Lethal Xcess: Wings of Death II

Lethal Xcess: Wings of Death II is a vertical-scrolling shoot 'em up developed by Eclipse Software and released in 1991 for the Atari ST and Amiga.

Designed and coded by Claus Frein, Marc Rosocha and Heinz Rudolf, the game is the sequel to Wings of Death, the famous shooter by Thalion. The game builds upon the mechanics of its predecessor while adding more intense action, improved visuals, and a cooperative two-player mode. Unlike the first game, where players controlled a wizard transforming into different creatures, Lethal Xcess fully embraces the sci-fi setting, placing players in a futuristic spacecraft. It follows classic shoot 'em up conventions, offering waves of enemies, powerful weapon upgrades, and enormous bosses that demand skill and reflexes.

At its core, Lethal Xcess is a fast-paced vertical shooter where players navigate through five lengthy, action-packed levels, dodging projectiles and blasting enemies. The game refines the mechanics of Wings of Death with smoother scrolling, tighter controls, and an array of weapon upgrades that make combat even more exhilarating. Players collect orbs to upgrade their firepower, which includes a spread shot for wide coverage, a focused laser beam for high damage, homing missiles to track enemies, and a wave beam with a unique attack pattern. These weapons can be stacked for increased power, but taking damage results in a downgrade, adding an extra challenge.

The game features sprawling levels filled with relentless enemies, environmental hazards, and massive end-of-stage bosses. The difficulty is unforgiving, with enemy waves attacking from all directions and projectiles filling the screen. Unlike Wings of Death, which was single-player only, Lethal Xcess introduces a cooperative two-player mode, allowing friends to face the chaos together. The relentless pacing demands quick reflexes and pattern recognition, making it an intense yet rewarding experience for fans of the genre.

Developed for both the Amiga and Atari ST, Lethal Xcess showcases notable differences between the two versions. The Amiga version benefits from a more vibrant color palette and smoother animations, with detailed backgrounds that enhance the sci-fi atmosphere. Explosions, enemy sprites, and weapon effects are more visually polished. The Atari ST version, while still impressive, has a more limited color range and slightly choppier scrolling. Sound and music also differ between versions, with the Amiga taking advantage of its superior audio hardware. The soundtrack, composed by Jochen Hippel, is a highlight of the game, delivering high-energy chiptune tracks that perfectly complement the action. The Amiga version's audio is richer, whereas the Atari ST version, while featuring the same compositions, suffers from weaker sound quality due to hardware limitations.

Upon release, Lethal Xcess received positive reviews, though it never achieved the widespread recognition of other shoot ‘em ups from the era. Critics praised its fast-paced action, deep power-up system, excellent soundtrack, and the addition of two-player mode, which significantly increased its replay value. However, some players found the difficulty too punishing, especially with the weapon downgrade mechanic. While polished, the game didn’t introduce groundbreaking new mechanics beyond traditional shoot ‘em up formulas, and its level variety, though engaging, could feel repetitive at times.

Although it never reached the legendary status of R-Type or Xenon 2: Megablast, Lethal Xcess: Wings of Death II is an excellent example of the golden age of Amiga shoot ‘em ups. It refines the mechanics of its predecessor with better graphics, more intense action, and a co-op mode that makes the experience even more engaging. Its punishing difficulty may not be for everyone, but for hardcore shmup enthusiasts, it offers a thrilling and rewarding challenge.