Battle of the Ports - Xmultiply (Xマルチプライ) Show

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One of Irem's less popular shooters but still a classic that got a few ports at least.
Time Code
00:21 - Arcade
02:53 - Saturn
05:18 - PlayStation
07:18 - All versions side by side
Enjoy!

[@YuukoEnjoyer]

I'm impressed by how smooth the things around the ship moves. Impressive for 1989 !

[@RetroCore]

It sure was. Irem were pretty good back in the day.

[@roudanskalamir9251]

Hell yeah, this is one of my favorites from irem.

[@GlenLehane]

This is a hidden gem, I never knew about this game. Irem needed the PR department of Capcom and Sega

[@luisreyes1963]

X Multiply is one of those games from the "Golden Age" of bio-weapon shmups like R-Type, Act-Fancer & Dangerous Seed.

[@JonCampos80]

I never thought that a game about antibiotics could be that good :)

[@ribenasquash]

I was trying to remember this game for ages. I saw it in the back room of a pub in darkest North Wales when I was a youngun. It was a bit scary for me to be honest. But the dangly arms are unique to this is definitely the game. It stood out to me because you just don't get arcade machines in pubs in tiny villages in North Wales. It was such a contrast to everything else which was from the middle ages then this arcade machine from a thousand years in the future. Pretty cool.

[@RetroCore]

I remember visiting many country pubs in Wales (mostly North) which always had Space Invaiders in them 😊

[@IncaWarrior3000]

Irem games were great... if RetroCore did not mention xmultiply, I would not remembered... good times playing xmultiply.... and lots of coins gone too. I did not know there was ports of it.

[@MadPanicGaming]

Thanks for reminding me I need to get the Saturn version of this game, it looks awesome!

[@losalfajoresok]

Love to have breakfast on my saturday morning while watching your videos Mark!

[@RetroCore]

Nice man. You're lucky as I put this show together last night. I've been away all week so I didn't have time to complete the planned show which was going to be Pengo.

[@Video-Games-Are-Fun]

saturday morning gaming videos instead of cartoons!

[@Charlie-Cat.]

I remember Xmultiply in the arcades Mark. Shame nobody use to play it where I was located though. Too bad, it really is a gem of a title to play. I have the Saturn version of it as well. After seeing this, I'll think the Playstation version should be next to purchase for me. 8^) Well done as always Mark. Thank you for sharing this. 8^) Anthony..

[@stefanalbertshofer7736]

Charlie Cat m

[@DanielMonteiroNit]

4:30 and 5:00 reminds me of songs by YMO, but I cant remember which one. Mostly Camouflage, from the BGM album. Also, there is a YMO album calles X-Multiplies

[@Jamesfo8rf]

Thanks Mark, it’s a really nice game 👍 with a very interesting option mechanic which is both defensive and offensive during play.

[@FuzzballRenakitty]

Oh wow! Never knew about this, love the music too, reminds me of Sakamoto or later YMO!

[@BlakeIzayoi]

Show #230... we're just 20 shows off of the mythical #250! Fantastic video as always. :)

[@frankschneider6156]

I vote for pong and pong clones for #250 .. that should take a while.

[@RetroCore]

Oh my God, doing Pong would take for lever and be one of the dullest videos ever 😂. I would like to do something big though. Maybe Tetris, space invaders or MS Pacman.

[@frankschneider6156]

To be serious for a moment: Tetris would be great, but if you'd try to cover consoles, handhelds and computers do you think that's feasible ?

[@geoserenity]

Did you know? R-type final has a bit with arms that moves kinda like the arms of the ship here. Even though the arms straighten out to the sides, I like to think the idea came from this game

[@RetroCore]

It is probably a homage to Xmultiply since they are developed by the same developer.

[@afropowa1598]

Wow, I never heard of this game! That's odd that this game wasn't release to consoles during the 16 bit era but than again most devs. took forever to release certain games.....looking at you Crapcom with Battle Circuit & Red Earth!

[@EugenetheSupporter]

music is awesome

[@RetroCore]

It sure is. I like it quite a lot.

[@topofbones]

Two good version of an underrated shooter. Saturn better but both good. This ship is one of the most iconic in the world of shumps. The R-Type Final in PS2 have one like this.

[@dbnpoldermans4120]

I played the Saturn version way back. It seemed cool, but after playing it for a bit I never went back to it.

[@RetroCore]

You've got to be in the right mood to enjoy this one.

[@Video-Games-Are-Fun]

u r a robot?

[@amdcolon1]

Im surprised you haven't done a battle of the ports for Virtual On from Sega. You have multiple versions from Arcade, Sega Saturn, Dreamcast, PS2 and Xbox 360/PS3. Go for it I'll definitely watch☺

[@RetroCore]

It's on the cards and coming soon ;)

[@RetroCore]

In fact it's coming after the next show which is Pengo.

[@amdcolon1]

Retro Core Sweet!!! Thanks👍

[@NCC-0000]

One of my most loved and hated shmups at the same time. Creepy designs and environments, but so good BGMs and mechanics

[@RetroCore]

I agree. The game does have a creepy vibe and excelent music.

[@NCC-0000]

Mark has noticed me :D In fact, I've always been a follower of the channel but it's my first time commenting. Especially this video since I always expected a BoP of X-Multiply. I just wanted to thank you for the great amount of fabulous games which I had never heard, the reviews, and Battle of Ports that you give us. Cheers!

[@RetroCore]

Well, thank you for watching the shows, Alejandro Hernández Legua😃

[@johnsimon8457]

At 1:00 it looks like you’re flying into a pelvis and that boss looks like a sort of metal bound muscle tissue. Freakier than it needs to be

[@RetroCore]

I wouldn't be surprised if that's what it was. Sometimes Japanese game design can be very odd.

[@loganjorgensen]

SS port look sweet, funny about the HUD but the age of fiddly resolutions will do that heh. Other than long load times the PS1 version should be better, audio weakness wasn't one of it's limitations and resetting options is purely programmer error. Slowdown is possible on PS1 but avoidable based on more intense 2D examples, likely not enough time during the port to optimize it better.

[@hikaruk.981]

999 times out of 1000, a 2D game is going to be better on the Saturn than the PS1. The PS1 just wasn't built to handle it.

[@federicocatelli8785]

Yeah more ram is a godsend

[@ThoughtformsOfTheSubconsciousM]

You got it brother

[@rockmanhunter]

XMultiply reminds me a lot of Xexex. All great versions, but Saturn wins slightly.

[@RetroCore]

It's a shame Xexex never received a home console port.

[@rockmanhunter]

I agree. I'll never understand why Xexex never got a home port. It's an awesome game, sadly forgotten...

[@ironfossil9963]

Dude, you got some shmup skills.

[@RetroCore]

Thanks man. They're nothing compared to 20 years ago when I was in my prime.

[@Shoometsu]

The Saturn has a cut on the screen on both sides, while the PSX doesn't. But PSX has "inflated" the image, and it made some distortions which happens when upscaling. Also, it seem to have a constant frameskipping, judging by this video.

[@RetroCore]

Yep, they are all true points. Darius Gaiden on the PSX also seems to have frame skipping.

[@Shoometsu]

Didn't now about the same issue on Darius Gaiden for PSX. And the Saturn version seems to be the one to buy after this video. Thanks!

[@jesuszamora6949]

Surprising it didn't show up on consoles of the time. It would have been a welcome addition to the TurboGrafx or Sega Genesis library.

[@RetroCore]

It is odd that it didn't receive a port. Maybe it wasn't even that popular in Japan?

[@AzrialAlaria]

That PS1 port definitely has a lower frame rate of some kind.

[@ExtremeWreck]

Great shooter indeed! Also, I think it would've been nice to have seen a Genesis port as this was released in 1989 after all. Sadly, that was never made :(. I still think there would've been an arcade perfect port on the Atari Jaguar as it looks like an Atari Jaguar game.

[@MechaFenris]

That's one expensive Saturn game, though. :) I looked on eBay, because RetroCore makes me want the great games so much. :)

[@RetroCore]

You can buy it cheaper here in Japan but it is a little expensive.

[@SKiNT3ASTWOOD]

Not a bad organic style shmup, I owned the arcade pcb for awhile. Curse on the megadrive is of simliar vain. Wonder if it was a kinda sneaky rendition of it in an organic kinda way.

[@RetroCore]

I have Curse on the Mega Drive. It could be a good shooter but the low frame rate at which it scrolls is off putting.

[@sumdood8563]

This time with multiple x’s.

[@jeremycline9542]

Was this a Japan-only Saturn game? Looks amazing.

[@RetroCore]

Yep, like most of the great Saturn games.

[@jeremycline9542]

The hidden gem videos on the big retro channels missed this one completely. Thanks, Mark.

[@RetroCore]

Hehe, probably because those big channels mostly know nothing and just take a look in old magazines or other sites to find a game.

[@jeremycline9542]

[looks on Ebay] holy shit, 250 dollars for the Japanese version? In Kitakyushu you can get it for what, fifty bucks?

[@RetroCore]

If you can find it. For Saturn games the best bet is Yahoo Auctions.

[@kenwheeler3637]

The way the arms flail around makes this game more difficult for me since I tend to focus on making the damn things go where I want instead of watching if the ship itself is going to hit something.

[@RetroCore]

I understand what you mean but you do become accustom to them eventually.

[@kenwheeler3637]

Yeah, I do need to give it a few more tries. It is a very cool looking shooter.

[@jasontennant8994]

The graphic and sound design on this game is really very good. The fact that it's also a great (and somewhat addictive) straight forward shoot-em up makes it even better. I like how Irem were always looking for a good gimmick, in this case the ships extending arms. Irem around this time often employed gimmicks which were interesting and added real game play value. My long time favourite has been Dragon Breed which pushed things just that bit further than XMultiply. Still, this game has always been worth returning to. Long live Irem!

[@RetroCore]

The tentacles are a great gimmick in this game. They add a whole new play mechanic as you use them to protect your ship from enemy projectiles.

[@jasontennant8994]

True. The best game mechanics are those that feel organic and natural to use. Those tentacles are the perfect example. The dragons tail in Dragon Breed fulfills a similar function in that it can be used both as a shield and a weapon. Taito did this well too, the best examples being the bubbles in Bubble Bobble and the rainbows in Rainbow Islands.

[@chakrazoo]

Plays well on Super Retro-Cade. (Arcade version)

[@RetroCore]

So it should. That's emulation :)

[@captaincommando2602]

Sweet shoot em up I never heard of him. Saturn could be the best port but all versions are good.

[@bombjack1984]

Good game, has a Salamander vibe. Looks like the PS1 version has frameskipping? I remember Darius Gaiden has that too on PS1.

[@RetroCore]

It might just have that. It sure is a lacklustre port.

[@vasili1207]

Never heard of it and my pc blew up no mame for me. Looks cool a upgrade to rtype indeed sounds are a bit 70's Atari mind you ;)

[@jackmagaiver5188]

Jogo de tiro vertical muito massa

[@frankschneider6156]

Never realized that X-Multiply was an arcade port. But regarding the story: wouldn't it be a lot more efficient to just isolate, quarantine and (just ro be sure) incinerate the infected person, instead of all this fantastic voyage stuff ? And why do they use the lemniscate (the name of the curve of the infinity symbol) for the multiplication sign ? Heck .. all of this makes even less sense, than the Chewbacca defense. it just makes no sense. No, I don't take this too seriously.

[@RetroCore]

Hehe, Japan and its games from the 80s. Anything goes 😀

[@TheNawaf258]

Oh x multiply played on ps1 that title screen creeps me out

[@RetroCore]

Hehe, it is kind of creepy.

[@Kraknnkrak]

Good game.

[@norrinradd3209]

Look like gradius , salamander and r-type !

[@RetroCore]

It kind of is.

[@turrican3839]

Not even Europe bothered to port this game to home computers, its like X-Multiply is the most forgettable game?

[@AaronRedding]

the resolution and color seems a bit off on the playstation port ... I didnt know that this got ported to the playstation I had only ever played it on the saturn cause for the longest time it was a game that didnt run right in Mame.... Looking back on the saturn it really seems like most of the games hold up better than a lot of playstation versions its a shame that it was as maligned as it was in the states. Had sega not messed up we could be talking about what ever they would call thier new system cause they didnt just slap a number on the end they put thought in to their naming convention

[@RetroCore]

Yep, the Saturn holds up very well these days in the 2D game area.

[@RetroCore]

Yep, the Saturn holds up very well these days in the 2D game area.

[@AaronRedding]

its not just 2d games its some 3d games as well man play things like Last Bronx and Goiken Muyou: Anarchy in the Nippon and think it looks just as good as tekken 2/3 did better in some ways.

[@Aiono777]

FV,VF2,Sega Rally...am#2 exploit for sure,prove the developpers working be there for something,them made better then on 3D machine more powerfull...Now see Xanac x Xanac (smups) on ps1,is only one impressive me for this 2D capacity. until I've known for a long time, we agree that 99% of 2D games are better worn on saturn. Xanac is not a Saturn port, but one of the rare game ps1 to make equal play at this level (although exceptionally rare).

[@kaikiske7436]

Why did this never get a PC Engine and Mega Drive port??!? OMG

[@orderofmagnitude-TPATP]

Cor...reminds me of rtype... made by same peeps

[@RetroCore]

Yep, the same developer that brought us R-Type.

[@Mr.madmight266]

Good episode. this is another case of a lesser known game made by the same company who also made another better known game of the same genre, like Sega with Golden Axe and Dinamite Dux,they're both good beat em ups except Dinamite Dux is not as popular and it didn't get a Megadrive release, too bad cause i do like Dinamite Dux.

[@RetroCore]

Dynamite Dux would have been great on the Mega Drive. Still, the Master System original isn't that bad. In fact it's quite impressive. You'll never see a NES game that colourful.

[@Mr.madmight266]

I would like to see a Megadrive homebrew of that game though, with the main character being green instead of blue just like in his appearance on Sonic the Fighters/Sonic Championship. Does the Master System version have an option for FM sound by the way?

[@RetroCore]

Hmm, I don't remember.

[@averageradiantreplays7702]

The PS1 port as you said... It's not that bad, but doesn't seem to be properly finished in my most sincerous opinion, it also did came out in what I consider "The worst era of PS1 ports" I mean, pretty much ANYTHING 2D related ended beeing rubish in some sort of way or another. I'm especially looking for PS1 ports to have them on the Vita, ripping the CD directly and playing on the GO and the office, also, I know I'm not a patreon (Will be soon enough) but next video... how about the JoJo's Bizarre adventure game that appaered on the CPS3? But overall, not all that bad, still playable, nice video, SAT Wins... once again lol

[@RetroCore]

JoJo's Bizarre adventure is on the list for a future video but it will be a while before that's done. The next video will be Pengo.

[@ryzmaker11]

Never played this one but seems to be a rather good shooter. I like how the ship's pods act, this gives a certain dynamic to the gameplay, but on the other hand the game might lack personality and it has too many empty backgrounds which is lame for a "16-bit shooter". Also it's weird about that visible "programming line" in the Saturn port. I guess we can say that Xing aren't Ving amrite?

[@RetroCore]

Xing did develop or at least publish a lot on the Saturn but their output was just always a little off unlike VING who were fantastic Saturn developers as well as on other systems.

[@ryzmaker11]

Apparently Xing developed as much as they published on the Saturn but I'd need to know more about the games they developed/ported before I can really tell. But this Image Fight/XMultiply compilation is a bit disappointing. On the other hand I wonder about Gussun Oyoyo-S.

[@RetroCore]

Gussun Oyoyo-S on the Saturn is really nice. I'm also thinking that there are two releases of the game. One with a blue cover and another with a yellow cover. I would need to check my collection to be sure though.

[@ryzmaker11]

You made me curious so I checked but you might think about the other Gussun Oyoyo game on Saturn: Zoku Gussun Oyoyo. I bought Gussun Oyoyo-S just a few months ago but now thanx to you (or by your fault, depends of how you look at things), I prolly need to buy Zoku Gussun Oyoyo too :P

[@DragonSlayerKyo]

Irem's developed and published a lot of gems over the years. I still don't think there's an excuse for the somewhat sloppy PS port, considering the age of the game itself.

[@RetroCore]

I know what you mean. I get the impression that Xing just couldn't be bothered with this one.

[@DragonSlayerKyo]

I can just imagine how the meeting went: Director:" It's an old game, so Irem probably won't care if we half-ass it!" Planner:" Great idea! Let's go with that!"

[@marioghernandez4960]

Didn't know this game got any ports, though I honestly don't consider them legitimate ports.

[@RetroCore]

Why wouldn't you consider them legit ports? Xing was a licensed developer for the Saturn and PlayStation.

[@marioghernandez4960]

Retro Core Well, because they appear as little more than emulations of the arcade version's ROMs.

[@bombjack1984]

Mario G Hernandez They're not emulation, Saturn and PS1 aren't powerful enough to emulate this. Unless you mean that they're quite barebones ports without any extra features/modes?

[@marioghernandez4960]

bombjack Right, that's what I meant to say.

[@MahmoudEhab2023]

Another day another video that is well... good and I again say this battle of the ports go to the Saturn so after this I would really appreciate to do a battle of the ports about rockman x3 dude I mean I can't believe that you featured a lot of good games throughout the whole battle of the ports show and rockman isn't featured at all so can you please do the the Rockman x3 please ? Pretty please?

[@RetroCore]

Ah, the Reason Rockman isn't featured is because Battle of the Ports is about Arcade to home. Ports. Rockman wasn't an arcade game but we all know the Saturn port is better than the PSX. Same with Rockman X4😎

[@MahmoudEhab2023]

Retro Core damn right mark well I'm looking forward to real bout fatal fury special game will you pretty please do it?

[@joseagripino8664]

Mark, how about a Metal Slug BoTP? Was there one already?

[@MahmoudEhab2023]

José Agripino yes there was already a metal slug botfp video but there wasn't any real bout fatal fury special so mark can you pretty please do it?

[@RetroCore]

I've also done Fatal Fury Special. It's probably listed as Garoudensetsu Special.

[@gabrielloko30000]

The game is quite depressive(on asthetic and music) just like Metal Black. But hey! This one is on the mighty trilogy of underrated shooters of Irem, such as In the hunt, Armored Police unit Gallop and this one....Lhh wait and Rtype Leo

[@RetroCore]

In the Hunt will be coming to BOTP in the future.

[@EugenetheSupporter]

added russian subtitles

[@RetroCore]

Thanks. They're not listed in the subtitles section yet. Once they appear I'll add them.

[@EugenetheSupporter]

do I always need to report in the comments? today I want to translate Battle of the Ports - Virtual On

[@RetroCore]

No, not at all. Once a week I check the translation section to see if anyone has uploaded anything. Thank you for the translation work