Tempest 4000
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Top Critic Average
Critics Recommend
Critic Reviews for Tempest 4000
TxK gets the official name tag it's always deserved, but a monstrously high price and a lack of innovation sour the occasion.
If you are not a fan of simple arcade games, which it most undoubtedly is, you probably won't find much in Tempest 4000 to win you over. But for those who have any love for the series, and appreciation for the era of the arcade, you absolutely can't go wrong with this one. I prolonged this review longer than necessary because I just wasn't done playing it – and I'm still not. It's a winner.
I have spent countless hours playing TxK on Vita and it's one of my favourite games, so I'm disappointed that Tempest 4000 doesn't really add anything new, especially considering the higher price. It's still a great game and hopefully a patch will tone down the overzealous use of effects. This is worth a look if you are bored of cut scenes, collectables, and other frippery that clog up video games and want some serious old school arcade action.
Unfortunately, there won't be much to keep you blasting through the game once you've had a few longer sessions.
Tempest 4000 isn't doing anything new or different - but this is an eminently playable, intuitive arcade reimagining that is well worth sinking some time into.
Even if it feels incomplete, Tempest 4000 is still worth playing. The visuals remain entrancing, the music is as powerful today as when it was released, and the task of clearing baddies from webs continues to be challenging. If you can look past the roughest levels, you'll find this to be a fun and highly memorable game. Here's hoping Llamasoft gives it a little post-release polish so it can become a modern classic, just like Tempest 2000.
A VR Tempest experience is a logical progression for the game that wouldn't fundamentally change the core nature of the game but it sure would enhance its trippiness.
Look, it's a fun game, filled with flashing lights and so much digital detritus you'll need a shower after one run. But the thing is, you've played this before – not in this form in 4K on this particular format, but Tempest is Tempest and Tempest 4000 doesn't really try to be anything else.
