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This game was originally called Exed Exes. At least, I think thatís what it was called.
Iím not sure how itís pronounced. Might be a few long Es in there. Exied Exies. Should
be pronounced Stupid Title, because thatís what is.
Exed Exes got nothiní on Savage Bees.
Holy sh*t, thatís a kick-*** name.
And look at that logo! Looks like European speed metal.
Itís Savage Bees for the PlayStation THREE!!!
Of course, it wasnít originally released for the PlayStation 3. This is Savage Bees
as included in the Capcom Arcade Cabinet. Itís part of the second 1985 pack, which
also includes Commando and The Speed Rumbler. I gotta to tell you, Iím less familiar with
this pack than any one to date. I especially never heard of Savage Bees, which is a shame
because...I wouldíve started a band with that name, like, years ago.
Exed Exes was released to arcades, obviously, in 1985. It only got the name Savage Bees
when it was licensed for a North American release. But despite all the weirdness surrounding
its name, this is actually a decent game. Itís another vertical shoot ëem up, but
it does stand out a bit thanks to its unique theme. If not its gameplay.
So you play as...a ship, of some kind. Obviously. And for some reason, there are huge bugs everywhere
trying to kill you. Specifically bees. Savage bees, who may or may not play a mean guitar.
Nonetheless, the gameplay is virtually identical to...well, name your arcade shooter, really.
I mean, you can power-up your guns, and thereís a POW Block that turns everything into fruit,
oddly enough.
But functionally, itís par for the course. Not a bad thing, just...not remarkable.
Whatís interesting about Savage Bees is the concept. It is a refreshing break from the
space battles that so often set the stage for these games. The levels look like massive
metallic honeycombs, and you occasionally get a glimpse of some barren landscape beneath...almost
like this desolate alien world overrun by mechanical bugs.
And the simple music really helps to create that strange vibe.
Occasionally, thereís a little bonus round where the screen goes black and point values
surge. Otherwise, though...itís all a bit repetitive, even for an arcade shooter. The
levels, as cool as they are in concept, start to repeat themselves very quickly. There are
more than a dozen stages, but...they all kind of feel the same after a while.
Still, even a decent arcade shooter is worth playing. These games have always been addictiveóthey
were designed to be. And even in 2013, thereís a certain quality to this game that...even
though itís kind of average, you canít help but keep playing. Throw in the extra Arcade
Cabinet modesóincluding online multiplayeróand this is another Capcom classic worth dusting
off at least once.
Itís Savage Bees for the PlayStation 3.