Revolution X

Revolution X is a shooting gallery video game developed by Midway and released in arcades in 1994. The gameplay is similar to Midway’s earlier Terminator 2: Judgment Day, but is themed around the band Aerosmith. The oppressive New Order Nation regime and their leader Helga have abducted Aerosmith, and players use a mounted gun to control onscreen crosshairs and shoot enemies. The members of Aerosmith are hidden throughout the game’s international locales and must be found in order to receive the game’s true ending.

The arcade game was a critical and commercial success, but all of the ports were negatively received.

Plot – Revolution X

In a dystopian version of 1996, an alliance of corrupt government and corporate military forces have taken control of the world in the guise of the “New Order Nation” (NON).^[1] The NON, with their vampish commander Head Mistress Helga (portrayed by Kerri Hoskins)^[2]), have declared war on youth culture (anyone aged from 13 to 30) and have banned all forms of music, television, magazines, and video games.

The player travels to “Club X” in Los Angeles to see Aerosmith perform live, but the band is captured by NON troops and hustled off the stage in the middle of their show. After escaping from the club, the player steals a helicopter and flies across the city to find the band’s car. From here, the player must destroy three NON installations in the Middle East, Amazon Jungle, and Pacific Rim, then travel to London to defeat Helga and her remaining forces at Wembley Stadium.^[3]

Gameplay – Revolution X

Revolution X is a rail shooter in which the players must shoot targets including NON soldiers and vehicles, with the ultimate goal of rescuing the band. Players start the game at Club X in Los Angeles, first fighting the NON troops inside and then stealing a helicopter to fly across the city and find Aerosmith’s car.

They must then destroy three NON facilities in the Amazon jungle, the Middle East and the Pacific Rim. These three stages may be played in any order; however, failing to complete the Middle East stage within a set time limit will send the players back to its start for another attempt. Finally, the players advance to Wembley Stadium for the final battle with the surviving NON forces and Head Mistress Helga.

Throughout the game, objects can be shot that may reveal power-ups like health-replenishing shakes, CDs, powerful laserdiscs and Super Guns, Skull Bombs and shields. Players can also find hostages and free them throughout the game for extra points.^[4]

At the end of each stage, the players receive bonus points based on the number of enemies killed and hostages rescued, as well as the amount of damage done. The five members of Aerosmith are hidden in secret locations throughout the game. When found, each member presents the player with a set of Aerosmith wings that increase the end-of-stage bonus.

All members must be found in order to unlock the best ending and bonus level, in which the players go backstage after blowing up Helga, and can collect high-value Mammy Awards, as well as party with the band.

Development and release – Revolution X

Mortal Kombat II features an advertisement with the old Revolution X logo that arcade operators could toggle on and off.^[5] Occasionally after a large in-game explosion, Steven Tyler can be heard saying “Toasty!” in a high-pitched voice in reference to an easter egg in Mortal Kombat II. The game was originally developed as a title based on the film Jurassic Park. However, Sega acquired the rights instead and eventually released its own arcade game based on the film. Midway then retooled its concept to revolve around Aerosmith.^[6]

The first release labeled Proto 5.0 (5/23/1994) is lacking several speech samples spoken by members of Aerosmith which can be heard after collecting power-ups and has a shorter Pacific Rim level. Revision 1.0 (6/16/1994) restored the missing speech samples and has the complete Pacific Rim level and completed two new crosshairs in P2 and P3 as well as the ability to toggle the CD Offer screen on and off by the operator.

Revolution X was released as upright two player and deluxe three player arcade units and as a conversion kit for existing gun games such as Terminator 2: The Arcade Game.^[7]

Another Revolution X featuring the hip-hop group Public Enemy was considered, but reportedly scrapped after the negative reception that the home versions of the original Revolution X received.^[6]

Soundtrack – Revolution X

The soundtrack consists of several Aerosmith songs continuously looped, including “Eat the Rich”, “Sweet Emotion“, “Toys in the Attic“, and “Walk This Way“.^[7] A Muzak version of “Love in an Elevator” plays in the elevator part of the Amazon Jungle level. The soundtrack was featured in the CD Offer after playing or during attract mode.

The console versions include loops of “Rag Doll” for the attract screen, main menu, and score, “Fever” for the Middle East level, and “Dude (Looks Like a Lady)” for the ending.

Ports – Revolution X

The game was later ported by Rage Software, and released by Acclaim for MS-DOS computers, the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Mega Drive, PlayStation, and Sega Saturn.^[8] A 32X version was demonstrated at the 1995 Electronic Entertainment Expo,^[9] but was never released, and possibly never completed. An Atari Jaguar conversion was in development and slated to be published around the fourth quarter of 1995,^[10] but it was never released.