them, so shoot them the first chance you get.
• Point Upgrades: The longer you live, the more points you score when collecting treasure. The first artifact you pick up may only be worth 250 points, but the next will be worth 500, and so on. However, once you die, or leave a level, the point bonus resets.
• Time Bonus: The meter at the top of screen represents your available oxygen for each level. The more oxygen you have when you leave the level, the more bonus points you earn, so don't loiter.

Jetpac Refuelled marks a first for Xbox Live Arcade: A classic title re-fashioned from scratch by the original developer, while still retaining the core of the original game. With graphical touches in high-definition, more than 150 levels to fight through, and enough difficulty to challenge even the most demanding gamer, Jetpac Refuelled represents the best of what Xbox Live Arcade has to offer.

Article by Ryan Treit