Vexx is a platform game developed by Acclaim Studios Austin and published by Acclaim Entertainment for the GameCube, PlayStation 2 and Xbox. The game was released in North America on February 11, 2003, and in Europe on April 4, 2003. It follows the character Vexx as he searches different worlds for the wraithhearts to power the rift between worlds and defeat Dark Yabu to avenge his grandfather's death. The game began development in 1999 and underwent a strained development process where many features and levels were cut. Vexx received mixed reviews. Gameplay Vexx is a 3D platformer that takes place in a series of nine nonlinear open levels. A set of wraithhearts are hidden in each level, and the player must find where they are located and in some cases complete challenges to collect them. Collecting a sufficient number of wraithhearts unlocks the next level, and players are free to travel between the levels to collect 60 wraithhearts. Once 60 are collected, the player fights the final boss. Combat takes place primarily through the use of the Astani War Talons that are fused to Vexx's hands. The claws allow for melee attacks that can be used in several combinations, and they can be charged to shoot flame for a brief time. The gameplay has been compared to 3D games in the Mario franchise, such as Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine. Plot The Astani people of Astara created a rift system that allows them to move between worlds, but the Shadowraiths came through the rift, drained it of its energy, and destroyed Astara. Hundreds of years later, Dark Yabu, the leader of the Shadowraiths, discovers the village of Overwood and enslaves the Valdani people that live there so they can find the wraithhearts to power the rift. Vexx attempts to resist, but he is spared from Yabu's wrath by his grandfather Vargas, who is killed in the ensuing fight. Vexx sneaks away and discovers the Astani War Talons. They bind themselves to Vexx. When he wakes up, Vexx is in the Hall of Heroes, where previous wearers of the war talons have been entombed. An old man named Darby appears and informs him that it was he who carried Vexx to the Hall, thinking that the young boy was dead. He also tells Vexx that Yabu completely destroyed the village and that Vexx and Darby are the only ones